Galaxy of Empires- Space Pirates Episode #1 Read online

  Che agrees, “True.”

  Meek turns to Fartan and says, “You’ve got a deal.”

  “Excellent! I will draw up the papers now. She will be ready to fly in about hour. It will be fully fueled with the cloaking device installed. What name do you want to give her?”

  “The Smoking Aces.”

  “I will get that painted on the ship, too. Did you want skull and cross bones with that?”

  “Nope, paint this instead under the name,” Meeks orders, as he gives the famous middle finger hand gesture known as “The Rod.”

  “Um...okay,” Fartan acknowledges.

  Meek turns back to the other three and says, “Tell the others to grab all their stuff off the old ship and move everything to the new ship as soon as possible. I will contact Lord Cos and see if he has any smuggling jobs for us on this planet before we take off. Would like to make some money on our return trip to Pirate Lord Space.”

  “Roger that, Boss,” Che says.

  They take off.

  “Do you have a long-range vid-com here, Fartan?”

  “Yes, sir. Come to my office.”

  A few minutes later, they come into a small office. “It will give us some privacy.”

  Vid-com activates, and a large male Wolfkin with black hair appears on the screen.

  “Capt. Meek, how is life treating you? Did you get a new ship?”

  “Yep, got a good deal on a smuggling ship. Need to make some money now. We can carry a few hundred tons of merchandise.”

  “Wow! That is impressive! Doesn’t sound like a fighting ship, so you better watch your back.”

  “Yeah, not a fighter, that is for sure. Nice hauler, though. Got a cloaking device, too.”

  “Oh, that makes it an awesome smuggler. Let me check and see if I have any stuff in that region that needs to be hauled.”

  “Okay.”

  “Only got one shipment of stolen arts and crafts that needs to be picked up on that planet and taken to Laugh Skull for a drop-off to a fence. Pays 1,000 platinum bars. You might want to check the market square for regular hauling jobs in your cargo size range for some extra cash. I will tell the client to drop off the artwork at Fartan’s place.”

  “Sound goods. Will go and check out the market square and see if I can get some other hauling jobs.”

  Vid-com ends.

  ***

  Meek says, “Common Python, need you and the Shawn to come with me to the market and see if we can get a hauling gig for our new ship.”

  “Sure, Boss. Want me to bring my heavy machine gun, or just some pistols?” Python asks.

  “We not going to war. Just couple hand blasters will do,” Meek replies.

  “Aw, man...how about a few grenades at least?”

  Meek sighs, “Okay.”

  “Hee-hee. Python, I never met someone who always thinks we are going to be blasting our way out of every place we go,” Shawn says with a hint of sarcasm.

  “Better safe than sorry, I always say. Besides, how many bar fights have we been in lately?”

  “True. I am just messing with you. You probably sleep with your machine gun, don’t you?” Shawn asks seriously.

  “Sometimes, but I prefer lady friends whenever possible. That is the one big gun I like to show them, hee-hee,”Python smirks and winks.

  “Okay, I could have gone all day without that image in my head,” Meek says.

  Python has been with the crew for a couple years. He was a heavy weapons specialist when he served in the Reptilian Military. Since then, he mostly does mercenary work. He is wanted for murder, piracy, kidnapping, and a list of other crimes. He is rather tall for a male Snakekin and is striped instead of spotted as most Snakekins are.

  Shawn Belgarion comes from a very good family background that had money and even sent him to medical school to become a doctor. Unfortunately, for him, his father was too good and got in the way of some others with political aspirations that led to his family getting assassination. He was from the Empire of Katlin originally, but after his family’s untimely demise, he had to flee and work off the grid to survive. He has been working with this crew for about a year as the ship’s doctor. Being a feline, he prefers to stay out of the water.

  After they walk down the corridor of their new ship, they see a room with Cogg in it working on their android named M.C.L.O.U.D. No one really knows with that stands for, so they just call him Mcloud. Cogg, the ship’s engineer, constructed him from spare parts.

