July 14, 2025

Tracker

 Contents

 

 

Tracker Webster                                                       p   02

Chapter 1              Goodbye                                     p   05

Chapter 2              Time Runner                             p   11

Chapter 3              Betrayal                                     p   17

Chapter 4              Showdown                                 p   24

Chapter 5              Clues                                          p   29

Chapter 6              Go-Between                               p   35

Chapter 7              Jackpot                                      p   41

Chapter 8              New Friends                              p   47

Chapter 9              Strong Hold                               p   53

Chapter 10            Helping Hand                            p   60

Chapter 11            The Seller                                   p   66

Chapter 12            Trial by Fire                               p   73

Chapter 13            Training                                      p   79

Chapter 14            Revenge                                      p   85

Chapter 15            New Partner                               p   91

Chapter 16            Secrets                                        p   98

Chapter 17            Rule Changes                             p 105

Chapter 18            J899 Returns                              p 113

Chapter 19            Crosshairs                                  p 121

Chapter 20            Base Three                                 p 129

Chapter 21            Mop up                                       p 139

Chapter 22            Tri Power                                   p 149

Chapter 23            Rebellion                                    p 158

Chapter 24            Away From Home                      p 167

Chapter 25            They’re All Back                        p 174

Chapter 26            Forming a Plan                          p 182

Chapter 27            Team Work                                p 190

Chapter 28            Deception                                   p 198

Chapter 29            All Things Heal                          p 207

Chapter 30            Too Many Questions                  p 213

Chapter 31            Loyalty                                        p 220

Chapter 32            Elimination                                 p 227

Chapter 33            Parchment Trail                         p 236

Chapter 34            Good or Bad                               p 244

Chapter 35            Jumping off Point                      p 251

Chapter 36            An Empire Collapses                 p 260

Chapter 37            A New Start                                p 270

 


Trackers Webster

  

Affacar {Aff-a-car} . .Tracker a Lappaul male

Agamenti {ag-a-men-ti}.Tracker an Hterus female

Aggaray {agg-a-ray} . .Octopus-like eight tentacles

Air bubble  . . . . . .Airplane

Air eyes. . . . . . . .Tracking Satellite

Alappon {a-lap-pon} . .Crab-like race

Anon {a-non}. . . . . .Tracker: An Elan male, Hardzer’s partner

Arear {a-rear}  . . . .A Caratain six-eyed Portal tech

Assmar {Ass-mar}. . . .Number One of Gegone Tracker an Osiver male

Baywa {bay-wah} . . . .Human-like, four arms two legs and wings

Blue light. . . . . . .Freezes memory and movement

Caratain {Car-a-tain} .Short race two arms, two legs, multiple eyes.

Cloak . . . . . . . . .Hides what you look like, programmable

Cmanr {c-man-er}. . . .Tracker: A Gordon female, Laga’s partner

Code. . . . . . . . . .DNA

Dandora {Dan-dor-a} . .Tracker an Aggaray female

Darkness. . . . . . . .Night

Dartader {dart-a-der} .tiger/human,stripes or spots walks on two legs

Derons {dee-rons} . . .About a minute

Dorfor {door-for} . . .Ant-like, four legs, two arms

Dwelling Rental . . . .Motel or Hotel

Elan {ee-lin} . . . . .Cross between human and lizard

Elaray {el-a-ray} . . .Tracker: A Hterus male, Ysor’s partner

Elda {el-daa} . . . . .A Lappaul, Persamp’s mate

Eye shields . . . . . .Same as Light Deflector used on the eyes

Fadora {Fay-door-aa}. .Sister

Flickering heat . . . .Fire

Fluid . . . . . . . . .Liquid (rain, drinking water)

Frank . . . . . . . . .Tracker: A Jaka male, Mary’s partner

Geehon {Gee-hon}. . . .Tracker a Baywa male

Gegone Galaxy . . . . .Home of the Gegone Tracker room

Gordon {gor-don}. . . .Grasshopper-like with two legs and two arms

Gortiffe {Gor-ti-fee} .Tracker security a Lappaul male

Gas ball. . . . . . . .Bomb

Glowing heat. . . . . .Fire

Glow stick. . . . . . .Match or lighter

Green light . . . . . .Memory loss beam

Hackdine {Hack-din} . .Number One of Idor Tracker Room a Maydona male

Harayah {ha-ray-ah} . .Tracker: A Spytaen female, Swal’s partner

Hardzer {hard-zr} . . .Tracker: A Gardon female, Anon’s partner

Haytore {Hay-to-ree}. .Tracker: A Osiver female, Idenp’s partner

Hidea {hi-dee-ah} . . .Human-like, covered in hard plates

Hoffador {Hoff-a-dor} .Tracker: A Maydona male, Qutine’s partner

Hugtar {hug-tar}. . . .Tracker: A Gardon male, Mary’s first partner

Hordean {Hor-dean}. . .Tracker an Osiver female

Husser {Huss-sir} . . .A kind of fish

Hterus {hit-er-us}. . .Human-like with feathers and an owl’s head and face

Idenp {Iden-pee}. . . . .Tracker: A Shadaton female, Haytore’s partner

Implant . . . . . . . . Short range homing beacon, range about 20K Kayrons

Intake. . . . . . . . . Used for food or drink

Iron ball blaster . . . Gun

Jaka {ja-kaa} . . . . . Human-like plant with green skin

Jarma {Jay-ma}. . . . . Tracker a Maydona male

Jaydowna {Jay-down-a} . Number One from Mayta Tracker Room a Hidea male

Kayron  . . . . . . . . About 2.6 Miles

Kelona {kee-lawn-aa}. . Tracker: A Dorfor female, Rkin’s partner

Ker . . . . . . . . . . Inches

Lainer Galaxy . . . . . Home of the Lainer Tracker room

Laga {logr-ah}. . . . . Tracker: A Hidea male, Cmanr’s partner

Lanigiro {Lain-i-gir-o} Number One from Haveron Tracker Room a Jaka male

Lappaul {lap-paul}. . . Human-like with gold skin

Light deflector . . . . Similar to a Bullet Proof Vest

Light immobilizer . . . Similar to gun only fires light

Limb-locks. . . . . . . Similar to handcuffs

Log guide . . . . . . . Information about particular planets

Long star . . . . . . . Summer

Magator {mag-ah-tor}. . Tracker: A Hidea male, Sayron’s partner

Maktine {mek-tin-e} . . Tracker: A Baywa Female, Sodayba’s partner

Mary  . . . . . . . . . Tracker: A Lappaul Female, Frank’s partner

Maydona {May-don-a} . . Dragon race short tail normal back legs, many colors

Mdora {Ma-door-aa}. . . Brother

Meka {Mee-kaa}. . . . . Tracker: A Shadaton female, Zoeona’s partner

Metorme {me-tor-me} . . Number One from Uratie Trackers, an Aggaray female

Morea {mor-ah}. . . . . Werewolf-like head, human body, large teeth

Mover way . . . . . . . Hallway inside a building

Moving line . . . . . . Road

Muser {mew-sir}   . . . rat-like, six legs and forked tail

Naymon {Nay-mon}. . . . Tracker a Morea male

Nretse {Nirtz}  . . . . Plant-like, arms similar to a vine

Number One. . . . . . . Leader of a Galaxy Tracker Room;

