The Star Cross (15 page)

“The auction
is in two more weeks,” commented one of the other servers. Karen Calvin was
also doing her best to find a decent buyer for her and her young son. “Have you
found anyone yet?”

“No,” Emily
replied with a heavy sigh. “I think, for the most part, they’re interested in
the younger women and the single men.”

“Those two
weeks will pass by quickly,” commented Karen, but looking worried all the same.
“What if they split us apart from our children?”

Emily didn’t
reply; this was her fear also. She couldn’t have Alexis taken from her. Picking
up the tray with her food order, she exited the kitchen. Stepping out into the
large dining hall, she noticed it was nearly full. Her eyes traveled over the
several hundred potential buyers, until her gaze fell on the back of one who
seemed strangely familiar. Looking across the table from him, she gasped
recognizing Admiral Vickers. Her heart stopped, and she dropped her tray, which
made a loud clanging noise when it hit the floor. At that moment, the other man
turned around, and Emily felt as if she were about to faint. It was Andrew! Her
pulse raced, and she could barely breathe.

“Pick up that
tray and clean up that mess,” growled one of the Overseers, who had come over
to see what the commotion was. “Get that food order replaced quickly and don’t
be so clumsy. Sometimes I despair of ever making you humans into a decent
servant.”

“Yes, sir,”
Emily said, bending down and quickly doing as she was told. There was no doubt
in her mind that Andrew and Admiral Vickers had both seen and recognized her. Picking
up the tray, she hurried back to the kitchen. She couldn’t wait to tell the
others.

“I heard a
tray drop,” said Karen, coming over to Emily. She stopped and gazed worriedly at
Emily’s face. “Why are you so pale? Did an Overseer strike you?”

“No,” replied
Emily, struggling to keep her voice low. “Andrew and Admiral Vickers are both out
there.”

“What!”
exclaimed Karen, her eyes widening in shock and hope. “Are you sure? How could
they have found us?”

“I don’t
know,” answered Emily, her heart racing. “But I can tell you one thing. They
won’t leave until they’ve rescued all of us. She grabbed Karen and hugged her,
not caring who saw. “We’re going home!”

-

“That was
Emily,” said Andrew, his eyes wide with hope. “They’re here!”

“Stay seated,”
cautioned Kurt, not wanting to draw any undue attention their way.

“Your mate,”
commented Grantz in understanding. “She is here?”

“My wife,” Andrew
answered. “What do we have to do to get her free? I’m not leaving here without
her and Alexis.”

Grantz was
silent for a moment. “I wouldn’t recommend making an offer on just one human.
It will only drive the price up on the others. Your best price will come from
making an offer for all of them.”

“Who do we
need to talk too?”

“We wait,” answered
Grantz. “Dolman has made arrangements. They will come to us.”

“It is best we
do as Grantz suggests,” commented Lieutenant Tenner. “We have a plan, and, if
it works, we can free all the hostages.”

“I hope they
hurry,” Andrew said, looking in the direction of the kitchen, hoping to see
Emily again. “I want to see my wife and daughter!”

-

Up in orbit
Second Clan Leader Castel listened to the latest report from the surface.

“It’s
confirmed,” reported Dalet. “The humans are at the Marsten training center.” Marsten
maintained a large training center on Kubitz to handle the slaves they brought
to sale.

“Surely they
don’t want to buy back their fellow humans?” Castel asked in confusion. “It
would cost over forty million credits.”

Dalet motioned
toward the large human cargo ship in orbit. “They may have more gold than we
originally believed.”

Castel was
silent as he thought over Dalet’s words. “What if, during the weeks High
Profiteer Creed was away from Earth, they sent the biggest part of their gold
to their colony planet to keep it safe?”

“It will
greatly aggravate the High Profiteer,” predicted Dalet. “We could arrange for a
Dacroni battle group to go to this colony and take the gold.”

“We will leave
that decision up to Clan Leader Jarls,” Castel replied. He didn’t have the
authority to make such a decision. “He will be highly interested in what we’ve
learned. In the meantime, we’ll wait and see if they actually have enough gold
to buy back all the humans who have been taken from their world. I still want one
of the visiting humans captured and brought to me. Perhaps then we can learn
just how much gold they have.”