  Meek inquires, “Well, did you get it working again?”

  Cogg hesitates, “Got some new parts from the junkyard down the street and will be able to patch the blaster holes up for sure. Had to splice some personality and voice modules together to get them to work.”

  “Well, fire him up and let’s see. Otherwise, I will make you watch reruns of The A-Team for a week,” Meek threatens.

  Cogg flips on a switch in the back of Mcloud’s head and the android stands up and looks around. Then he looks at Meek and says in a deep, gritty voice, “Hey boy... you look mighty cute in them pants.”

  “Um...why does he sound like a gay Mr. T?” Meek inquires.

  Cogg replies, “Sorry. I only have parts from a boxing bot and a pleasure bot. This is the best I can do for right now.”

  Meek looks at Mcloud and sees all the patch holes from blaster hits.

  “Well, just keep doing the best you can,” Meek says as he hears Python and Sean laughing their heads off behind him. He turns around and says, “Ho-ho, ha-ha. Let’s go.”

  ***

  “That taxi driver is insane! I’m surprised we didn’t crash,” Sean remarked.

  “No kidding. I was about to shoot him, that retard,” Python says in agreement.

  Meek wakes from a short nap, “We’re here? Cool. Let’s get to work.”

  The marketplace was jammed packed as far as the eye could see being the largest market in the Reptilian Empire. Everything is for sale here. Big computer screens are all over the place to assist people in finding the right merchant for the items shoppers are looking for. There is even a hauler section for people needed their purchases delivered.

  “According to this monitor, we need to go to section D, row 11 to sign up for haulers,” Meek says.

  “Okay, Boss,” the other two agree and follow along down the streets. They walk for about 30 minutes and go into a building with a big “Cargo Shipping” sign outside.

  A snake man sitting at a desk says, “What can I do for you gentleman?”

  Meek answers, “We are looking for some hauling work.”

  “Do you have a union card from the haulers’ guild?”

  “Not on me at the moment.”

  “I can’t sign you up without a union card.”

  “How much does a union card cost?”

  “One hundred bars of platinum.”

  “Good grief! That’s insane!”

  “I don’t make the rules, I just gotta go by them.”

  Another snake man walks in from outside and says, “Capt. Meek?”

  Meek turns around, “Who wants to know?”

  “My employer has a job opportunity for you if you are interested?

  “Who is your employer and what kind of job?”

  “He will tell you himself. He will even toss in the price of your haulers’ union card.”

  Python says with apprehension, “Dunno, Boss. Smells fishy.”

  Meek says, “Where does he want to meet?”

  The snake man points to a building outside that appears to be one of the tallest structures in that area.

  “Isn’t that the Assassins’ Guild building?” Shawn says with a worried look on his face.

  “Yes, it is. But that is only where people go to hire assassins. We don’t allow jobs to be done inside, as it deters clients.”

  “Okay, I’ll check it out, but if I think something doesn’t add up, I’m gone,” Meek iterates.

  They go outside and a hover limo is waiting. They get inside and travel
for about 15 minutes. They come to the front of the building, get out, and walk up the steps. Masked guards are everywhere in black armor, and search animals patrol the grounds. Meeks and his crew go up to the door, and three large scanners scan them.

  “You have to leave your weapons here.”

  “Screw that,” Python refuses.

  “Then you will have to stay outside.”

  Meek and Shawn put their weapons in a box that is put in a safe. They follow their unnamed escort into the building. They get into the airlift and go to the top floor. As they walk down the hallway, they notice all the mounted machine guns following their every move. They come up to end of the hallway where there are two big doors that open as they approach. As they walk in, they see a huge conference table with several chairs. The big chair at the end of the table is turned around looking out the window. Someone is sitting in the chair facing the window, but Meek can only see an arm with a cigar in the hand.

  “Welcome to my humble abode, Capt. Meeks. I am Trent, the guild master of this fine establishment,” Trent says with a smoothness to it.