Odeon {O-de-on} . . . . Tracker a Lappaul male

Omata {O-ma-aa} . . . . Number One of Zarta Tracker Room a Baywa male

Osiver {oss-i-fur}. . . Human-like, covered in retractable thorns

Ota {o-tah} . . . . . . Ass, bottom, butt

People mover  . . . . . Cart, car, train,

People ribbon . . . . . Trail

People treads . . . . . Stairs

Persamp {purr-samp} . . A Lappaul, Elda’s mate, Riff watcher on a Lappaul planet

Petona {Pe-ton-a} . . . Number One of Foron Tracker Room a Dartader female

Planet turn . . . . . . One day

Portal. . . . . . . . . Riff ship

Qutine {Quaw-tin-ee}. . Tracker: A Gordon male, Hoffador’s partner

Red light . . . . . . . Hot, will burn

Riff  . . . . . . . . . Hidden, controllable worm hole

Rkin {r-kin}. . . . . . Tracker: a Morea male, Kelona’s partner

Rock Hopper . . . . . . Hovercraft cross between a people mover and an air bubble

Ron . . . . . . . . . . Second

Sayron {say-ron}. . . . Tracker: A Baywa male, Magator’s partner

Saysee {say-see}. . . . Tracker an Osiver female

Shadaton {shad-a-ton} . 3 dimensional shadow, Face in their chest

Siker {sii-ker} . . . . About a Foot

Sinne {sin-n} . . . . . Human-like, big feet, bad tempered

Skimmer . . . . . . . . Boat (power or sail

Slimmer . . . . . . . . Resembles a sea slug

Smell bug . . . . . . . Insect, 75 times more powerful than a stink bug

Sodayba {So-taa-in} . . Tracker: A Maydona male, Maktine’s partner

Spytaen {spi-taa-in}. . Lower half Spider-like, upper half human-like

Stareen {Star-een}. . . A Dorfor female, runner

Star break. . . . . . . Morning

Star high . . . . . . . Noon

Star turn . . . . . . . One year

Swal {s-wahl} . . . . . Tracker: An Elan male, Harayah’s partner

Tall Hard Plant . . . . Tree

Taymar {Ta-y-mar} . . . Tracker League Board Member a Sinne male

Tealayon {tee-lay-on} . Tracker: An Aggaray female, Wartron’s mate and partner

Techs . . . . . . . . . Tracker Workers: Male or Female

Tecoa {Te-co-a} . . . . Number One from Elcline Tracker Room a Jaka Male

Teser {tess-r}. . . . . About an Hour

Teshe {Te-she}. . . . . Tracker a Lappaul Female

The Great Power . . . . God

Tracker . . . . . . . . Universal Bounty Hunter

Tracker League. . . . . Headquarters for all galaxy tracker rooms.

Tracker requirements. . Height: 5 to 7 sikers, 5 star turns as a officer

Tracker room. . . . . . There is one in each galaxy Trackers headquarters

Underplanet . . . . . . Hell

Vapors. . . . . . . . . Clouds, Fog

Viewport. . . . . . . . Window

View reflector. . . . . Mirror

Wartron {war-tron}. . . Tracker: An Aggaray male, Tealayon’s mate and partner

Waveart {Wave-art}. . . A Dorfor: Kelona’s mother

White light . . . . . . Intense light that is hotter than red light

Yadortay {Y-dor-try}. . Tracker League Board Member a Lappaul female

Yellow light. . . . . . Disorienting light that leaves victim sick

Ysor {y-sore} . . . . . Tracker: A Lappaul male, Elaray’s partner

Ytono {Y-ton-o} . . . . Number One of the Lainer Galaxy: a Morea male

Zacker {Zac-kr} . . . . Six-legged house cat with long claws, no fur

Zarta galaxy  . . . . . Home of the Zarta Tracker room

Zoeona {Zo-awn-ah}. . . Tracker: A Dartader male, Meka’s partner

Zoton {Zo-ton}. . . . . Tracker a Lappaul male

 



Chapter 1

 Goodbye

 

 

Frozen fluid swirled through the tall hard plants, taking the gray mist along so it rose and fell in a dance of death. One of the tall hard plants seemed to burst as the riff opened up and pushed a portal out.

 

Hugtar stepped out, looked around then motioned for Mary to follow. “I never get used to planets like this one,” he said, watching the portal slip back into the riff. “What makes you think D948 is here?”

 

“He has others of his line on one of the six planets around that blue star,” Mary said, pointing to a light blue star just breaking over the tops of the tall hard plants. “What more could a Sinne want than a planet covered in this white frozen fluid?”

 

“Well, don’t set your light immobilizer on blue. Their eyes filter it. Red or white turns their hair to flickering heat. Number One doesn’t like it when trackers bring in a Sinne with no hair,” Hugtar laughed. “Yep, yellow is best for Sinnes.”

 

“This isn’t my first runner, Hugtar. You’re speaking like I have been a tracker for less than a star turn.” Mary shook her head. “How many star turns have we tracked runners together?”

 

“I know. I know. We’ve been partners for eleven star turns.” Hugtar whistled. “That makes our partnership the longest I’ve had. You make my seventh partner. Being a tracker for forty star turns is a long time, Mary, a long time.”

 

“You’re still the best, Hugtar.” Mary smiled. “Now let’s get D948, get our payment and get off this big ball of frozen fluid.”

 

Hugtar finished taking the tracker reading for D948’s implant. “He’s not on this planet. Only five more to go.”

 

Mary pushed her portal button, stepping back as the gray mist started its dance again. The frozen fluid swirled around them.


 

Frank walked into Tracker Room with Cse just behind him. Stopping by one of the portal techs Frank asked, “You have the file on R739?”

 

“Yes. It has just downloaded from R739’s home planet. I downloaded it to your tracker guide and set it by portal 1B.”

 

Cse standing over by the portal picked up the tracker and inserted a probe into her left hand. Before she could press the log’s download button Frank stopped her.

 

“Look, you’re a new tracker and partners always download together in case something happens to the log guide. We have tesers before we portal to a planet,” Frank told Cse. “When were you going to the star room to lay out a tracking plan?”

 

“The Tracker log tells us which planet a runner is most likely to be on. You could be downloading as I get what we need,” Cse said, rolling her eyes. “The more we sit, the farther a runner will get.”

 

“Great,” Frank said. “I’ve got a know-it-all Hterus to train.” He plugged in the other probe, reached over and pressed the log-guide, download button.

 

One of the portal techs leaned over and whispered to Frank, “Remember, she might be a great tracker some planet turn. Keep cold.”

 

“I know, but that’s if she doesn’t get one of us ended by rushing things,” Frank whispered back. “By the way, any star rooms open? I might need one for three or four tesers.”

 

“It’s almost star high. Get some intake and I will signal you when one’s open,” the portal tech said before moving back to his control panel.

 

“Where are you headed?” Frank snapped at Cse.

 

“For riff supplies. It will save us tesers. You go get some intake. I’ll go after supplies.”

 

Frank shook his head. “What planets will we portal to? How long will we be gone? What kind of language do we put in our tracker log guide? For the last time – we go for intake or to the star room and even for supplies together. If we don’t leave for two planet turns, that’s okay. R739 will still be there.”

 

 

Mary looked over the vast emptiness of white.

 

“The tracker read-out shows we guessed wrong again. D948 is not on this planet,” Hugtar yelled over the wind.

 

“What did you say?” Mary called back.

 

“D948 is not here. We have two more planets. Then we need to rethink where he went,” Hugtar hollered.

 

In the portal, Mary brushed the frozen fluid from her golden skin and rubbed her chapped lips. “If D948 isn‘t on the next planet we’ll try another star. The closest planet from this star is mostly flickering heat. He would be ended in rons. So would we. You think D948 went back to the Tri Blue Star Group?”

 

“Might have, but if we keep riffing to frozen planets I need to go back to tracker room first for some warmer covering.” Hugtar’s two teeth chattered until the portal bumped to a stop.

