“The BOGAs,” Misha confirmed, remembering the name Finaeus used for the Orion Guard’s spy organization.
“One and the same,” Finaeus replied.
<But what’s a BOGA ship doing here,> Sabrina said. <I thought they operated outside Orion’s borders, just like The Hand.>
Finaeus shrugged. “That’s the only place The Hand ever ran into them. But Kirkland also has internal police forces too. Some public, some secret.”
“I’ve heard of one of those,” Misha said. “Out on the far side of Stillwater. We called them the Widows.”
“Really?” Finaeus asked. “Why’s that?”
“I’ve only heard rumors, but they were the ones the Feds would send in if someone was trafficking in illegal tech. The stories always have them clothed in black, always women. They’d appear, seize the tech, often killing whoever had it, and then be gone like that,” Misha said, snapping his fingers for emphasis.
<So you knew someone, who knew someone?> Sabrina asked.
“Close. I knew a guy who saw one, once. He was going to do a deal for some genetic mods. The life extending ones.”
Finaeus crossed his arms. “So how’d your friend escape.”
“Well, he didn’t trust the seller, so he was scouting the place out. It was going down in a section of a station that was cordoned off for repairs. He sent in some probes and was watching remote feeds when he spotted a shadow that moved.”
<Shadows move all the time,> Sabrina interjected.
“Hey, let me tell this,” Misha replied. “Anyway, he watched the shadow as it slipped through the station, until it got to the meeting place. He kept trying to see what was casting it, but he couldn’t. It didn’t look like a person, more like an amorphous blob. Anyway, when it got to the meeting place, it stopped moving. Before long the seller showed up. That’s when the shadow suddenly formed into a woman.”
Misha took a sip of the bourbon he’d brought in with him before continuing. “She was sheathed in black. Her head, face, everything. The seller guy, well, he freaked. I guess he’d heard the rumors as well. He tried to run, but then black tendrils shot out from the Widow’s hands and caught his neck.”
“Tendrils?” Finaeus asked. “Solid, or particulate?”
Misha shrugged. “I forgot to ask. Either way the tendrils killed the guy fast. A lot quicker than choking. He said the Widow took the case with the tech, wrapped it in something, and then she and the case turned back into a shadow and left.”
“Sounds like personal stealth tech,” Finaeus mused. “Your friend’s probes probably picked up some EM shadow or something caused by the stealth system. They’re good, but not perfect.”
Misha then explained how the Peerless Transport shuttle from Ur had been cancelled, but still made the trip down to Ferra.
<So do you think that one of these Widows has Cheeky?> Sabrina asked. <What would they want with her?>
“If they’re a secret government agency, they’ll have much better tech than the Orion populace gets their hands on,” Finaeus replied. “Maybe one of us screwed up, tipped our hand, and they investigated.”
<So you think this BOGSY Widow has been chasing us for four systems?>
Finaeus ran a hand through his hair and walked across the bridge, then turned and walked back. “I don’t know what to think. We’re off in pure speculation-land right now. All we do know is that a very uncommon Orion Guard vessel is currently docked up on Ur, and its linked to a shuttle that came down at an unusual time to an unusual place.”
<That’s more than a little coincidence,> Sabrina said.
Misha stared at the ship on the holo, remembering how creeped out his friend had been when telling the story of the Widow. “We need to call the girls.”
<Already on it,> Sabrina replied.
PEERLESS TRANSPORT
STELLAR DATE: 03.10.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Parda City, Ferra, Sullus System
REGION: Midway Cluster, Orion Freedom Alliance Space
“The fuck!” Jessica swore and slammed her fist into the stairwell door. “We’ve checked fifty exits from the storm drainage system and there’s not a single sign of them anywhere!”
<Easy, Jess, we’ll find them,> Iris said, her soothing tone coming across as forced.
Nance leant against the wall and tugged at thick braid into which her long brown hair was woven. “They had to leave the tunnels somewhere.”
“And we’ve checked fifty exits out of thousands,” Jessica replied. “We could spend a year doing this and never turn up a trace.”