  Meek nervously replies,” Glad to meet you.”

  “You do work for Pirate Lord Cos as a freelancer, no?”

  “Yes, from time to time.”

  “I have a job for you that requires your set of skills. I need you to set up a meeting for me with a certain lady.”

  “Um... why can’t one of your crew do that?”

  “Her name is Lady Evella Noctu of the Noctu Merchant Group. I have sent some people, but that didn’t turn out so well. She has people trying to assassinate her on a regular basis, so anyone from my humble guild would be killed before they even got a word out. As much as it will pain you not to lie or scam, when you are dealing with her, I would not recommend doing either. She is a telepath, a very powerful one at that, so she will know if you’re lying.”

  “Er... so you just want me to set up a meeting? That is all?”

  “Correct.”

  “What is the catch and what is in it for me?”

  “Four hundred platinum bars and a hauling license from the Shipping Union.”

  “Seems straightforward,” Meek is wondering what happens if he refuses. He glances at Shawn and notices he has that same concerns.

  “Very good then. Here is the address of the hotel where she is staying in the Consortium District. They have meeting rooms there already so I have rented Suite A. After you speak with her, let me know the time for the meeting,” Trent says with a certain vigor.

  “Okay, I will go find her now,” Meek assures him. He leaves the room with Shawn.

  “So do you think she will kill him?” a male arachnid says, coming out of invisibility then moving to the seated man in the corner.

  Trent replies, “I hope not. Running low of communication ideas.”

  ***

  “This is the room,” Meek says in a hesitant fashion.

  “Python and I should probably wait around the corner, so she doesn’t get spooked,” Shawn suggests.

  “Gee, thanks.” Meek looks at both of them with a frown.

  “Yeah, I agree with Shawn…just in case she gets upset easily. I don’t want my brain fried,” Python says in a nervous manner.

  “Oh now Mr. Guns-a-blazing wants to take a back seat to the action,” Meek says with a huff. “Why don’t YOU knock on the door and I will cower around the corner.”

  “Why don’t you all SHUT UP before I kill all you just for annoying me,” a loud female voice says with irritation from behind the door. The three stop talking and start making faces and shrug shoulders at each other. “Well, you going to come in or just stand there crapping in your pants. I don’t have all day.”

  “Sure thing, Lady Eve,” Meek manages to squeak out as all three come in the door. They see a corpse on floor with a severed head next to it. Lady Eve is sitting on an expensive sofa reading a handheld tablet. Their own weapons spring up out of their holsters in midair activating while swiveling around and aiming at the three of them.

  Eve says, “Who are you and what do you want? You have 60 seconds before I add your heads to my collection.”

  “Guild Master Trent would like to meet with you to discuss something of importance,” Meek says without hesitation.

  “The Assassin Guild Master, hmm, interesting. Sounds like the spider is inviting me to his web. Why should I accept this offer?”

  “On the contrary, he wants to meet you in one of the meeting rooms downstairs whenever you’re available.”

  “You are pirates. What are you doing speaking for the Assassins’ Guild?”

  “Umm...well you killed all the assassins he sent, probably because you thought they meant you harm, but they were just trying to deliver a message.”

  “Well that makes sense. Tell him I will meet him downstairs in 30 minutes and not to be late.”

  “Yes, Milady,” Meek says staring down his own gun barrels hovering in midair.

  “You can pick up your weapons downstairs at the front desk when you return,” Eve assures.

  Python was about to object, but the other two look stared at him shaking their heads in a no fashion and pointed to the corpse on the floor. Python decides not to press the issue. They back out of the door.

  Eve turns to Gothica. “Go to the meeting room and check it out. If looks like a trap, let me know. If not, just wait there and stay invisible,” Eve says.

  “Yes, Mother,” Gothica replies in the soft voice of a female arachnid lurking in invisible mode. Gothica is Eve’s stepdaughter and an arachnid warrior.