 

Warm wind filled the portal chamber as the door slid open.

 

“Much better,” Hugtar said. “Yes, much better. It’s warm and I’m getting a reading from D948’s implant. He’s just over eighteen hundred sikers down planet and he’s not moving.”

 

Mary and Hugtar set their light immobilizers on yellow and started down planet.

 

As they topped a hill, Hugtar pointed at a pile of yellow in the dark of a tall hard plant. “It seems as if he is resting out of star light,” Hugtar whispered. “Remember, Sinnes are fast and strong.”

 

Within sikers of D948 Mary heard a snap from under her foot. In less than a ron, a yellow fist caught her in the right side knocking her light immobilizer out of her hand. She spun away as the other fist brushed her cheek. Falling back on the planet she heard the Sinne let out a scream. Looking up Mary watched Hugtar get hit with a backswing from D948 that knocked Hugtar up against the tall hard plant. He slid down to the planet. Mary saw where Hugtar had kicked D948 in the right knee. With a swift kick Mary drove the Sinne’s knee back the wrong way, sending D948 crumpling to the planet next to her legs. Mary tried to get up, but D948 had her by the foot. With little effort he slung Mary through the air.

 

Landing hard on her back, Mary felt the light immobilizer under her. Grabbing it, she pointed it at D948 just as Hugtar’s foot struck the side of the Sinne’s head. D948 got one last punch in and sent Hugtar flying. He landed next to Mary. The Sinne made a leap at Hugtar just as Mary blasted him in the eyes with yellow light. He landed face-down on the ground, moaning in pain.

 

“Remind me to tell you about the snappy things under these tall hard plants,” Hugtar said, lying back in the green waving plants. “By the way - a good battle and thanks.”

 

“You, too.” Mary moaned as she reached into her holding bag for limb-locks.

 

 

Frank tapped Cse on the shoulder. “Let’s not rush out of the portal. The riff is within a few hundred sikers of some dwellings. R739 might be sitting in one waiting for us.”

 

“The log guide never said R739 had a blaster. We have of sit around way to much, we could’ve had the payment for R739 by now and been after another runner. In all the star turns since Tracker League first formed only two trackers have been ended by a runner. I think you’re getting too old to be a tracker,” Cse squawked.

 

The portal came to a stop. Cse stepped out, taking a tracker reading. “R739 is one kayron left and point five kayrons down planet.” Cse pointed to a group of dwellings in a large clearing far below.

 

After Frank and Cse walked to the dwellings they slid in behind one to take another tracker reading.

 

“It looks like she is in the healer’s dwelling,” Cse said. “Frank, you check out back and I’ll take the dwelling’s front door.”

 

“Don’t go till I’m ready,” Frank told her before starting around the back of the dwelling.

 

Passing between two dwellings Frank looked over and saw Cse standing in front of the healer’s door with her light immobilizer in hand. Frank started to yell to Cse, but she had already pushed the door open. A blast of white light hit Cse in the chest. Cse took one look at Frank and fell to the planet.

 

Frank turned toward her, but, before he could start running, a blast of white light hit him in the left leg. Frank fell behind a small dwelling. Changing the settings on his light immobilizer he fired three quick blasts at the healer’s door. Frank saw two more white blasts come his way as a hand reached out and dragged Cse into the dwelling.

 

Each time Frank tried to move from the dwelling, blast after blast of white light hit around him. Frank pulled out his tracker to signal for help.


 

Hugtar pushed D948 into a portal tech’s tentacle. “Put him in a holding room and watch out. He likes to do battle. Get a tracker healer to look at his right leg. We might have broken it.”

 

“I think I’ll see a healer, too,” Mary said, rubbing her chest.

 

From a tech’s board alarms sounded and lights flashed.

 

“What happened?” Number One yelled, running out of his room. He was followed by two tracker teams.

 

A portal tech shouted, “We have a runner that just blasted Cse. Frank has white light burns. Frank said he’s under heavy light blast; can’t get to his partner. He’s not sure if she’s ended or not. He thinks there might be more than one runner. We’ve programmed portals for the riff closest to them and have people movers on the way.”

 

“What are we waiting for?” Number One hollered. “Let’s get to that planet and shut those runners down. Mary, Hugtar, get to the healer room and take care of your wounds.”

 

“Yes, first thing when we get back,” Mary retorted over her shoulder as she leapt into the portal behind Hugtar.


 

Number One looked around the dwellings. “Sayron, you and Magator take the back of the dwelling. Don’t let any runners out. Hugtar, Mary - see how close you can get to Frank without getting blasted. Ysor, Elaray - take a long looking glass and find a spot where you can see into that dwelling. I want to know what the runners are doing.”

 

Number One,” Sayron’s voice came over the tracker, “We found a blast hole in the back wall of the dwelling. Started taking white light blasts as we got closer. I can’t see any runners. The dwelling is too dark inside.”

 

Number One,” Ysor broke in, “We have a view. It seems to be some kind of medium range auto blaster. We can’t see any runners. Cse is by the auto blaster. She hasn’t moved. From the size of her blast burn, we think she’s ended.”

 

“All trackers stop blasting,” Number One ordered. “I’m bringing in a long light blaster with a narrow beam.”

 

Twenty derons later, Wartron and Tealayon reported to Number One.

 

“Tealayon, you’re our best blaster. Ysor is up on that hill. He said, he has a clear view from his location. Go up there and take out that auto blaster without hitting Cse. The runner set her in front of it.”

 

Tealayon went to find Ysor and Elaray.

 

Number one growled, “Wartron, get down there and help Mary. Hugtar took a light blast trying to get Frank out. Mary will need someone to back her. Try not to get blasted, too.”

 

Stand by,” Ysor’s voice came over the tracker. “Get low. Blasting.” A few rons passed. “All clear. Auto blaster ended.”

 

“Go get Cse and bring her home,” Number One whispered.


 

Standing next to Mary, Hugtar put his arm around her. He nodded at Cse’s body in the portal. “That could be you or me. In one planet turn I get beat and blasted by two runners. In the old planet turns runners and trackers understood each other. Now runners will end anyone to keep running. Mary, I’m too old to go on. I told Number One this star break that I have tracked my last runner. I don’t want to see you in a star portal some planet turn. I talked to Number One about you and Frank. He is the best tracker outside of you.”

 

“Outside of you, Hugtar,” Mary said.

 

“No. You’re the best now, Mary. I’m not a tracker anymore. Strange how endings and beginnings come at the same time.”

 

“What beginning?” Mary asked as Cse’s portal door started to close before sliding into the star riff.

 

“I just found out Tealayon is with little ones.” Hugtar walked over to a portal and got in. He turned back and looked at Mary. “I’m going home.” Hugtar smiled as he waved goodbye.

 


Chapter 2

 Time Runner

 

 

As they stepped out of the portal, Mary looked over at Frank who was putting on his light immobilizer eye shields. People walked around them as if they had just walked out of a passageway. The portal closed and slipped back into the riff.

 

"Well, are you ready to get started? We have a lot to do in very little time," Mary said.

 

"Yes, ma’am," Frank murmured, checking his equipment.

 

Mary glared at Frank, but he didn’t see it through her eye shields. It was his first mission with her. She just hoped he didn’t get them killed. He had lost his last partner not long before. It hadn’t been his fault, but it still played on a tracker’s mind. Next to her, he was the best tracker she knew. “Which way?” she asked him.

 

“I’m not sure. The tracker plotted her last movement as twenty five kayrons up planet from here. I think this yellow star may be causing some of the tracker’s readings to be off,” Frank said, hitting the side of the tracker log guide.

 

“Don’t break it,” Mary snapped. “It’s our only tracker. I’ll take the cost of a new one out of your share of the payment.”

