Payback
Chapter 3
In the Pirate sectors onboard the station where Dolly sold the Bayamon. “Hay honey how about two more mugs. How do you want to do this?” As two Mercenaries discussed tactics.
“I think the best way is to send a little honeybee for the flyboy. And our flyboy has two contracts on him. While a drug run for our cutthroat friend Dolly. We can pop her in Split space and get paid for it while increasing our rep plus the contract. Another double pay job I like these jobs!” As he turned up his drink.
“Hay Honeybee we got a job for you. I’ll drop you off in Argon space and you come back here in a taxi.
We’ll give you 5,000 for the mark and the ride. 10,000 is for you when you get here with him and to forget us. You went to see a sick friend or something. We’ll take care of him after he leaves. That sound good to you?”
The barmaid agreed to the deal. She picked up three drinks while telling her boss she had to take off to go see a sick friend and sit down with them.
Back in Argon space Ted had just dropped of an Executive on the same station he had picked the young man up at he sold to Dolly. A cold weary filling gripped Ted as a Security Officer stopped him.
“Pilot please wait the owner is in need of transportation. Please wait here a moment you can negotiate your fee with him.”
The knot in Ted’s stomach eased as the Owner came up. “Pilot I need a fast and safe ride for an aid and myself. One of my managers told me your ship is fast, well armed and shielded as well as luxurious. We need a ride to the Trading Station in Company Pride. I want to be left alone to discuss company business with my aid on the trip. All video in the compartment must remain off, as we will be discussing trade secrets. Just show me the in flight refreshments and restroom and we’ll be fine. I know this is a long trip and you will be paid 30,000 credits round trip. Our business will require an over night stay on the Station. Do you want the job?”
Ted studied a moment the price was good but he wanted to test the waters.
“You’ll have to sign a waver to turn the recorders off. Argon Security requires a record or papers. And an over night stay will cost an extra 4,000 credits for my ship sitting. And my ship is fast. We can be there in 30% less travel time than the other local carters.”
The owner thought a moment and replied. “The price is a little high but we need the speed and security of your ship it’s a deal. We need to leave immediately.”
The Man brought his Aid out of an office and boarded the ship. Ted helped them onboard and showed the man the food locker and entertainment controls. Went to the cockpit and set course for Company Pride.
The Owners Aid was a woman and not just any woman. Ted thought she was so hot she had burnt an image in his head! Why would woman like that be working for a station owner? With her looks she could be rich.
Then it hit Ted she was working him.
Ted told his riders he would notify them before they entered the Pirate Sector and after they were clear and when they were 30 minutes from docking.
“Computer turn the video off in the passenger compartment but leave the security cameras on and make a hard copy and give me a live feed to a monitor. And if our riders ask about the video or cameras tell them the passenger area has been turned off.” “Yes Commander.”
Ted watched on his monitor as the Man asked the ships AI about the video. As the AI lied just like Ted told it to. Ted smiled as he thought how a few credits placed in the right hands could have an AI say what you want it to. {Ships AI are not suppose to lie!}
As soon as the man said its ok the woman started undressing. Ted looked on thinking company business my foot. If what she’s doing to him is company business I need to get a company like that!
The two were going at it like a couple of kids on a sex drug. Ted started noticed a repeat action of the woman. When they finished one way she cleaned up and placed the wipes in a bag.
She placed a little teddy on and was all over the Man. Then she placed the teddy in a pouch on the bag.
The two had dressed and were setting when Ted told them they were entering Pirate Space.
Ted calmed down from the show then it made since. The Woman was going to blackmail him.
The Man was married and the teddy would look bad but it wasn’t enough to prove anything.
She needed pictures or video and a place and time.
“Computer monitor the passenger compartment for a hidden video or picture device.” “Understood.”
After they had left the Pirate sector Ted informed his riders they had entered Split Space. After the woman fixed drinks for the two she gulped it down and went right to work on the man.
Ted noticed the woman lifted her bag before she sat down as if she was checking the weight.
Five minutes later the computer informed Ted two pictures had been taken from a device in the passenger compartment.
“Computer scan the video and show me on the side monitor every time the woman touched the bag.”