  Eve presses her communication device and says, “Front desk can you send up housekeeping? I have a mess that needs to be cleaned up.” She looks at the corpse on the floor.

  “Yes, Madam. Someone will be up there soon.”

  ***

  Thirty minutes later the assassins escort their master to the meeting door downstairs in the lobby of the hotel where Eve is staying. In the room, there are two sofas face each other.

  Trent signals to his guards to wait outside. He walks in and closes the door. He waits about 15 minutes before he starts to get impatient.

  “Bah, on time she says, and yet I have been waiting for 15 minutes,” Trent says in defiance while sitting on a couch.

  “Come now, assassin, do you always get this impatient when you are waiting for you next victim to show up?” Eve causally questions him as she becomes visible sitting on the couch in front of Trent. Trent jumps up after being startled but then tries to down play it as if he knew she was there all along.

  “I was just testing you to see if you thought I didn’t know you were here.”

  Eve chuckles, “Sure you were.” She winks at the assassin.

  “Why am I here?”

  Trent says, “It’s about our government.”

  “Oh?” She implies with intrigue.

  “About 100 years ago, our government and culture radically changed from being ruled by a council that was constructed from all of the guilds to just members of the Merchants’ Guild. They decided to create a system of ‘only strongest will survive’ by having us kill each other like dogs fighting over scraps to advance. At first, everyone decided to try it and now that it is planted firmly into our way of life, it is permanent.”

  “I did some research on it. The old way we were expanding and growing at 2% per year as an empire. But now with this new system, we are losing growth to the tune of about 25% as an empire. Moreover, all of the guilds, except the Merchants’ Guild, have suffered in a similar fashion. The Merchants’ Guild has such a strangle hold on the empire that is getting more powerful at the expense of the empire as a whole.”

  “What does this have to do with you and more importantly me?”

  “The Assassins’ Guild use to be the pentacle of hire for killing. Now any slob off the street can be hired to kill someone, thus devaluing our services and fees. But this is something that effects the other guilds, too, not just the Assassins’ Guild.” Brief pause ensu
es.

  “I believe our government is being manipulated by an outside source, perhaps even another government. This foreign entity is cashing in on us at the same time it is weakening our government. My spies think it may be telepaths or sorcerers behind it.”

  “That is a stretch. Do you have any proof of this?”

  “Unfortunately no. Even my spies, who are professional spies, keep disappearing when they get close inside the Council Hall. The other guilds think the same way.”

  “What does this have to do with me?”

  “The guilds are looking to support someone who is powerful enough to help overthrow the current government.”

  “You mean as in a rebellion, treason, that type of deal?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why do you think I am this person and why would I care about any of this?”

  “We’ve been watching you. Empress Draca does not take interest in people personally unless they interest her. We know you have powers way beyond any normal telepath. You can take part in shaping the new government to ensure that it is in the best interest of the citizens.”

  “And the military?”

  “You mean will Scuttlebutt fall in line. He is old school and more interested in protecting our boarders than politics.”

  “In other words, you haven’t even discussed it with him yet.”

  “I don’t see why he would mind if the new government didn’t affect the military that much.”

  “I don’t like the current system we have, but I am not sure I am ready to revolt just yet. Besides, I have a pressing matter I must attend to in sector nine first. I will be gone for a few months.”

  “The war zone? Why would anyone want to go to an area that is being fought over by several empires?”

  “That is my business. I tell you what, when I get back, we can deal with this issue. One revolution at a time. I need to leave now. I will speak with all of the guilds when I get back.”

  “Very well. Thanks for the audience, Lady Eve,” Trent says wondering what she meant by one revolution at a time.

  ***

  Down in the lobby of the hotel, Meek, Shawn, and Python get their weapons from the front desk. Gothica walks up to them and says, “Lady Eve wishes to talk with you Capt. Meek.”

  “Oh, sorry, but we were just leaving. Got a ship to catch and all,” Meek says in a hurried blur of words.