 

“She’s moving right planet at twenty one point four kayrons per teser if the tracker is working right,” Frank said with a shrug of his shoulders.

 

Mary tugged his arm, moving him back into a passageway between two dwellings. “We’d better plug in or we’ll never catch her before end time,” she told him. She inserted a probe into their left arms, plugging the other end into the log guide. As she pressed the language log download key she said, “There. Now we should be able to talk to these back planet people a lot easier.”

 

She stopped a passing male and asked, “How can my partner and I get twenty five kayrons up planet at greater than twenty one point four kayrons per teser?”

 

“What did you just say?” the man asked.

 

Mary pulled out her pocket log guide. After she checked the charts for the third planet from the yellow star, she asked, “Where on this planet are we, Sir?”

 

The man looked at Mary and Frank like they were on drugs. “Texas, Miss. You’re in Texas.”

 

Mary put the log guide away and asked him, “North of here, about seventy of your miles, is there a moving line running east and west that allows someone to travel across your Texas without stopping?”

 

“Interstate 20 is about seventy miles north of here. That runs plum across Texas,” the man replied.

 

“How can we get there doing over sixty of your ‘miles per hour’?” Frank asked huffily. He had started to get upset with the male.

 

“Get a car,” the man popped off as he turned and walked away.


 

Two hundred miles away in Louisiana, just west of Bossier City, a riff opened and a portal appeared in a barn. Wartron and Tealayon stepped out and came face-to-face with a large snorting bull.

 

The bull charged Tealayon, but she managed to jump out of the way. The bull plunged into the portal just before the door closed. The portal disappeared in a swirling cloud of straw and mist as the riff closed.

 

Wartron started laughing as Tealayon stood up. “I would love to see their faces back in tracker room.”

 

“I’d think you’ll be more afraid of the look on Mary’s face when she finds out you tampered with the portal she used,” Tealayon said.

 

“As long as no one is hurt all is fair in apprehending a runner. I won’t lose to Mary again,” Wartron barked.

 

Tealayon wasn’t listening as she messed with her tracker. “It looks like she is heading straight at us, Lover.” She smiled.

 

Wartron smiled back.

 

“What?” she asked.

 

He plugged a cable into one of the four tentacles on Tealayon’s right side. He plugged the cable into one of his right tentacles before attaching the log guide and punching the clocking button.

 

Tealayon looked over his cloaked form. “I never understood how Mary and Frank got by with only two tentacles for moving and two for holding.”

 

Suddenly the barn door opened and a farmer stood, staring at them in amazement. “What are you doing in here?”

 

Wartron spun around, his immobilizer hidden in his hand. “Sorry,” he said. “My mate is with little ones and she needed to get out of the yellow star for a teser or two. We meant no harm.”

 

Tealayon put the log guide down. “My mate was saying I’m with babies and need to get out of your sun for an hour or two. Do you have fluids for intake, please?

 

“What happened to my bull?” the farmer yelled.

 

“We saw no bull when we got here,” Wartron lied.

 

The farmer noticed the back barn door was open and went outside to look around.

 

Just then the riff reappeared, the portal opened and the bull stepped out to stand wearily in his stall. There was no fight left in him.

 

“Farmer,” Tealayon called. “Is this the bull you were asking about? He must have just been lowered down over there resting. About the intake fluid, please?”

 

“Sure, sure,” the farmer said as he returned, scratching his head. “I’ll get you some water. You better watch that bull. He can be mean.”

 

Tealayon looked at the bull. It was standing as far away as it could from the two strangers. “I think we understand each other well.” She laughed.

 

Wartron had taken the tracker from Tealayon. “She will be here in about two point five tesers. I’ve set up the portal with a fake location. No matter where she wants to go she’ll end up right back in the tracker room. We’ll be right behind her, pick up the payment and be gone before Mary knows what happened.”

 

Tealayon shook her head. She had seen many of Wartron’s plans go wrong. “The babies are coming soon. You’d better be right. We’ll need the extra payment for little ones watchers if you want me to keep tracking with you. I’ll find a place for us to hide.”

 

The farmer walked back in carrying a bucket of water. Wartron blasted him with blue light. Tealayon took the bucket and downed the fluid then put the empty bucket back into the farmer’s hand. She guided him behind the door so the runner wouldn’t see him.


 

Harayah had taken out her log guide to enter in the speed of the mover. She knew how far it was to the next portal - two more tesers right planet then another point five tesers up planet. The yellow star was hard on her, but it would be worse on the other trackers. The male in control of the mover kept calling it his ‘truck’ like they were mated. She had never done anything like this. It was her first run. It had been over sixty three tesers. Not many Time Runners had outrun trackers this long. If she could get to end point first, she would be free. The only problem was the four trackers left were Mary, Frank, Wartron and Tealayon. “Star Lord,” she said out loud. “They’ll not be as easy to end as the last two sets of trackers that came after me. These four have never lost a runner. They’re the best.”

 

“Trackers? What are they and who are they after?” the mover controller asked.

 

Harayah hit him with another green light memory block beam. He went on about how well his mover handled on the open road. If he touched one of her legs again she would be taking the mover up planet by herself. The green light was wearing off too fast. Harayah couldn’t do another memory block.


 

Frank turned to Mary with a grin. “I found it. Someone placed a chip on the third board that deals with locations.”

 

“How in the underplanet did it get there? That will cost us the payment,” Mary said angrily.

 

“How would I know? But they’re good. We might have ended up in a star portal,” Frank told her.

 

“Wartron. It had to be him,” Mary snapped. “How much time do we have till end time?”

 

“The tracker guide said she’s been out sixty four tesers. That gives us six tesers to stop her. We’re only one teser left planet of her and gaining. By the way, the green light you used on that officer should be wearing off right about now, too.” Frank groaned.

 

Mary pushed her foot harder on the floor peddle making the people mover, with its flashing red and blue lights, move faster. “He’ll know his mover is gone. That’s all. I think we have about one teser until we need to get another people mover. That’s too close for me.”

 

Just then the mover started slowing down. It rolled to a stop.

 

“Why did you stop?” Frank asked

 

“I didn’t do anything,” Mary yelled at him.

 

Mary had no sooner stepped out of the Texas highway patrol car, when a Louisiana highway patrol car pulled up behind them with lights flashing. The only thing the officer saw was a blue light coming from the rear window of the Texas patrol car.

 

“Thank the Great Power,” Frank said. He put the third planet male into the Texas patrol car.

 

They jumped into the Louisiana patrol car. “Mary, the sign back there said 169 North is ten more of their miles right planet. The log guide showed that’s where we should start going up planet.”

 

“How much time did we lose?” Mary inquired.

 

“Five derons at the most. Start looking for this 169 mover line. It should be in about three derons,” Frank reminded her.

 

Mary found state highway 169 and, after getting off interstate 20, she and Frank saw a male with no covering jumping up and down in the middle of the mover lane. He was waving his arms at them. Frank waved his arms back just before Mary pushed her foot down on the floor pedal to head up planet as fast as the mover would go.

 

“That was one strange planet male,” Mary said with a laugh.


 

With no place to hide Wartron and Tealayon had cloaked themselves as two of what the log guide called “cows”. They stood in the stall with the bull which was still standing as far back against the wall as he could get. Wartron had left the stall open so there would be nothing between them and Harayah but air.

 

Harayah stopped the mover in front of the barn, got out and told it to go back to its controller. Pushing the portal button, she saw swirling mist coming from inside the dwelling. Harayah entered the dwelling and saw three of the creatures her guide called cows. Just as she opened the portal door a blue light filled the barn catching everyone off-guard.

