D'Mok Revival 1: Awakening (3 page)

Sudden yells drew his attention to a group quarrelling by an Add-Ur-Skills station. Something about the exchange was reassuring somehow; that everything wasn’t perfect here made him feel more comfortable.

A uniformed attendant emerged from the crowd and engaged the aliens. In moments, the fighting pair were escorted away.

“Sorry for the delay.”

Hearing Bob’s voice, Mencari looked around expecting to see the bug-bot, but realized the voice was used for more than just the bot; the lift had returned. He entered and pressed the Antar Deck button, then squinted at the odd halo around the lettering. Curious, he rubbed the button’s surface, revealing an inscription different from what he first saw.

Bob said things would be translated for him. In the same instant of awe, he recalled what his drill instructor used to say:
“Always be aware and on guard.”

His stomach fluttered as the lift sped upward, this time from speed
and
the anxiety welling inside him.

The roar of the crowds flooded in as the doors opened. Hordes moved busily about, scouring for bargains. In contrast to the openness of the other deck, this one’s ceiling was much lower. Shops, booths and kiosks created a series of bottlenecks along the narrow corridor. He stepped out of the lift and looked for the location of the gemologist’s booth that had advertised on the jobs board. He groaned. He didn’t think it would be so different here. He should’ve asked Bob for more detailed directions.

“Welcome to the Antar Deck,” the voice suddenly said. “Here you can find a host of shops and markets. Don’t forget to check the cultural repository for information on worlds in our sector, and the communication gallery for the latest language updates!”

Mencari’s nose wrinkled.
Hope it’s not gonna do that every time I stop on a deck.

A strange feeling began to gnaw at him. He tried to dismiss it, but it persisted. Across the corridor, he saw the cloaked alien again, and recognized its form as female—or at least, similar to a human female’s. The stream of traffic broke around her like a boulder in a shallow stream, but this time, piercing violet eyes fixed on him with stunning intensity.

Maybe she worked for the Pleasure Deck, or Pleasure District, or whatever Bob had called it. For an alien, she was beautiful, even with the thumbnail-sized lavender scales that outlined her face. The colored scales bent slightly as she smiled—was that at him? Mencari began heading toward her, but she was gone in that instant, swallowed into the flowing crowd.

He looked about confused. Too many foreign shapes to pick her out. But those eyes! She wanted something.

People on this deck were rude and pushy. Concerned about pickpockets, he shoved his hands deep into his pockets to protect his few valuables. Finally, after wandering aimlessly for nearly a half hour, in the distance across many aisles of the bazaar, he saw a large sign on a pole, flashing as it rotated with sparkling gems of brilliant hues.

“That’s gotta be it,” he muttered. “Finally. This place is crazy.”

* * * * *

“Thanks for waiting,” the attendant said. “Can I help you?”

A smile crossed his face when he saw the teddy bear of a figure struggling to provide attentive service. The one alien cheerfully juggled numerous customers. Finally it was his turn.

“Yes,” he said. “Do you know where I can find Andus Wedor?”

This brought a smile and, “That’s me.”

“I’m here about the, uh, ‘fire marble’ posting?”

The gemologist’s eyes widened. “Really? You’re the first!”

Mencari found that hard to believe. Why was he the first? He tried to exude as much competence as he could muster despite his general confusion. “Could you tell me more about these stones? These fire marbles?”

Andus held up a fuzzy finger; the rest of his body folded and disappeared behind the counter. When he reemerged, he looked keenly around, seeming to make sure no one else was watching. Then, he held out his cloak to partially hide what he had in his enormous hand. It was a container, flat on the bottom, rounded on top, almost as big as his paw, that pulsed with a red light. When he touched a button on it, it opened like a tiny planetarium to show two red spheres inside. Both radiated a powerful glow.

The gemologist looked nervously up and down the corridor. No one seemed to be paying any attention. “
These
are fire marbles,” Andus said. “I have no idea what they’re really called--got them in a trade long ago. Very rare. I paid a small fortune for them. Haven’t had the time to track down more. But I certainly want to.”

Mencari tried to keep his eyes on the spheres; they were beautiful and intense, the light captivating. He found a warmth of happiness spreading through his whole body.

“Do you know where they’re from?” he asked.

Andus gave a sad shake of his head. “The trader didn’t know himself. Got them in trade from another source. I’ve tried every info station here to find out more about them or their origin. Came up with nothing. Nothing similar described anywhere. That’s what I’m willing to pay someone to find out.”

Andus pushed the container’s button again, and the top closed. Both Mencari and the gem dealer stood there silent for a long time, each breathing deeply, perfectly relaxed.

After a long while, Andus spoke again. “When the gems are apart there’s no glow, and you don’t feel that amazing warmth. I need more of these! Tell me where I can find them. Bring me more. And I’ll pay you very well.”

Mencari nodded. “I can try.”

Andus held out his free hand. “Give me your credit stick. I’ll upload all the data I’ve pulled together on the gems, along with setting up the transactions ahead of time. As soon as you give me the location—and have physical proof—I’ll transfer the first payment. When you arrive and give me the stones, you’ll get the second.”

“Credit stick? Uh, I’m new here—”

Mencari felt a sudden motion at his feet, as Bob skittered up to the gemologist and presented him with an object, one Mencari recognized as the card used by the alien at the Wanted Boards. Andus looked at the bug-bot, surprised, then turned guarded eyes on Mencari as Bob disappeared into the crowd. “You’re new here?”

“Yeah. That stick free too?”

Andus thought a moment, his expression growing slightly suspicious. “And the bug talked to you when you arrived?”

Mencari nodded.