-

Kurt and the
others had finished their meal when several men in colorful attire walked up to
their table.

“I am Alvit
Meer, and this is Baltwer Janetks,” the taller one said. “We understand you’re
interested in procuring some of these humans?”

“Yes,” Grantz
said. “I’m serving in an advisory position for these negotiations.”

“Just how many
would you be interested in?” Alvit asked, his eyes focusing on Grantz.

“All of them,”
Grantz replied evenly. “Every single one!”

Alvit’s eyes
widened considerably at this announcement. “That would involve a very large sum
of credits. Do you have a Controller computer card showing how many credits are
in your account?”

Kurt handed over
the card, and Alvit handed it to Baltwer, who ran it through a handheld
scanner. “Not quite enough,” he announced.

“We can get
more,” Kurt replied. “Is there somewhere we can go in private to discuss this?”

Alvit looked
at Baltwer, who nodded. “Come with us. There’s a suitable office nearby.”

Kurt and the
others stood up. Glancing at the door to the kitchen where he had seen Emily before,
he saw her standing there, watching with hope in her eyes. He gave her a quick
smile and a casual thumbs-up signal and then turned to follow Alvit. If things
went as he hoped, Andrew would shortly be reunited with his family.

-

Emily was in
her quarters, sitting on the bed, her hands lying in her lap. It was all she
could do not to stand up and pace nervously. She hadn’t told Alexis about her
father being here. She didn’t want to get her daughter’s hopes up, if he
couldn’t find a way to free them. However, she knew that he would move heaven
and earth to do just that. She and Karen had quickly spread the word to the
other adults in the kitchen that Admiral Vickers was on Kubitz. The spirits of
everyone suddenly skyrocketed, as they realized that, just maybe, they were
about to be rescued, and their trying ordeal might be coming to an end.

“What’s going
on, Mother?” asked Alexis, noticing her mother’s odd behavior. “All the adults
in the kitchen were acting strangely. A few were even smiling and laughing. I
haven’t heard that in a long time.”

Before Emily
could reply, there was a knock on the door. Her heart nearly stopped, as she
could think of no reason for someone to be coming to her quarters at this time.
Standing up, she walked hesitantly to the door, praying that she would know the
person standing on the other side. Grasping the handle, she slowly opened it.

“Hello,” said Andrew
with a big smile, as he stepped forward and took his wife in his arms.

“Daddy!”
screamed Alexis, as she saw who held her mother. She ran over and grabbed her
father in a tight hug, never wanting to let go. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, sweetheart,
it’s me.”

“How?” asked
Emily, freeing herself from Andrew with tears running down her face. “How did
you find us?”

“We captured a
Profiteer,” Andrew explained. “He told us everything.”

“Are we going
home?” asked Alexis, still holding on to her father.

“We’re going
to Newton,” answered Andrew, bending down and looking his daughter in the eyes.
“We’ll build a new home there.”

“The
Profiteers still have control of Earth then?” asked Emily wiping the tears from
her eyes.

“Yes,” Andrew
answered grimly. “For now they do, but, if Admiral Vickers has his way, someday
we’ll free Earth.”

“Are we
supposed to go with you now?” asked Emily. She didn’t know if she could bear
being away from Andrew after all that had happened.

“Yes,” he
replied, taking Emily’s hand. “I’ve made arrangements for you and Alexis to
leave now. The rest of our people will be transported to the spaceport over the
next few days and taken up to the
Newton Princess
. It’ll be a little
crowded, but we’ll manage.”

“They’ll free
all of us?” asked Emily, her eyes widening.

“For a price,”
Andrew answered. “We paid forty-five million credits to free everyone and
arrange for transport to the passenger liner.”

“Where did you
get forty-five million credits?” asked Emily.

“That’s a long
story,” Andrew replied. “Now get your stuff and let’s go. I want you and Alexis
safely on board the
Star Cross
.”

Emily looked
around the room that had been her and Alexis’s home for the last three months.
“There’s nothing here that I want,” she said somberly She took her daughter’s
hand and looked directly into the eyes of her waiting husband. “Take us home.”