 

Mary and Frank pushed the barn door wide open. Frank walked up to Harayah and installed limb-locks on all eight of her legs.

 

“Underplanet,” Mary said. “Sixty-six tesers! It’ll be the longest run ever. Beats mine by one point seven five tesers. It looks like she will take the payment for the longest run. We’ll still get payment for capture. I wonder what happened to Wartron and Tealayon?”

 

Frank checked the portal. “Mary, it looks like Wartron must have tampered with this portal, too. No matter what you set it for, it opens back up in the Tracker Room. That was smart of him. When Harayah stepped in they were going to follow and claim capture.”

 

“Remember that, Frank, when you get better at adjusting portals. We could use that some day,” Mary laughed.

 

They guided Harayah into the portal and closed the door.


 

The farmer stepped out from behind the barn door. He looked down and saw an empty water bucket in his hand. In the stall he saw two strange cows in with his bull. “What’s that swirling mist doing in my barn?” he murmured, confused, as a portal appeared. From out of the open portal door a green light struck him.

 

Mary, Frank and Harayah stepped out of the portal into the stall. They had been gone almost two tesers.

 

“Now where did Wartron and Tealayon get off to?” Frank asked.

 

Harayah was looking at the cows and then looked down at her log guide. “Mary, Frank, these creatures called cows don’t have eight of those.” Harayah pointed underneath one of the cows. They started laughing.

 

“It looks like they forget to pick up the new light immobilizer eye shields,” Frank said, checking Tealayon’s eyes.

 

As Wartron and Tealayon were helped back into the portal, Mary said, “Look, Tealayon, you can have Frank’s and my payments for your baby watchers. We talked about it and we don’t want Wartron out here on his own chasing a real runner.”

 

“When we get back he’ll be lucky to even chase me around our dwelling!” Tealayon snapped.

 

Wartron looked at her with a sad look in his eyes.

 

Tealayon grinned and winked back.

 


Chapter 3

                                                                            Betrayal

 

 

“Portal tech!” Number One yelled. “Find Magator and Sayron. Get them in my room now and don’t take all planet turn. When you get back set up a portal for the Orange Star cluster 9B22, riff CA81. A runner was seen entering from that riff. Well, move it, tech, or I’ll have you taking heat readings on star riffs.” Number One slammed the door to his room.

 

Running down the mover way as fast as he could, the six-eyed portal tech slid around a corner and almost knocked over Sayron.

 

Shoving two trackers into Sayron’s hands, the portal tech managed to speak between air intakes “Here… take these trackers… get Magator... go to Number One’s room... I have downloaded what you need into the trackers… the portal is programmed. I have put cold air coverings in it. Quick, please, before Number One sends me to take star riff heat readings.”

 

“I think Magator’s in the resting room.” Sayron pointed down the mover way. “Go wake him up and tell him I’ll meet him in Number One’s room.” Sayron laughed as the tech ran off. “New portal techs.”

 

He headed into the intake room. “Partner, Number One wants to see us now. I think he’s seen G332. What are you in-taking? That looks good. I think I’ll have some myself. Intake now, Number One later.”

 

As Magator and Sayron continued in-taking, Number One walked up.

 

“Did the portal tech find you?” he asked Magator and Sayron.

 

“Not me,” Magator replied with his mouth full of intake. “Sayron saw the tech, I think.”

 

“Where is the tech now?” Number One looked over at Sayron.

 

“I think he’s down by the male resting room,” Sayron murmured without looking up.

 

Number One leaned in close to Sayron. “Is that who the tracker healer had to go look at? Something about not getting enough air intake?”

 

“Yes, Number One, I think you might be right.” Sayron leaned back a little.

 

“I hope he doesn’t have this problem again,” Number One said, shooting Sayron a warning glance. He looked down at their plates and grimaced. “How do you two intake that?” He yelled to an intake worker, “Get me some intake that looks like intake and not something I would want as a partner.”

 

The portal tech burst through the door with a tracker healer close behind. When he saw the three of them together, he stopped, turned and stomped out the door.

 

“I think we should talk here. It might be a bit heated in the tracker room right now.” Number One laughed.

 

“By the way, Number One, what’s this I hear about taking star riff heat readings? You still use that old line on new techs?” Magator asked, starting to laugh, too.

 

“Okay. Listen up now,” Number One said after he stopped laughing. “G332 was seen leaving a portal on the fourth planet from the orange star in that cluster. She and R739 have been known to work together. We are hoping to get a lead on R739 from G332. I’m sending three trackers on this one just to be safe.”

 

“Three trackers?” Magator said, looking over at Sayron. “Who’s without a partner?”

 

“Mary went to Hugtar’s home planet for his seventieth planet turn. Gordons do something special for every tenth turn. So Frank goes with you. Wartron could, but Tealayon is going to have her little ones any planet turn now. I talked to Frank. He’ll meet you in the tracker room.”

 

As Magator and Sayron entered the tracker room they saw Frank by the portal.

 

The six-eyed tech was leaning over his board, head down.

 

Sayron went over and put a hand on the tech’s shoulder. “Sorry about the funning. We do it to all new portal techs. I want to thank you for all the work you did in such a short time. You know, if it wasn’t for portal techs we trackers would never catch a runner. By the way what is your name?”

 

The tech lifted his head, holding his shoulders back. “I’m called Arear and thanks,” he said with a grin. “Oh, Sayron, I put a locater in your cold air covering for you in case you get lost on the planet.”

 

“Thanks,” Sayron replied, entering the portal.

 

The portal door closed and slipped into the riff.

 

“That new tech is okay,” Sayron said, reaching into his cold air covering and pulling out a large smell bug. Sayron’s eyes started to leak fluids.

 

Laughing so hard the portal was shaking, Frank and Magator moved to the far end.

 

“If you get lost we’ll be able to find you for sure.” Magator held his nose as he spoke.

 

Frank's eyes started to leak fluids also. “I don’t know if my eye fluid is from that smell bug or laughing so hard at the look on your face Sayron. What did you do with that bug?”

 

“I threw it over there somewhere. Like I was saying,” Sayron went on, trying to clean the smell off his hand, “I think that little six-eyed tech will fit right in some star turn, if I don’t end him when I get back.”

 

“I like the new trackers,” Magator said, changing the subject. “It used to take ten derons to download from a tracker; now one button does it in half the time. The portal watcher is down planet, three kayrons. He’s a seller of coverings in a small red dwelling.”

 

The portal came to a stop, the door opened and the trackers hurried to get out and away from the smell bug’s odor.

 

Frank took implant readings. “I get nothing on either G332 or R739.”

 

“Okay, then let’s get started,” Magator said as he nodded toward the dwellings.

 

As they entered the dwelling, the seller looked surprised. “Where’s the fourth tracker?” he asked. “I thought you always have teams of two.”

 

“Not always. You must be the portal watcher. What can you tell us about G332?” Sayron asked, moving around the dwelling looking at the coverings that were for sale.

 

“Not a lot. A female runner left the portal and headed right planet. She seemed to be in a hurry.” The seller watched as Sayron pulled different coverings off the hangers and then put them back.

 

“Went right planet? What’s right planet of here?” Holding another covering out with all four arms, Sayron smiled at the seller over his shoulder.

 

“Yes, she went right planet. There are some more dwellings, a few riffs now and then. I don’t know why G332 would go there.”

 

Sayron stepped over to the viewport. Looking up at the place where the riff was, he turned and nodded to Frank and Magator, shifting his eyes toward the door and holding up three fingers. “Well, okay, we’ll go right planet and see if we can pick up G332’s movement. Thanks.”