<This isn’t like you, Jessica,> Iris said. <You can’t give up.>
“I just figured whoever had taken Cheeky would be an amateur, that they’d leave a trail. But this was a pro, and the trail’s getting cold, fast.”
“But it’s too risky,” Jessica countered. “We’re dealing with someone who was able to snatch Cheeky right out from under my nose. If we go off on our own we’ll just add to the missing.”
<Hey, you guys found anything yet?> Sabrina said broke into their conversation, a strange note in her voice.
<We’ve found that we can’t find whoever this is,> Jessica retorted. <Any luck on your end?>
<Yeah, Misha found a clue. We located a ship on Ur—>
<The moon?> Nance interrupted.
<Yeah, Ur, the moon. We were in the same system as this other ship a couple months ago. But that’s not the half of it.>
<Do go on,> Jessica prompted.
Sabrina proceeded to explain the ship’s Orion connections, and related Misha’s story of the Widows—which would explain how Cheeky’s abductor was able to disappear so completely. Though the Orion Guard using an all-female group of assassin tech hunters struck her as hard to believe.
Jessica started up the stairwell. <I think we should take the Sexy and check out the shuttle that came from Ur. There may be clues, and it’s obviously this person’s planned escape route.>
<If we’re going up against some Orion secret agent person, we’re going to need to gear up,> Nance said. <We can’t just show up and demand Cheeky back.>
<I’ll get the Sexy ready,> Sabrina said. <Actually, I can send it to pick you up if you want me to. There’s a transport pad near you where I can set it down.>
<Perfect,> Jessica replied as she and Nance reached the parking garage’s main floor. <Send us the location and we’ll meet it there, then we’ll boot on out to that spaceport and see what’s the deal with our mystery shuttle.>
<On it,> Sabrina replied.
“I don’t like it,” Nance said as they walked out of the building to the sidewalk. “I feel like we’re leaving Cheeky and Piya behind. They’re probably still in the city, you know.”
<Iris and I have a line into the police and emergency networks,> Erin said. <We’ll know if anything comes up. Finaeus and Misha are still on hand if she turns up in the city.>
“Pardon me if I’m not super-excited about the two of them riding to the rescue,” Nance muttered.
“Calling a car,” Jessica said. “Misha’s come a long way, I’ve been working with him a lot. Finaeus is no slouch either.”
“OK, sure,” Nance replied. “Still rather it be us who find her.”
Jessica nodded. “I hear you there. You never know. Maybe we’ll catch up with the mysterious Widow out at this other spaceport.”
“Jess, you don’t really believe that, do you?” Nance asked as a car drew up to the curb and Jessica pulled open the door.
Jessica gestured for Nance to get in first. “Yes and no. Stealth tech like Misha described was not uncommon back in Sol. That the Orion Guard would have it at their disposal does not surprise me. An all-female black-ops team? I suppose it’s possible, but it seems odd to leave men out. What purpose could that serve?”
Nance shrugged as Jessica closed the door. “Well, if it is one of th
ose Widows who has Cheeky, we’ll have to ask her. After we beat the shit out of her, at least.”
<Wouldn’t you want to beat someone right to the point before the shit comes out?> Erin asked. <Shit doesn’t really bother me that much, but you two have a definite aversion to it.>
Nance placed her hand on her face. “Trying to add some levity to the situation, Erin?”
<A bit. Does it help?>
Jessica chuckled. “I’m all in favor of lightening the mood—no pun intended—but poop jokes rarely work for that.”
<Trevor and Cargo like them. Finaeus is a master of the poop joke,> Erin countered.
“Then leave it to the masters,” Nance replied.
Seven minutes later the car pulled up at the public transport pad. The pad wasn’t much more than a large lot behind a shopping district where light shuttles, and VTOL aircraft could touch down.
“There she is.” Jessica pointed into the deepening dusk at the gleaming shape of the SS Sexy lowering onto the pad.
