Star Runners: Dark Space

Chapter 13-1

13

“Dark Space?”

Matta’s words hung over the room like a fog.

“Does that mean the Pisceans are from Dark Space?” Josh asked.

Foster chewed the inside of his lip. “Sure looks like it.”

“So you mean those Pisceans might not be altered humans after all?”

“You’re a quick one.”

Josh ignored him. Aliens.

The word bounced around his head. The possibility of aliens traveling around the galaxy with Rodon seemed impossible, but Foster’s homing device had sent a signal from Dark Space saying otherwise.

“I don’t believe it,” Josh said. “I thought it's impossible to travel into the dark because of black holes, nebulae, and whatever.”

“We got some compelling evidence traveling to Dark Space is possible—at least for Pisceans.” Foster waved his hand. “Rumors always surface of factions or companies trying to develop a ship capable of withstanding the journey. I know a Shoborian scientist was once close to solving this puzzle."

"Those peaceful folk?" Matta asked. "I heard they do nuttin' but read and study."

"And that's why they probably succeeded," Foster said. "If anyone found a successful route to Dark Space in the past, they had a good reason for keeping it secret."

"Why's that?" Josh asked, finding the entire subject of deep space exploration fascinating.

Foster looked at him. "If you had a secret route to an untapped sector of space with all the resources to yourself, would you tell anyone?"

"I suppose not."

Foster left before Josh could say another word, stomping into the corridor, glass panels sliding away as if the ship anticipated the movements of its owner.

Glancing at Matta, Josh swiveled on his heel to follow him. "I'm going out on a limb here and venture you've never been to Dark Space."

"Figure that out by yourself, did you?" Foster snorted, passing through another obsidian panel. "My opinion of Star Runners falls with every statement you make."

"How nice." Drying his head with the blanket, Josh tucked it under his arm and asked, "So, do you think it's possible?"

"What? An intelligent Star Runner? Maybe."

"I mean flying to Dark Space."

Matta scampered behind them in the narrow corridor. "Boss always said Dark Space was not a place to sail."

"Your boss was right," Foster said, marching through the ship as he tore the wrapper off a protein bar. “There’s not a ship in the galaxy that could make the journey.”

"If that's where our friends and Rodon are,” Josh said, struggling to propel his sore body fast enough to keep up with Foster, “what will you do now?"

"I'm figuring that out on my own."

"But you have to—"

"What?" He spun around, grabbing Josh's shirt as he did so and leaning so close the peanut butter smell on his hot breath felt thick against his face. "I'd like to hear what you think I have to do."

Josh nodded, looking away. "You're right, Foster. It's your ship, and you're the boss, but remember Matta knows the Barracudas frequency and can track Rodon's prisoners. You can use her to verify Rodon's location if he moves."

He c****d an eyebrow. "If they're still alive."

"Still," Josh said, glancing at Matta, "without her, your golden paycheck could vanish. It’s the only choice you’ve got."

Releasing Josh, Foster continued down the corridor. "We've already been through this," he grumbled, finishing his bar as black glass parted, revealing an elegant bridge with four stations and no crew. "I'm allowing you two to tag along, but the plan is mine and mine alone."

"So you’ve said." Josh paused at the hatchway leading to the bridge, his mouth agape as he stared at the expensive equipment. "Where did you get this ship?"

"Had it a few cycles," Foster said, collapsing into a captain's chair attached to a mechanical arm hanging from the ceiling and typing coordinates into what looked like a high-end curvature drive navigation computer far beyond anything standard on a Trident. "Following one of my contracts, a target no longer had any need for it. I switched out the transponders and made it my own, but I don't get to take it out as much as I'd like."

"It's beautiful."

"And expensive," he said, staring over his shoulder. "Don't touch anything and be quiet. I have to create a flight plan. Ilman City's not an easy journey from here. Going to require some clever curves away from Imperial Space Lanes to get there from way the hell out here."

Josh frowned. "Ilman City?"

Matta tugged at his elbow. When he looked at her, her face had lost all expression.

Leaning down, he asked, "What's wrong?"

She shook her head once. "Don't wanna go there, Joshy."

"Why?"

"Tis a bad place. Monsters live there. Evil.”

Foster laughed. "I don't much relish going there, either."

Keeping his eye on Matta, Josh asked, "What's Ilman City?"

"Oh," Foster said, pausing as if about to tell a lengthy tale before remaining silent for a second. "Far from your space, friend."

Matta leaned closer, whispered, "You don't wanna go there."

"Rubbish," Foster said, typing into the computer.

Josh nodded. "Go ahead. Tell me."

Biting her lip, she looked to the side. "Boss always said we don't work places like that. Tocol's been there. He said it's a place that only cares about money. No honor. They sell flesh as slaves. Criminals rule the city. He said men shoot one another in the streets for cheating at cards or looking at lady friends.”

"Well," Foster said, still focusing on the computer, "she makes it sound so pleasant."

Placing his hand on Matta's shoulder, Josh faced Foster. "Do we have to go there?"

"Not much of a choice."

"Why?"

"Cause if we're going to Dark Space, we're not going to do it in this vessel. And I'm going to need some help that's more useful than a Star Runner and a runt smuggler girl."

“I thought you said it was impossible?”

“Quiet.”

"I don't understand. What do you hope to find in Ilman City?"

Foster sighed. "I need to concentrate on this flight plan."