 

Turning for the door, Magator, Frank and Sayron slipped on their eye shields. They eased out their light immobilizers. Sayron held up first one finger, then two fingers and then three fingers. Spinning around, they dropped to one knee, firing a blast of blue light at the seller.

 

As the seller’s blaster dropped from his hand a blast of red light hit the dwelling bottom.

 

“Okay,” Frank asked Sayron. “What tipped you off? Did you find something in the coverings?”

 

“Two things. The covering I was holding was for a Dorfor and dirty. He didn’t have time to clean it for resale. So he got it this star bright hoping to clean it after darkness. G332 came here first. She didn’t just head right planet like he said. The other thing?” Sayron pointed to the view reflector. “I saw he had a blaster in his hand.”

 

When the seller woke from the blue light, he found limb-locks on his arms and legs. A transport tech was locking him to a mover.

 

“You help us and we’ll help you. If not…” Magator busted a rock in front of the seller’s face.

 

“The female bought a new covering and left the old one. I thought I’d sell it and make some extra payment.”

 

“G332 went right planet?” Magator asked again.

 

“Yes, like I said.” The seller was starting to run fluid from his skin.

 

“Wrong answer.” Magator busted a larger rock closer to the seller’s face. He took the seller’s hands in his and started to squeeze.

 

“Up planet about thirty-seven kayrons, there’s a riff that only goes to the other side of our planet. Nothing there, but moving sand and an off planet riff. It’s too far for your trackers to read runner implants,” the seller said nervously.

 

“If there’s nothing, but two riffs and moving sand, what do runners do for intake and fluid?” Frank stepped in close to the seller to ask.

 

“Good question, Frank,” Sayron added, tapping the seller on the top of his head with a rock.

 

The seller looked back and forth between the three trackers. “I send intake down the riff for a big payment.” The seller hung his head.

 

“Wow, we pay to spot, they pay to not. They pay for intake, we get no break.” Sayron laughed. He told the transport tech to take the seller back to tracker room and put him in a holding room.

 

Frank and Magator looked at each other, shaking their heads.

 

“Good thing he’s a tracker and not a poet,” Magator murmured.


 

As the portal opened Frank saw a dwelling facing the riff. “Good place to set up an ending,” he told the others.

 

Suddenly a white light beam hit the side of the portal.

 

“Lock the portal,” Frank yelled. He rolled out of the portal and landed behind a small sand hill with Sayron and Magator close behind.

 

Magator pointed to the left and started crawling. Frank pointed to the right and began making his way over to another sand hill.

 

Sayron looked at the other two and pointed up the middle. He rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Thanks.” He held up three fingers and pulled them down one at a time. As Sayron’s third finger fisted, Frank and Magator fired blue and yellow light into the dwelling.

 

Sayron saw a white light come from the right side of the dwelling door. Aiming a siker to the right of the door, he fired a white blast and heard a scream. Two blasters flew out the door.

 

Frank, Sayron and Magator entered the dwelling to find G332 lying with a bad burn in her side.

 

“Where’s R739?” Frank asked her.

 

“When we saw the gray mist from the portal R739 told me to stay here and said she would go around to the back of the riff to get you trackers in a cross-blast. She lied to me. R739 must have gone up planet to the other riff.”

 

Frank took a tracker reading. “G332 is right. R739 is running. We’ll never capture her before she makes the riff.”

 

After limb-locking G332, Sayron took her to the portal.

 

Magator stepped in behind them just as a blast of white light hit within sikers of the riff.

 

Frank yelled, “Get G332 back to the tracker room and send back help.” He pushed the door closed.

 

Sayron and Magator could feel the riff shaking. The portal came to a stop and when the door opened, they were back on the other side of the planet.


 

A portal tech called out, “We had a riff blink.”

 

Number One, who was standing and talking to Mary, turned and asked the tech, “What do you mean a ‘riff blink’?”

 

Before the tech could reply all hell broke loose on his board. “We lost a riff between two planets, Number One. That riff was on the planet where G332 was last seen.”

 

“Get out a tracker signal and find out about our trackers and I do mean NOW,” Number One ordered.

 

“Number One, Sayron and Magator have G332. They said Frank was last seen doing battle with R739. If not for Frank, they would have ended in the riff. R739 was trying to destroy it with white light blasts. Number One, those are the only two riffs on that side of the planet.”

 

The six-eyed tech ran up to Mary with a cold air covering and a tracker guide. “I know that planet’s settings. Take 2G portal. Go,” he told her.

 

“What are the rest of you doing?” Number One demanded. “Does that tech have to do everything around here? Get an air bubble to them. Move it. I want to know everything that happens.”


 

As Mary stepped from the portal, the door closed and it slid back into the riff.

 

Magator and Sayron, with G332 in tow, were waiting for her.

 

Gray mist swirled again as the riff opened, a portal appeared and an air bubble slipped out, almost landing on top of them.

 

“I never saw an air bubble like this one,” Sayron remarked as a tech stepped out from behind it.

 

“Neither have I,” Mary said, unplugging her tracker guide. ‘But that six-eyed tech sent me the program on how to fly it. Give the runner to the tech so we can leave.”


 

Magator came out from behind the dwelling and climbed back into the air bubble. He shook his head as he looked over at Mary. “Frank’s not in the dwelling. There are tracks out back. It looks like he followed R739 up planet. Look at the hole where the riff was. I’d say R739 gas balled it.”

 

“I’m getting an implant reading on Frank,” Sayron said. “Up planet, less then a kayron. Let’s go.”

 

The air bubble set down on the outer edge of a huge, blackened hole.

 

“R739 took out this riff, too, and there’s no sign of Frank. His implant is reading, but there is no way we could find him under all this sand,” Magator said.

 

Mary climbed out and started moving around the hole. Suddenly, she stopped. “What is that smell?” she asked, covering her nose.

 

Sayron and Magator ran over to her. They started moving back and forth.

 

Sayron called out, “Over here.”

 

As Magator and Sayron started to dig, they found one of Frank’s legs.

 

“He’s not ended,” Magator yelled to Mary.

 

Mary run over fell to her knees and started digging. “What’s that smell?”

 

Sayron pointed to a brown, wet spot on the bottom of Frank’s leg covering. “It’s his locater. I’ll explain on the way back. Right now let’s get him out of here and back to tracker room.”

 

After getting Frank to the tracker healers, Mary, Sayron, and Magator went into the tracker room to stand behind the new six-eyed tech.

 

Sayron reached down and grabbed his shoulder. “So you thought I might need a locater, did you?” he growled, spinning the tech around to face Mary.

 

“It was only a joke! I meant no harm,” cried the tech, trying to get away.

 

“Well, that locater saved my partner’s life.” Mary kissed the tech on the side of his face. “Thank you.”

 

Sayron dropped the tech back down onto his chair and rubbed his head, “See you around, Tech!”

 



Chapter 4

Showdown

 

 

A gray mist hung over the landscape, its swirling form illuminated by shining florescent foliage. Screams of strange life forms filled the air as the Portal split the undergrowth as if the planet was giving birth to life itself.

 

When the portal door slid open Wartron stepped through with a shiver. “It’s like being back home except for this slime under my tentacles. I’m sinking in a siker each step.”

 

“I told you to put tentacle covers on,” Mary growled as she tossed them to him. “You better not get bogged down. Tealayon will beat me if I don’t bring you back to help with those twelve offspring she just had.” Mary shook her head. “Having two at one time would be more than I could handle. Now, if you’ll get out of my way, I‘ll get out of here.”

 

“Well, if Frank hadn’t tried to catch R739 by himself on that sand planet he would be here with you and I would be home with my Tealayon right now,” Wartron said as he splashed slime water around. “You know the offsprings would love this place. Sorry, got off track. How many more planet turns before Frank can get out of the skin growing tank?”