Andrew nodded
as they exited the room, closing the door behind them.

Admiral
Vickers and the others waited at the ground level. They would shortly be returning
to the
Star Cross
to discuss more matters. Andrew felt a vast relief and
joy in knowing his family was safe. Admiral Vickers had delivered on his
promise, and Andrew would never forget that.

Kurt watched
anxiously as the first shuttles docked with the
Newton Princess
. Each
shuttle contained fifty humans who had been held captive in the Profiteers’
training center. In all 4,206 people needed to be moved. Most were adults, but
nearly three hundred were children. Kurt had seen the working conditions his
people had been subjected to; while not extremely harsh, it had been a very
poor environment for kids.

“I can’t believe
it worked,” Andrew said, as he gazed at a viewscreen, showing a shuttle docking
with the passenger liner.

“Money talks
here,” Kurt said, agreeing with Andrew. It had been expensive, but buying their
people back, keeping them from potential slavery, was worth every cent spent.

“There will be
more.”

“I know.” Kurt
sighed. “Lieutenant Tenner and two of his First Contact team will be staying.
We’ve leased a small building complex to serve as an embassy of sorts. The
Kubitz government even guarantees the buildings and the small area around it
will be secure. Armed Enforcers will be at all gates to the property. Of course
the price is ten million credits per year.”

“Three people doesn’t
sound like a lot,” answered Andrew, frowning, looking over at Kurt. “Emily says
she overheard some of the Profiteers talking, and they claim that tens of
thousands of humans will be brought to Kubitz. I don’t know if Lieutenant
Tenner and a couple of others can handle what might be coming at them.”

“If we let
them get here,” Kurt answered.

He recalled
what Fleet Admiral Tomalson had suggested. Use the fleet like the pirates did
theirs and ambush the Profiteer ships before they could reach the Gothan Empire
and Kubitz. After what he had seen and understood could be bought on this godforsaken
planet, there was no doubt in his mind that he would do just that.

“You mean,
locate their convoys and take our people back before they reach here?” asked Andrew,
his forehead creasing in a frown as he thought that concept over. “We don’t
have the technology to locate a ship in hyperspace. Once a ship jumps, we have
no idea where it’s going.”

“The
technology might be available here on Kubitz,” Kurt replied. Earth may not have
developed the technology yet, but it didn’t mean that others might not have.
Also, when they had first jumped into the system, Grantz had mentioned that
Kubitz had a way to locate ships when they exited hyperspace.

“What does Lieutenant
Tenner think about staying here on Kubitz?” It was something Andrew wouldn’t
consider. From what he had seen of the planet, it was a madhouse and extremely
dangerous.

“He
volunteered,” answered Kurt promptly. “We have eight other specialists—besides
the First Contact team—who will be staying, so we can get everything organized
and set up. I’m also leaving twenty Marines to act as a security detail with
Sergeant Jones in charge. I don’t fully trust the Kubitz government to hold up
their end of the agreement as far as security goes. It wouldn’t take much to
buy a few officials and get them to look the other way.”

“I assume we’ll
leave some gold behind to ensure Lieutenant Tenner has the credits available to
procure the release of future human captives.”

“More than
that,” Kurt replied. “I’m leaving the light cruiser
Dallas
behind. If
things get too hot, Lieutenant Tenner and his people can always evacuate to the
cruiser and even return to Newton if necessary. I’ve been speaking to Grantz,
and nearly every government in the galaxy that has had contact with the Gothan
Empire has a compound on the planet to do business when necessary. They also
keep at least one ship in permanent orbit to ensure the safety of their people.
It costs a fee, but it will be worth it. It seems as if no one actually trusts
the Kubitz government fully, though Grantz claims there has never been a major
incident, due to the penalties that would be levied by the Controllers.”

“These damn
Controllers,” muttered Andrew, his eyes showing a contemptuous glint. “They
seem to control all the money. I wish we knew more about them.”

“Perhaps Lieutenant
Tenner can learn more. I intend to rotate the
Dallas
and the
Sydney
.
When the
Sydney
returns, they’ll bring more embassy staff. I’m also
returning to the surface this afternoon. You recall that one of our other
orders was to procure a defense system for Newton. Grantz is in the process of
contacting the right people for us to speak to. Lieutenant Tenner has set up a
conference room in our new embassy, and we’ll be meeting there.”

