Solbidyum Wars 3: Pirates of Goo'waddle Canals by Dale Musser Read Free Book Online

was music and dancing, but added that it would be a real security problem for our bodyguards.  I glanced over toward the sour-faced senator and noted two other men had joined him at his table.  All three were staring at us with the same venomous expression.  I was beginning to feel a bit tired from the day’s activity, so I replied that I felt that we should probably leave.  Kala signaled Marranalis and immediately all of our security people were flanking our table, ready to lead and follow us out of the dining room. 
    As we approached the front door, Celpar was there to bid us farewell.  He extended his arms with something in hand and said, “Compliments of the house.” It was a bottle of the Lyonian wine.  “Thank you once again for honoring us with your presence here this evening, Honored First Citizens.  Please do come and dine with us again.”  He stepped back so we could pass.
    “It was our pleasure,” I said.  “Our compliments to your chef and staff; we were well pleased.”
    After this very brief pause the lead troopers opened the doors and stepped out with us following.
    Obviously, word had gotten out that we were there.  A huge throng of people had assembled outside the club and the troopers had to maintain a clear path for the short distance we needed to cover to get to the transport.  People were cheering and chanting “Tibby” and “Kala.” Kala didn’t seem too shocked by the experience, but I was quite taken aback by it.  I waved at the people, which only seemed to excite them more.
    Kala stopped and briefly smiled and waved.  Through her smile she said to me, “Get in the transport quickly before someone shoots you.”  We boarded the transport, but the doors were left open.
    Marranalis stepped into the transport and immediately said, “Activate your cloaking devices and take my hand.  Kala, take Tibby’s hand and then follow me.”
    Once cloaked, I had to fumble about to find his hand.  Kala had managed to find mine.  Quickly we were taken out of the coach and through the still-open front doors of the club.  Inside, Marranalis led us through a narrow corridor, down some stairs and into a basement garage.  There we were led to a much smaller ground transport designed to carry six passengers in tightly packed seats. 
    Marranalis said, “Stay cloaked, even after we all are inside.”  We did as he said, and I noted one of our security team was at the controls.  He spoke again, once we all were in and the doors were sealed.  “We have no way of knowing whether our original transport will be attacked or not.  The senator at the table you mentioned had one of his men make a call someplace, who then went outside and met with some people in the crowd.  Everyone saw you enter the transport, so they all are assuming you are aboard it.  We will wait here a few moments before we leave—that will allow time for the transport and escorts to have pulled away and people will assume we have left.” Moments later, a message came in to Marranalis that the transport was underway.
    Marranalis instructed our driver to drive around to the front of the building and then progress along the same route our entourage would be taking and to maintain some distance behind them.  Marranalis changed the window setting to transparent, so the transport would appear empty (except for the driver) to anyone in the thinning crowd who happen to glance into the vehicle as we passed in front of the club and would assume it was merely someone’s driver circling the building, waiting for their employers to finish their meal and exit the restaurant.
    “Do you really think this is necessary?” I said.
    “Tib, no matter where you go, you will always need some protection.  The Brotherhood still wants both of us dead and mercenaries still want to capture and hold you for ransom.”
    Kala had barely finished her statement when Marranalis’ com activated.  “We are being barricaded in by vehicles on the