Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by G. J. Koch Read Free Book Online Page B

lasted quite a while. Randolph got himself under control the fastest. “Nap, you’ve got to be kidding. I know you keep that ancient thing on you, but who the hell else even has one?”
    “Janz the Butcher, for one.”
    They looked at me in shock. “You’re kidding,” Slinkie said. “Someone that well connected is using ancient technology?”
    I shrugged. “He likes to be able to access anyone at any time. So, yeah, he has a cell. He also has a variety of transmitters as well as up-to-date equipment. You want to talk to him and question his choices?” This question was met with uncomfortable silence. “Didn’t think so. So, Governor, back to the bedroom. At least we know it’s not bugged. Probably our safest place to make the call.”
    He nodded. “I’d prefer to be sitting anyway.”
    “Randolph, while we make the call, can you and Audrey please check on who was trying to plant that bomb? And, Audrey, please up the security programs to full. We’re plugged in and charging, so
the drain shouldn’t cause the Sixty-Nine any problems. Slink, I hate to say this, but call Lionside and see if he mentions this. Make a date with him for tomorrow night, oh-twenty-hours, at the Crazy Bear.”
    Slinkie nodded. “Let me guess. That’s when and where you’re meeting up with the Herion Business Bureau.”
    “I love you for your brains, Slink.”
    “You lie pathetically, Nap.”
    The Governor and I went back into his room, he went back to his chair. “We should have just said we were using the cell in the first place.”
    “Would have raised suspicions. Slinkie, at least, would have asked why.”
    “True. So, what’s the situation you want to tell Janz? In full, I mean?”
    He drove me crazy with this. “We’re trapped on Herion, because there’s an armada with the best cloaking in the galaxy lurking in their solar space. You thinks it’s a pirate armada, but you haven’t seen fit yet to tell me how you know.”
    “Because it’s a signature from over thirty years ago. Old nemesis. I’ll fill you in after we take care of this business.”
    “Can’t wait. We have Herion Military watching our every move and suggesting we stay planetside. We don’t know if it’s because they want us spending our space credits, if they’re concerned for our welfare, or if they have nefarious plans for us.”
    “I feel Miss Slinkie might be the goal of the nefarious plan.”
    “Too damned true. And, finally, we have the Herion Business Bureau who wants a word. They insinuated but didn’t actually confirm that they want us to get something off this planet and out into the rest of the galaxy to make money. If that’s the case, we can’t say no. Unfortunately, the big question of the day is how we get away from Herion solar space alive.”
    “Succinctly put.” The Governor reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small, slim piece of very old equipment.

    “Ringer’s off.”
    “You can’t seriously think I’m going to waste the energy in dialing.”
    He grinned. Still had all his teeth, and they weren’t disgusting. I was always grateful—Great-Aunt Clara had put a lot of store in good dental work, and it had rubbed off on me. “You don’t want to test and make sure the cells are still functioning?”
    I rolled my eyes. “You got a call from the Ipsita Company on it just fine two weeks ago, right?”
    “Right.” He leaned back and dropped his voice a few registers.
    “What can I do for you, Mister Outland?”
    I resisted the urge to hit him. He was an old man. Let him enjoy himself. “I need advice.”
    The Governor nodded. “Janz the Butcher is glad to help his favorite son.”

CHAPTER 15
    “I f I were really your son, I’d be like eighty or something.”
    “I never married. It’s a figure of speech.” The Governor shook his head. “You’re so testy when we do this. I’ve never understood why.”
    The why was actually easy, and I’d never understood how he hadn’t figured it out. My