Andrew groaned
and shook his head. “Why do I think this will be very expensive?”

“That’s why we
have the
Lansing
,” answered Kurt, glancing up at a viewscreen that
showed the cargo ship.

They monitored
every ship in the fleet twenty-four hours a day to ensure no unscheduled
visitors appeared from the surface. A viewscreen displayed each ship, plus the tactical
screen was closely watched. In addition, at least one of the three warships was
kept at Condition Two at all times.

He knew the Kubitz
government had no idea how much gold was on the cargo ship. It was one reason
why he had moved an additional fifteen Marines from the
Star Cross
to
support the twenty already assigned to the ship. He would also move the battlecruiser
a little closer to the
Lansing
, just as a precaution. The gold on that
ship was the key to protecting Newton and perhaps someday freeing Earth.

“How’s Emily
and Alexis doing?” Both had been brought aboard the
Star Cross
and were
staying in Andrew’s quarters.

“Great! From
what I understand, the food they were fed was quite bland in taste and nearly
the same every day. I took Emily and Alexis to the mess hall and let them order
whatever they wanted. The cooks even managed to whip up some spaghetti for
Alexis. They’re back in my quarters, resting.”

“If they need anything
else, let me know,” Kurt said, and he meant it. He knew how he would feel if
this was his sister and nephew they were talking about. He was just glad they
were both safe on Newton.

“You rescued
them,” Andrew answered with a smile. “That’s enough for me. Alexis is still a
little shaken up from her ordeal, and Dr. Willis has indicated that she should
be back to normal in a few weeks. He’s planning on checking on her and Emily
regularly.”

“I’m glad to
hear that,” Kurt replied. He could well imagine how frightened Alexis had been
by all this. What child wouldn’t have? It still angered him immensely at the
sheer audacity of the Profiteers in abducting children. He wished there was
some way he could make them suffer for their actions.

“Admiral,
several shuttles have left the Dacroni battleship in the last hour,” reported
Lieutenant Brooks with some concern in her youthful voice. “All landed at the
same spaceport our people are being taken to.”

Andrew looked over
at Kurt with concern in his eyes. “Do you think there’ll be a problem?”

“I don’t
know,” answered Kurt. “I hired Dolman for extra security for our people. He promised
everything would go smoothly.”

“Dolman makes
me feel uneasy,” commented Andrew, his eyes narrowing sharply. “He’s a damn
shyster!”

Kurt laughed.
“The man’s working the Kubitz black-market system to make a living. He runs a
very large security and information-gathering business. He has connections all
over the planet and even a few on other worlds of the Gothan Empire. We could
find him very useful in the future.”

“Dolman and
Grantz,” muttered Randson, shaking his head in disbelief. “What are we coming
to?”

“The galaxy’s
not as we believed,” answered Kurt, his voice taking a serious tone. “It’s full
of intelligent space-going races. While many of the more advanced ones are
reportedly peaceful, some are like the Profiteers who aren’t. We have to adapt,
or we’re done for.”

“You’re
right,” Andrew said, as he looked down at a console, which showed the ship’s
current status. “I just wish things were different.”

“We all do,”
Kurt replied, as his gaze shifted to a screen showing Kubitz.

-

Kurt stepped from
the shuttle and looked over at the man in charge of his Marine escort, Sergeant
Jones.

“Grantz made arrangements
for a couple vehicles to pick us up,” the sergeant said, as he eyed the
vicinity of the landed shuttle for signs of anything suspicious. He was
responsible for the admiral’s safety, and he took his job very seriously. He
would also be staying behind to command the security detachment at the embassy
compound.

“What do you
think of Grantz?” asked Kurt, curious to hear the sergeant’s opinion.

Jones smiled.
“He’s one hell of a poker player. I’ve never met someone who can bluff like he
can.”

“Cleaned me
out,” commented Private Lucy Dulcet. “I thought he was bluffing, and he laid
down a full house. Made my two pair meaningless.”

“I won’t
gamble with him,” Corporal Evans said loudly. “He’s a crook, and I wouldn’t put
it past him to be cheating.”