Josh stood in silence, staring out the forward viewport at the stars and listening to the engines rumble. The space beyond was unfamiliar, alien to someone like him, and yet Foster wanted to take him farther into the Zahl Empire than he'd ever been.

Ignoring the creeping doubt crawling across the back of his neck, he asked, "Can you tell us what you plan on doing at Ilman City?"

After a pause, Foster said, "I've got a colleague there."

"Another assassin?"

"Careful," he hissed, raising his head. "My colleague trades in information. If there's a way to Dark Space, he'll know it."

It looked like a plate of fine china stacked with elaborate jewels from this distance, floating in the void like a sparkling beacon. Following six curves that brought them deeper into Zahlian Space and avoided the heavily patrolled Lutimite lanes of travel, the Shadow had finally reached its destination. After traveling in seclusion for three days, Foster had called them to the bridge for the event, a kind gesture Josh didn't want to take for granted. The three of them gathered at the helm. Matta and Josh leaned forward as the blinking lights of Ilman City approached.

Two artificial "stars" burned on the far horizons, casting a glistening blue energy atmosphere around platforms held together with a thousand welding torches and prayer. Buildings covered in neon lights and holographic projections reached from the "ground level" the size of a dozen city blocks. Landing pads adorned the tips of countless structures, releasing and accepting a steady stream of traffic from the energy gates in the artificial atmosphere of the "city" built from nothing.

Foster had said the long-dead planners of Ilman City constructed the establishment located on the edge of Zahlian Space to be a "free" urban center to create a municipality not beholden to any existing form of government or planet. Foster said some hailed it the first true pioneer city on the Frontier upon its completion, a destination for those who had the ambition and the money to make their dreams come true.

Somewhere along the way, however, corruption had taken hold and created rot within the city’s foundations. Money took hold of the city leaders, eventually turning Ilman City into a floating platform of decay lightyears from the nearest natural planet.

Still, it had prospered on the dredges of universal society, promising a quick fortune or a life of security to many, granting little of either. Tens of thousands flocked to the city, unable or unwilling to discover a life within the clutches of the Zahl Empire in hopes of finding their riches or die trying.

When Foster had first told the stories, Josh had imagined Ilman City as an old west town under an artificial bubble atmosphere adrift in space. In the movies he watched as a kid, the towns in the westerns were always depicted with a few ratty buildings and one dust-covered saloon. As the Shadow neared the outskirts of the city and fell into the waiting pattern outside the manufactured atmosphere, Josh marveled at Ilman City’s size.

"I had no idea," he whispered, shaking his head.

"What?" Foster asked, leaning back as he brought the ship to a stop. "The wait?"

"No. The size of it. You said it was a constructed city in space and I thought of something like a space station or Tarton's Junction if you're familiar with it."

"Heard of Tarton's Junction, sure," Foster muttered, wiping his eyes and placing his hand over his mouth to battle back a yawn. "Never had reason to visit."

Josh glanced at him. Knowing Foster's profession, he hoped the man would never have a reason to "visit" Tarton's Junction. He wasn't sure how he'd ended up here on the other side of known space with an assassin, but he didn't like thinking about it. Each curve farther from Earth and Quadrant Eight made him feel adrift, lonely. His thoughts often drifted back to Kadyn, to her concerned face as she coped with the lingering repercussions of Revelation Protocol. Someday, he'd make things right for her.

"Still don't like the idea of coming here," Matta said, interrupting his thoughts and pressing closer to him. The Shadow moved forward in the line leading to the energy gate and was now next. "Feels like we not coming out again."

"Nonsense," Foster said, easing forward on the engines. "I won't let anything happen to you."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"Don't let it go to your head," he shot back. "Without you, I can't find the Barracudas. Without them, I might not find Rodon."

"Really?" Josh snapped. “Cause you haven't reminded us in the past two curves."

"All right—enough."

Josh wasn't sure, but he thought Foster offered a slight smile at the exchange. His hard exterior had softened a bit during the journey. Not a lot, mind you, but Josh started to wonder if the man was the hardened killer he liked to project.

"I sure hope your colleague is here," Josh whispered as if the officials of Ilman City would hear him. "You think he'll have a ship capable of making it to Dark Space?"

"I never said he'd have a ship. I said he'd have information."

"So we might be coming here for nothing.”

"That's very true."

Staring at the ship passing through the energy gate in front of them, Josh stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest.

“This is Ilman City control," the bridge speakers came to life. "Transmit permits and proper transponder codes for clearance."

"Roger," Foster said, his fingers dancing on a holographic keypad hovering over his right thigh. "Transmitting."

A moment later, the speakers popped. "You’re clear for landing. Welcome to Ilman City. Might I suggest Selenajon's Watering Hole? Docking fee of ninety credits includes complimentary drinks and a host of—"

"Thank you, no," Foster said, his right hand easing forward on the throttle. "We have a place to dock."

"Fair enough," the voice came back, a hint of wounded pride coming through the speaker at the rejection of their little commercial. "Atmo's dropping in ten seconds. Enjoy the city."

Foster shook his head and killed the transmit button. "Never a moment without a commercial on Ilman City."

"You really have a place to dock?" Josh asked, watching the brilliant blue energy shield closing on the forward viewport.

"Sure,” he said as if everyone would have a dock in the city.

The steel gate flashed from red to green, and a rectangular opening in the twinkling field dissipated like an old television switching off, revealing an unobstructed view of Ilman City. Pushing more power into the engines, Foster brought them through the gate.