Ted looked at each time the bag was touched she was definitely setting a trigger.
Ted watched as the woman touched the bag two more times. Each time after four minutes the computer informed him two more pictures had been taken.
The woman timed herself perfectly. She would even position herself seconds before the picture snapped, exposing him and her to the camera in the most incriminating position.
Ted was trying to decide which way to play this hand. Play with her and be a part of the blackmail or work on him alone.
To get the most money out of this game Ted would have to expose the woman and convince the man he needed him.
Ted eased the ship into the docking clamps and helped the passengers of ship. As the were heading to there rooms Ted told the Man he had received a message moments before docking and forgot to give it to him in the commotion of the docking.
The Man was annoyed at having to return to the ship. “All right where is it?” The man asked.
Ted had the man to set down as he lied to him telling him that he had seen the Woman before and she was a con artist. She was planning on blackmailing him and will or has all ready started embezzling funds.
The man looked at Ted as if he were crazy until Ted played the video exposing her taking the pictures.
After that the Man was without words.
The man slumped with his head downward knowing he had messed up. “What do you suggest?
She has pictures and physical evidence! And you do to! I can‘t believe I was so stupid!”
Ted but his hand on his shoulder and said. “Calm down Mr. Vent all her evidence is right here. I had the Drone remove it from her baggage. Was this your first encounter?”
“Yes She talked me into a trip with a 5,000-credit bonus for her. For her special favors she has been teasing me all week. Man She played me good! What about you, what’s this going to cost me?”
Mr. Vent asked.
“I’m a simple man Mr. Vent I’ll destroy all the evidence hers and mine if you double my pay to an even 70,000 credits. But your still got the Woman to deal with she’s up to something and this was her way to keep you quite. I’m going to buy a M5 to replace the one I just sold. You need to send Her to Split Space above Thurk’s Beard to check on energy cells. I have done a little trading there and they good prices. I’ll rent you the ship and a Security Drone for 20,000 credits and you send her there to open a trading agreement with the Split. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll kill her or she just keep on going. Give her two extra days to open trading relations with the Split. Then have her return to the Station when she has finished her business. Buy a drone here in Teladi space and have it programmed to search for theft and fraud get the best they have your going to need it to get your money back.”
“That’s a lot of funds to spend on a business trip meant to save money!” Mr. Vent said.
“Well just pay me the 70,000 and forget it all. Then you deal with her when I return you to your Station.”
Ted replied.
“No that’s not what I meant. Destroy all the evidence I’ll give you the 90,000 credits just buy a nice ship this need to look good. Your plain sounds fine I can’t even think right now! I want to blow her out an air lock. But I know I might need her to retrieve the credits. Your right she needs to leave!”
Mr. Vent explained.
Ted calmed Mr. Vent down as he took him to a secure lounge and he made a message telling the Woman about the trip that she needed to take and to meet up with Ted in the docking bay to show her the ship.
Ted left the Man and his anger to a bottle while the woman was in her room waiting.
Ted undocked and headed for the Equipment Dock to see what kind of ship the Teladi Mechanic had to sell.
As soon as he got of the ship the Teladi was there to meet him.
“How you like ship?” [Teladi] “I like it! I’m in need of a nice M5 for an Argon Pilot.” [Ted]
“Come Teladi have just what you need. Ship I been working on real nice and fast.”
It was a Pegasus or what was a Pegasus. The Teladi had stretched it out to hold 20 units cargo, three 1meg shields, two GIRE weapons and a larger power unit. He had fixed it up as a taxi mans dream ship. The inside was nice with a small sleeper and passenger compartment.
The speed was a little over 800m/s the steering was 300%.
Ted took the ship out for a test run the Teladi had out done himself this time, now for the price.
Ted docked and asked. “It’s ok how much?”
“Teladi take 110,000 credits for ship.” “I’ll give you 80,000 credits for the ship.” Ted replied
The Teladi laughed. “You funny Argon. Teladi sell ship to you for 100,000 credits. Teladi like you take deal price no go down.”
Ted reached out and bumped knuckles saying deal. Paid the Teladi and sent the Pegasus to the Trading Station.