<Your chariot has arrived,> Sabrina said. <It occurred to me, though. If this Orion agent knows about us, they probably know about the Sexy too. How’re you going to fly to that other space port without alerting them?>
<We’re not flying the Sexy,> Jessica said as they walked between the ships on the pad, looking for a pinnace similar to the Sexy. <We’re flying the…Maiden Starlight.>
<The what?> Sabrina asked. <Oh, I see. I shouldn’t have asked.>
Jessica couldn’t help but laugh. <Yeah, you really shouldn’t have.>
<I’ve stripped the Maiden Starlight’s Ident,> Iris advised. <Good pick, it has a similar profile to the Sexy. Wouldn’t fool anyone on a world with more than a dozen monkeys running their ATC, but it shouldn’t be a problem here.>
As Jessica and Nance approached the Sexy, the pinnace’s ramp lowered, and they rushed onto the ship.
“Iris, or Erin, would one of you ladies get us airborne? Nance and I need to gear up.”
<Already on it,> Iris said as the pinnace’s ramp closed behind them and the ship lifted into the air on its grav drive.
The two women walked into the second cabin, and Nance activated the door into the secret armory. Little more than a closet, it was stocked well enough to outfit four people in light armor, and tactical gear.
“Glad to get out of this,” Jessica said as she pulled the dress off.
“Why?” Nance asked with a wink as she undressed.
“As if you have to ask,” Jessica retorted. “Having to wear a long, flowing dress is the second-worst thing that’s happened today.”
<As if you have anyone to blame but yourself,> Iris chided. <If you weren’t intent on soaking up the sun in the first place…>
Jessica didn’t respond as she pulled on a matte black kinetic dampening underlayer. Once wrapped in its comforting embrace, she stepped onto the armoring pad.
The machine wrapped the ablative plating around her body, then added weapon mounts and ammo pouches. Once the process was complete, it placed the helmet-seal collar around her neck. Directly across from her, Nance was undergoing the same process. They watched each other without speaking, making sure the armoring system did everything properly.
Once it was complete, they stepped off the pads in unison and selected their weapons from the rack.
“Let’s try to keep it to quiet stuff,” Jessica advised as she grabbed a flechette pistol, a pulse pistol, and a pair of vibr-blades, a new toy she’d picked up a few systems back. She slid the vibr-blades into slots built into her armor’s thigh-plates and considered rifle options.
“You should at least have a pulse rifle,” Nance advised. “We may have to fight our way through locals to get out of there.”
“Yeah, just trying to decide on straight pulse, or a multi-mode.”
Nance grabbed one of the multi-mode rifles and handed it to Jessica. “Seriously. You know you want the boom-stick, just take it.”
Jessica grabbed the weapon with a laugh and hooked it onto her back.
<We’re seven minutes out,> Iris chimed in. <I got a pad close, but not too close, to the Peerless Transport shuttle. We’re cradle 107, they’re 143, about a klick away. We’re in the long-term layover section, so it should be close to vacant at this time of day.>
“Works for me,” Jessica replied as she picked up a helmet. “Gonna grab a bite before we set down.”
“Good call,” Nance agreed. “Haven’t had anything since my chocolate martini at the bar.”
Jessica glanced at Nance. “Really? Dirtside and a quintuple threat? I’m impressed.”
“Cargo and Trever rated it six-x.” Nance grinned.
“It’s like you’re all grown up, Nance.”
Seven minutes later, Jessica stood at the top of the ramp, pulling her helmet on as Nance rushed up, still chewing.
“Butter was frozen,” she said with a grin.
Jessica shook her head, and waited for Nance to seat her helmet before they walked down the ramp into the deepening dusk.
They stood between two long rows of smaller shuttles and pinnaces. Most were dark and appeared unoccupied, though a few—such as the Sexy—illuminated the area around them with their running lights.
<This is our first time out, isn’t it?> Jessica asked Nance as they casually strolled along the illuminated path running between the ships.
<Our first? Jess, we get into dustups several times a year.>
<I mean our first that’s just you and I, Nance. Usually more of the crew is along,> Jessica replied.