A long moment later, Andus said, “Tell Tenrl hi for me. . .”

“Who? You mean Bob?”

Andus seemed surprised at Mencari’s response.

“Never mind,” Andus said hastily, and swiped the memory stick through a small device.

Bob’s voice immediately chirped from it, “Transaction events are ready. They will occur upon approval of GemScape Enterprises.”

He handed the accessory to Mencari. “It’s all set. Good luck now.”

* * * * *

Mencari walked in the stream of people toward the lifts. His mind spun, trying to develop a strategy for what to do next, how to begin a search for the elusive gems. With a jolt, he noticed familiar violet eyes, even more striking up close, peering from a break in the traffic before him.

He expected her to disappear into the crowds again. Instead, she approached. A chill wrapped around his spine when a silky voice streamed through the translator. “Coalition visitor. You are new here, yes?”

He nodded.

“Looking for profit?”

“Yes,” he replied, noting her clipped, sophisticated accent. “I saw you before. Who are you?”

“I am Eyani. And I’ve made you uncomfortable. My apology. It’s my job to find those that could aid us. You must be a warrior . . . from your armament.” She nodded toward his hand-phaser. “That would make you a potential candidate.”

With narrowed eyes, Mencari said, “For what?”

A sigh escaped her tiny, scale-shrouded mouth. “I represent those that manage the query stations here at the trading post. We seek . . .” she paused. Was she looking for the right word? Or reluctant to say what she was looking for?

“We seek,” she continued, “information. I overheard you speaking to that gem vendor. Perhaps you will be going . . . in search of something he wants? If you are interested, I have a lucrative proposition for you.”

A sudden surge in the crowd pushed them together and against the wall. When he steadied himself and they separated, Mencari realized he was indeed interested in what this strange woman wanted. “Go on.”

Eyani nodded. “We have a growing need for additional information concerning wild and rare creatures in this region of space. A warrior such as you is sure to encounter such beings on your explorations. The collecting of the information will not be a heavy burden. I can provide a small device that will record any information and transmit it back to our data collection center. You need only take it with you.”

She looked at him carefully. “Concurrently, I can offer excellent compensation for the information. The funds are universal. They will be instantly available for your use.”

He considered this. Mencari wondered how much she knew about him, about what he was doing here, and about what he was really seeking.

She took his silence as reluctance. “Of course, if the gem merchant’s offer is enough, and you don’t want any more income—”

“No, no,” he said quickly. “I was just thinking. What information are you looking for?”

“The device will collect basic statistics of any creature you encounter. Weight, size, general composition, even an image in its habitat. If you battle, then it can also capture any exposed weaknesses, strengths, or behavioral traits. The instrument will, of course, automatically scan and securely transmit all information.”

Mencari met those violet eyes with confidence he couldn’t feel. Actually, he had no idea what he’d do beyond returning to the asteroid base. He might just resume his training and not leave the again for a long time. But—she implied the job paid well.

“This device, Mencari asked, “is completely benign? Can I shut it off whenever I want? And if I encounter any creature, the gizmo will record the information you want. And I’ll get paid?”

“Yes. Are you interested?”

He shrugged.
Seems harmless enough
. “Okay.”

She pulled a small black pin from a concealed pocket of her robe. “Then we accept your entry as an information seeker. On behalf of my employers and myself, I thank you.”

He took it, momentarily staring at the dull, innocuous surface, before pinning it on his chest. It blended well against the color and texture of his shirt. He waited for her to explain, but she paused awkwardly and said, “Well, Mr. Mencari, everything has been set up.”

“How many, ah,
information seekers
are there? Besides me, I mean.”

“A few dozen.” She gave him a small smile. “Some never encounter new creatures. And some don’t survive if they do. As you can imagine, there’s a certain amount of risk, anytime you meet a potentially wild, and therefore dangerous creature. You appear . . . more than capable of handling such situations.”

He blushed, but just grunted in agreement. She reached out and showed him how to deactivate it. “But remember, your payment will be based on the amount of information collected by the device. The longer you leave it on, the better for you.”

He tucked it away. “How do I contact you . . . Eyani?”

She smiled. “I will be here. Safe hunting, Mr. Mencari.” She bowed, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

It took him few moments to recall what he was doing before meeting her.

The fire marbles, yes. But where do I even start?
Andus said not to bother with the information stations here, he had already searched their records and found nothing.

Osuto would have some suggestions.

Mencari looked around, then reached into his inner pocket and switched off the recording device.

* * * * *

It didn’t take long for Osuto to find a reference in the asteroid base’s vast archives similar to Andus’s mysterious glowing stones. Indeed, he found three such references, all of which named one world: a planet named Aeun. Specifically, a town called Buri.

As he transmitted the information to Mencari, Osuto said, “I’m not thrilled about delaying your training, you know. And we really need to find a qualified technician as soon as possible. And so many things have to be done to the station’s physical structure. But it’s potentially worth the detour to Aeun.”

“According to what this Andus fellow said,” Mencari said. “if I can find these fire marbles, we’re home free on paying for the equipment and hiring a crew engineer.”

There was a pause, then Osuto’s voice came back over the communicator. “Be sure you obtain a flight plan and world maps before heading out. You’re a gifted warrior. But put mildly, your piloting experience is lacking. Be careful.”

Mencari smiled. It was nice to be worried about for a change.

Remembering Bob’s recommendations, he made his way back to the Andar Deck to procure the minor resources on Osuto’s list, at least the ones he could afford. He then found the culture repository. It took some rummaging, but he found what looked like a suitable package of travel information about Aeun in a bargain bin. After a quick purchase, he went to the communication gallery and purchased an add-on translation matrix.