 

“Twenty-one is what the healer told me. Underplanet, we were lucky to find him alive. R739 busted the portal riff as she was leaving or Frank would have had her. He still thinks it’s partly his fault that R739 killed his last partner. She is a bad one, Wartron,” Mary said. “Now, let’s get going.”

 

The two trackers had barely gone thirty sikers when the air around them turned into white hot gas.

 

Wartron lifted his face out of the muck and looked down at Mary underneath him. “Are you okay? Hurt? Anything missing?” he asked, picking her up out of the slime.

 

Mary could see Wartron was saying something, but she couldn’t hear him. She grabbed her ears and screamed. “Damn, that ringing hurts. Wartron, are you okay?” she managed to ask through clenched teeth.

 

“I’m fine. Good thing you had tracker room add a force cover around the riff. If we had been out in the open, we wouldn’t be speaking right now. Okay, Mary. Tell me one more time how we don’t have to bring R739 in alive, right?”

 

Mary held her tracker up to scan for R739’s implant. “Great. The gas ball must have busted the tracker. There’re only two riffs on this planet and I’m not going near the other one. We’ll go back to tracker room and send a blast team to clear both riffs.” Mary leaned down to push the portal retrieval button on the inside of her foot covering and watched as the gray mist started to form.

 

 

When Wartron and Mary stepped out of the portal at Tracker Room lights were flashing everywhere. A set of trackers stepped into a portal as another portal faded from view.

 

“What’s happening?” Mary called to one of the portal techs.

 

“R739 has gone to the fifth planet from the twin blue stars. She left the planet that you were on so fast that we got her encrypted travel code. Now we’ll know where she’s going.”

 

Wartron yelled to another portal tech, “Get a signal out. R739 is gas balling riffs. Have all techs force cover riffs to one hundred sikers and get a blast team to sweep both riffs on the planet we just left.”

 

“Mary, Wartron, get in my room,” Number One called out. “Close the door. I want to have a quick word. You two did something right. This is the first blunder R739 has made and it was a good one. We have her trapped on the planet. Every riff will have two trackers to ambush her if she tries to leave. Get down there and bring her in ended or alive.”

 

“Number One,” Wartron spoke up. “We need a new tracker. The gas ball blast took ours out. I wonder if you’ll let us take two of the old iron ball throwing blasters. R739 seems to be one step ahead of us. I’m hoping a back step might turn this around.”

 

A portal tech burst through the door. “Number One, a tracker team has done battle with R739 and reports both trackers are hurt, but R739 did not get use of the portal. She’s still trapped on the planet.”

 

“Did you send a healing team?” Number One asked the tech.

 

“Yes, Sir.”

 

Number One turned to Wartron. “Get what you need and get to that planet. I’m sending another tracker team with you to guard the riff. Now go.”


 

As Mary, Wartron, Sayron and Magator stepped from the portal, Mary spotted Harayah. “Harayah, were you one of the trackers that got hurt?” Mary called.

 

“Yes, but I’m fine. Just some red and white light burns. Swal took one in the side. Good thing he had his light deflector on. R739 is using some new kind of blaster. It sends two colors at one time in a small beam pattern. Look over there. See what it did to that stone outcrop? I saw her in the tall green waving plants and fired a blue light. I don’t think she was trying to portal out. I figured she was only seeing if it was clear. Swal didn’t have a chance. He took her first blast. She got a shot off at me as she was running away.”

 

Wartron saw the damaged rock. “Why is she here? What brought her to this planet?” he asked out loud.

 

Mary smiled. “Healer Herlut Acedan. He’s the only healer that I know of who can find and will remove tracking implants for runners. He doesn’t have an implant himself, but I think I know how to find him. I’m going to send a signal to tracker room and see if we can get his living place.”

 

Wartron turned to Sayron and Magator. “Get a signal to the other riff watchers to cloak for this planet and to use the new anti-cloak eye shields. We don’t know if R739 has a cloaking device or not.”

 

“I think we have Healer Acedan’s place,” Mary said, looking at the data on her tracker. “R739 was here not long ago. She went to a dwelling two kayrons left and down planet. Wartron, let’s go see this Healer.” Mary took a reading for R739’s implant. “She is five kayrons left and down planet so we can get to his place safely.” Inserting a probe into her arm and another into Wartron’s tentacle, she plugged into the log guide and pressed the language download key. “There. Now we’re ready.”

 

Wartron and Mary cloaked and headed down planet. They had no trouble finding the healer’s place of work.

 

As they walked into Healer Acedan’s dwelling, an old female looked up from her desk, smiled and said, “The healer isn’t back yet. How may I help you?”

 

“We would like to see the healer, please. Do you know where he is?”

 

“Well, you can wait over there. The Healer is helping a couple with their eighth offspring just around the corner and will be right back.

 

Mary’s tracker started to hum. Wartron stepped closer to listen in.

 

Wartron, Mary, R739 is coming your way and fast,” Sayron reported.

 

Wartron stepped back to look out the door, then nodded to Mary as he reached inside his cloak.

 

Mary palmed a light immobilizer in each hand.

 

Wartron cocked both hammers on the iron throwing blasters then leaned back against the wall.

 

R739 burst through the door.

 

Before she could speak, the old female said, “You’ll be next; right after this nice couple.”

A blue light filled the room, followed quickly by a yellow one. R739 wasn’t affected by the lights and pulled a strange looking blaster from her bag and pointed it at Mary. Before R739 could pull the trigger, Wartron’s two iron throwing blasters roared.

 

R739 stumbled back as sparks flew from her body. A green liquid started flowing from holes in her arm and chest. She turned, running for the door. R739 managed to make it through the door and half way across the people mover trail, as the two iron throwers roared again taking one of her legs off at the knee. She went around the side of a dwelling, disappearing from view before Wartron could get off another set of blasts.

 

When Mary and Wartron got to the back of the dwelling they stopped. “She had a light absorbing cloak on. No wonder the immobilizer had no effect on her.” Mary said.”

 

Wartron grinned. “Did you see how there wasn’t any sparks with the second blast? I think her cloak is damaged.”

 

Mary held the tracker up and checked for R739’s whereabouts. “Behind us,” Mary yelled!

 

They spun around and saw nothing except for R739’s leg in the middle of the people mover trail.

 

“Great. Her implant was in the one leg I had to blast off. Now how can we track her?” Wartron groaned.

 

Mary pointed to the green liquid running down the side of the dwelling. “Her kind doesn’t heal fast. We have five to seven planet turns to find her. Signal tracker room to bring in an air eye to search for trails of her code. With luck, she’ll come down with a sickness from the iron thrower and have to seek out the only healer on this planet that can treat her kind.”

 

“Healer Herlut Acedan. We have to adjust our cloaks or she’ll spot us next time. I know just the cloak to use,” Wartron said with a smile. “And let me tell you why.”


 

Three planet turns later, the door to Healer Acedan’s office burst open. R739 pointed her blaster at the female behind the desk. “Keep both your hands on the top of the desk and get the healer out here now.”

 

“Please, don’t hurt me! I’ll call him. He’s in the back. Healer Acedan, please, come out here quickly.” The old female tried to yell, but it only came out in a whisper.

 

R739 shouted, “Bring your bag and no fast moves or I’ll end the old female first, then you.”

 

Healer Acedan poked his head around the door. “What’s wrong? I need to know so I can bring the right tools.”

 

As R739 swung her blaster toward the healer, two blasters roared from under the old female’s desk. Two more times the blasters thundered, sending iron balls tearing through R739’s body. R739 got off one light shot that hit the wall before her body crumpled to the floor.