“No,” responded
Private Dulcet, shaking her head. “He doesn’t have to cheat, and, besides,
you’re a lousy poker player.”

Corporal Evans
glared at Dulcet, but, before he could make a retort, two vehicles pulled up.

“Here are our rides,”
spoke up Jones, carefully scrutinizing the vehicles.

These were two
of the more modern vehicles that ran on hydrogen as a power source. They were
very quiet and, according to Grantz, highly economical. The hydrogen-powered
vehicles were something the Kubitz government initiated to help curb the
rampant pollution. Looking across the city, Kurt could see a thick gray haze
and recognized it as heavy smog. About 40 percent of the city was covered by a large
habitation dome; the poorer areas were left outside. Grantz had told him, at
times, it was too dangerous to go outside the protective city dome without a
breathing mask. Kurt knew, in the past, that some of the cities in China had done the same thing. Those days were long gone, but industrial smog was still a
problem in some of the underdeveloped areas of Earth.

Five Marines and
the sergeant accompanied Kurt. Two Marines and Sergeant Jones got in the
vehicle with him, and the remaining three Marines were in the other one. Kurt
had purchased twenty more of the translation devices, so the Marines could
understand what was said around them. He also planned on each member of the
embassy staff having one.

The driver was
a humanoid with a very white complexion; his eyes were set wider on his head
than normal, and the hair on his head was limited to a very narrow strip down
the center.

“Profiteer Grantz
has directed that I take you and your people to the complex of buildings you
have leased in the dome,” the driver said nonchalantly.

“Yes,” Kurt
replied. “I have a meeting scheduled there shortly.”

The driver
nodded, and the vehicle started moving. Kurt was amazed at how quiet it was.
Even the air in the vehicle had none of the foul smells associated with the
spaceport and the smog.

“The air
smells better in here,” Sergeant Jones commented.

“Yes,” the
driver responded. “All these new hydrogen-powered vehicles have an air-filtration
system installed that cleans out the impurities. The vehicles also injects
clean air back outside.”

-

As they drove through
the outskirts of the capital, Kurt looked at the busy and crowded streets.
There were vehicles of every type imaginable. Hydrogen-powered vehicles,
several different electric-powered cars, and even a few of the old-style combustion
engine varieties. Many people walked, and the sidewalks were as crowded as the
ones in New York City. It was obvious from the condition of the older vehicles
that the poorer citizens were dependent on them. There was some public transportation.
Huge lumbering vehicles resembling buses rumbled up and down the streets. Kurt
wasn’t sure how they were powered.

On the crowded
sidewalks, human species from dozens of different planets were evident. They
were garbed in colorful to dull-looking outfits. Even from the inside of the
vehicle, he could see people haggling and money passing from hand to hand. The numerous
shops had advertisements in the windows, just like the stores back on Earth. One
thing that Kurt found disturbing was the number of guns people wore on their
hips.

They had just
turned down a less crowded street and were nearing one of the large entrances
to the dome when the driver slowed down and stopped.

“What is it?” asked
Kurt, leaning forward and looking ahead. He couldn’t see anything other than
more stopped vehicles.

“Must be an accident,”
the driver replied, as he gazed up ahead to see what was holding up traffic.
“They happen quite regularly.”

Kurt’s
response was cut off when an explosion rocked their vehicle. He was flung hard against
the door and had the breath knocked out of him.

“We’re under
attack!” yelled Sergeant Jones, as he struggled to free his 9mm pistol. “That
was an explosive round!”

Several more
explosions rang out, shaking the vehicle, with the last knocking it on its
side. Kurt could smell something burning and was fearful the vehicle was on
fire. He coughed several times from the black smoke slowly filling up the interior.
Looking up front, he saw the driver was unconscious.

“We need to abandon
this vehicle,” Kurt said, struggling to sit up. They were sitting ducks inside
and helpless to defend themselves. They needed a better tactical location.

One of the
other Marines stood up, managed to fling open the door, and crawled free. A
shot rang out, and the young Marine slid back into the vehicle with a startled
look on his face. Kurt felt ill seeing the bullet hole between his eyes and the
red blood running down his face.