<Huh…you may be right. Usually Trevor’s with you, bustin’ heads.> Nance’s mental tone was whimsical. <I’m usually back on the ship, or running some sort of distraction. Nice to be out here on the front lines for a change.>
<It was just the two of you in that fight back on Treya,> Erin supplied. <Rest of the crew was back on the ship.>
Jessica laughed softly. <Erin, fights that break out at soccer matches don’t count. You might as well count going out for supper together.>
<Which we’ve almost never done—just you and I,> Nance said, her voice quiet.
<Shit, Nance, I’m sorry. I was always under the impression that you were happy not being dragged along on every outing.>
Nance shrugged. <Most of the time that’s true. Sometimes….>
<I’ll make sure I ask more.>
Iris flashed a warning over their HUDs. <I read a pair of footfalls ahead. The probes I’ve sent out haven’t made it far enough to get a visual, but they sound heavy.>
<Could be guards,> Jessica said.
<That’s what I was implying, captain obvious,> Iris retorted.
Nance ducked behind the nearest docking cradle hiding in the shadows of a light shuttle, the name Fearless Bubbly painted on its side.
Being armed and armored on the pad wasn’t a problem—many of the ships employed private security. However, the spaceport’s regulations stated all guards had to be registered and screened by the port authority.
Jessica and Nance had been through neither of those processes.
The footfalls grew closer, turned a corner, and two armored guards came into view. They walked through an opening between the rows of ships, and turned down the row Jessica and Nance were in.
Jessica looked behind the shuttle beneath which they were crouched and studied the concrete wall separating the rows. She and Nance could make it over, but it would put them directly in view of surveillance not yet disabled by the Iris’s probes.
<If they spot us, we’ll have to take them down,> Jessica said.
<We’ll just be real quiet-like,> Nance replied. <Our gear should keep us invisible on any scanners they’re using. They’ll need to employ the ole Mark 1 eyeball to spot us.>
The guards drew closer, and the two women stood rock-still in the shadow of the shuttle, when a tingle ran across Jessica’s skin and she sneezed.
Her helmet muffled the sound, but she shifted and her foot twisted, kicking out a small pebble out from underneath.
The rock made a loud pling as it hit one of the cradle’s struts, and the feed from the probes showed the pair of guards had stopped.
<Shit, Jessica, I thought you were the pro.>
<I don’t know what that was…I’ve been getting some weird tingles in my skin lately. They’ve never made me sneeze before.>
<Jess, your skin is artificial and filled with alien microbes…if you get weird tingles, you need to tell me or Finaeus so we can check you out,> Nance admonished.
<Hey Nance, I’ve been getting—>
<Not funny, Jessica!>
The two guards were approaching the shuttle and Jessica straightened. <I guess we’ll have to take them out.>
<Sucks,> Iris commented. <I’m not sure if I can fake their check-ins from all the right spots. Someone’s going to notice they’re missing.>
The guards were within twenty meters of the shuttle when Nance reached up and pulled off her helmet. <Take your helmet off, Jess; put it and your gun behind me, the landing strut will obscure them.>
<What are you thinking?> Jessica asked as she quickly complied, leaning past Nance to set her rifle against the strut.
As she did, Nance grabbed the collar of Jessica’s armor and pulled her close, planting her lips on Jessica’s. Then her hands were in Jessica’s hair, pulling it free to cascade around their faces.
<Roll with it, Jessica,> Nance said.
<Nance, this’ll never work, they’re not going to buy it—damn, you’re a good kisser, though. Why have we never done this before?>
“Because you’re celibate,” Nance whispered as she pulled her lips away from Jessica’s for a moment.
“Not you too,” Jessica replied with a soft groan. “Seriously, though, a six-x threat, and now this? What’s come over you today?”
One of the guards came into view a second later, hand on her pistol.
“Hey! You two, what are you—”
Nance and Jessica turned their heads, but kept their bodies pressed together, hoping the darkness and their proximity would hide the quality of their armor.
“What does it look like we’re doing?” Jessica asked.