Ted entered the Lounge to check on Mr. Vent and bring him up to date about the M5.
As Ted sat down and tried to carry on a conversation with him it didn’t take long to see Mr. Vent was so drunk he could hardly set up much less talk.
Ted quickly ordered a purifier drink to flush the cocktails he was gulping down out.
“Here drink this Mr. Vent it will flush the liquor out.” “Call me Bob my name is Bob. Ted right, can I call you Ted?”
Ted spent three hours talking to Bob while the drink slowly worked. Bob was a Navy Pilot when he met his wife. After his enlistment was over they married. Her family was wealthy and set them up with a Station as a wedding gift. They had two children a boy and girl that were in a private school.
Ted picked up a recovery drink as they left the lounge. Bob wanted to see the ship before turning in.
When they entered the ship Bob explained he didn’t want Helen killed or hurt on the trip he just wanted her gone for a few days to check the financial records. Then he would fire her and send her packing.
Ted ordered a personal security drone and reassured Bob that was the plan and nothing else other than a possibly a new trading agreement with the Split. Ted explained he didn’t want to lose his new ship, she was coming back with his ship!
Bob made his way of to his room as Ted returned to the Piranha and lay down.
Ted had just closed his eyes when the COM sounded. “There is someone outside the ship wanting access.”
Ted looked in the monitor it was Dolly. An uneasy filling came across Ted as he asked what she wanted.
“I’m unarmed Ted I need to talk to you. It’s important and I might not get another chance.”
Ted scanned Dolly as she entered seeing she was clean she sat down and begin explaining.
Dolly had taken a job delivering some weed to the pirate sectors. That was normal business for Dolly but the barkeeper just ordered an extra load of weed. Her eyes in the bar said the owner had been seen talking with two new mercenaries. And one of the barmaids had left with them and they returned and are waiting on something or someone. And a runner hailed her in sector as he passed telling about the Disco Ted sold getting blown to bits with its Pilot and Passenger by two Mercenaries.
“Look Ted I want you to take this it’s the codes to get to my Lifter. If I get killed there’s a crate in the storage locker it looks like a crate of liquor. It’s not so be careful it’s a bomb I been saving for that //////***** I keep running drugs for. Use a drone to deliver it to the bar the crate will detonate once inside the bar so don’t be on the station. The Teladi I told you about said it would take out the whole section of the station. Ted I don’t trust you much but I know that if you give me your word you’ll do it.”
“Look Dolly the pilot I hired was dead meat when he attacked the Clan you and I both know that. You used the Mandalay to mislead anyone looking for us. I think you’re just getting upset over nothing. Do your run and take it easy for a while. You might even try some honest work.” Ted laughed at his comment.
“I hope your right Ted. Just the same take the codes I’ll change them if I’m wrong. If I get killed the Lifter and all my junk is yours just plant the bomb. Do I have your word on it Ted?”
Ted answered. “You have my word.”
Ted laid back down Dolly was the least of his worries now she would be all right she always was.
The meeting was over as Bob informed Helen she would be going to open trade with the Split.
Bob had left to get the drone while Ted helped Helen on the ship.
Helen had bent over as she boarded the ship and looked back. “You like the view? I don’t know what you did with my things! But I’m not one to be messed around with you space jockey!”
“I’m sorry your things were lost Miss. I’m sure things will work out. I would stock up on food here Ma’am the Split are not very good host to other races.” Ted replied.
The woman looked at Ted as if she could kill him while he showed her the ship and controls. The drone was programmed to pilot and protect Helen. The food was delivered and the flight plan and stations had been recorded on the planer.
“Have a safe trip and please be careful with my ship.” Ted replied as he locked the hatch on his way out.
Ted watched on a monitor as the ship left the Station heading out on its journey.
Bob had returned with the drone and looked at Ted saying. “Let’s get back to my station I got work to do!”
Taxi Man Chapter 3
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
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blazermick
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue, 31. Jan 06, 03:47
Hey Edman, love the twists and gist of this story line. Keep going... hahaha but dont forget Alphaman.-
collins50
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Sun, 25. Dec 05, 19:51
Ive gotten confused with taxie man,