 

“Nice shooting,” Mary told Wartron, looking at the hole in the wall. “Not sure my light absorbing cloak would have stopped that blast.”

 

“Well,” Wartron said with a grin. “I did as she told me. I kept two of my tentacles on the desk.”

 

Frank looked up at Mary from inside the skin tank. “So R739 is no more? I would have loved to have been there, but this is one time you needed someone like Wartron. If you want to change partners I’ll understand.”

 

“Why? So I could be out there chasing runners right now? Just to help Wartron and Tealayon pay for baby watchers? No way! You’re my partner.”

 

“But you did give him a big part of your payment for R739,” Frank reminded her.

 

Mary laughed. “Just so Tealayon could go with him. Someone has to keep Wartron out of trouble. Now be quiet so I can read you the instructions for our new tracker guide.”

 



Chapter 5

Clues

 

 

Slipping out of the portal, Wartron eased down and flattened himself into the clear blue fluid. A fine gray mist was still bubbling up through the fluid. Bits of plant life were stirred up by his tentacles.

 

Tealayon stepped out and the portal door closed behind her. “We need to be cloaked and speak Alappon. Here, plug in before we start off and end up meeting one. They’re not a very friendly race. I can just hear the alarm that would go up if they saw two Aggarays on their dwelling planet.”

 

“Well, C441 was last seen entering a riff on planet W9T7 in the yellow star system ZZ49. The last two riff readings from that planet came from here and a red star cluster.” Wartron looked over at Tealayon. “Did you get a tracker reading yet?”

 

“Yes, it seems you’re right. C441 is here and up planet about eleven kayrons. It looks like we’ll be on tentacle power. Our tracker guide shows no moving lines on this planet,” Tealayon continued punching tracker guide buttons.

 

“We could go back to tracker room and get a fluid skimmer.” Wartron reached into his holding bag to remove the portal button.

 

“Alappons don’t have fluid skimmers, love,” Tealayon said. “Why have cloaks on if we move across their fluid in a skimmer?”

 

“I was just offspring.” Wartron pointed a tentacle at the star. “It’ll be star set in a teser or two. Let’s stay the darkness here then move up planet first star break. The tracker guide said the red zemers that live under rocks on this planet are good intake for all, but Gordons and Dorfors. They’re good if heated or cold.”

 

Tealayon and Wartron started moving up planet, turning over rocks. A teser later they had four zemers squirming in their grip. Wartron placed them in a plant limb. Tealayon set her light immobilizer to red and blasted them on both sides.

“Not bad,” Wartron said after trying a bite. “Reminds me of sqrims back on our planet.”

 

Tealayon found a large rock that was sticking out of the blue fluid and reset their cloaks to match it. They crawled on top. Wartron, on first watch, wrapped his tentacles around Tealayon as she rested.

 

Not long after darkness, Wartron tapped Tealayon twice on a tentacle. Tealayon’s eyes flew open and, without making a sound, she reached for her light immobilizer. Using code, she tapped, rubbed and tapped on Wartron’s tentacle. He changed his immobilizer setting to yellow.

 

In the darkness they listened as a group of Alappons moved toward them.

 

“You say you saw a red glow down by the riff. So where is it?” They heard one of the Alappons ask.

 

“How do I know? I said I saw a red glow over by the planet line, not by the riff,” another answered.

 

“You say you saw a red glow and Qara made us come all this way looking for trackers. Next time you see a red glow you’d better keep it to yourself,” a third voice hissed.

 

Tealayon rubbed Wartron’s tentacle up once and then once to the right.

 

Wartron’s eyes moved slowly to the right, looking around Tealayon. Two more Alappons were standing in the fluid close enough to touch them. It looked as if it one was testing the air. Neither Wartron nor Tealayon moved. Slowly the Alappons eased over by the others.

 

“I smelled heated zemers on a plant back over there. Someone not of this planet was here,” one whispered.

 

“Great! Now we’ll have to go all the way to the riff. We won’t get back to the dwellings till after star break,” another murmured.

 

As four of the Alappons moved on, making light splashing sounds, Wartron rubbed up Tealayon’s back one time and one time to the left. Under a teser later three Alappons came back.

 

“We found nothing at the riff. Why did you stay here?” one of the Alappons asked.

 

The one who had stayed behind sighed. “I thought I might hear something without you making so much noise. Where is Zme?” he growled.

 

“We left him at the riff. Did you hear anything?”

 

“No. Let’s get back and tell Qara. It’s a long way to the dwellings and I’m tired.”

 

The four of them splashed off noisily.

 

Tealayon and Wartron listened for another thirty derons. Tealayon rubbed the side of Wartron’s face then closed her eyes and fell back, resting.

Four tesers before star break Wartron changed watch with Tealayon. She let him rest until star break.

 

As they intook cold zemers, Wartron looked over at her. “Sorry. I never heard or saw those two come up on us last night. It’s a good thing you did.”

 

“It’s okay. I didn’t hear them either. The others were making so much noise. I only caught their movement out of the corner of my eye.”

 

Wartron smiled at her. “I think we need to work on our touching signals. I didn’t know if you wanted me to feed the offsprings or change my immobilizer to a yellow light.”

 

“I know what you’d like to work on,” she said with a wink. “Your touch signals are fine. Let’s catch C441 first.”

 

“We have problems.” Wartron started thinking out loud. “They’ll be looking for us now. An air bubble will be seen because there’s no cover. The skimmer is out of the question and their orbiting planet will be full this darkness making movement harder.”

 

“We could try one of the new air cloaks,” Tealayon interrupted. “Put one on the air bubble then come down right in the middle of their dwellings.”

 

“Cloaks only work from the top and sides.” Wartron reminded her. “They’ll still see us from below.”

 

“Not if you put an air cloak on the bottom of the air bubble. Only a very small part of bubble will show on top.” Tealayon picked up a rock. Cupping it in her tentacle, she lifted it over Wartron’s head.

 

He looked up at the rock.

 

Tealayon turned her tentacle over. “Now do you see the rock?”

 

“I knew there was a reason I picked you as a mate,” he said with a smile.

 

Tealayon’s eyes narrowed and she dropped the rock.

 

Wartron’s tentacle shot up and caught it before it hit him in the head.

 

“Just testing your movement time.” Tealayon smiled back at him.


 

Wartron and Tealayon circled around the riff, checking for the Alappon guard. They found him fifty sikers down planet, resting behind some tall plants.

 

Wartron moved up and tapped him on the shell. Slowly the Alappon opened his eyes to find he was looking down Wartron’s immobilizer.

 

Tealayon limb-locked the Alappon’s claws to a big plant, then got out her tracker and sent a signal to tracker room. In what seemed like derons later, a portal slid from the riff. After a tech removed the air bubble from the portal he handed Tealayon a control button.

 

Tealayon turned on the cloak and all but two sikers at the top of the air bubble disappeared. She climbed in, took it up and flew it overhead so Wartron could see how well the cloak worked.

 

After she set it down by the riff, Wartron said to the tech, “You all did a great job. Thanks.” He turned to Tealayon. “At three hundred sikers out and less than fifty sikers from the ground I start to see its top. We could move with darkness mode inside the air bubble. That should make it even harder to be seen.”

 

Tealayon looked over at the Alappon as the tech left on the portal. “After last darkness, I think we should wait until star high to deal with him.”

 

At star high Wartron took out his immobilizer and blasted the Alappon with blue light then changed the setting to green and blasted him again. Wartron put the Alappon back where they had found him. “When he wakes up he’ll never know we were here.”


 

The air bubble hovered over the dwellings.

 

Wartron took a tracker reading. “He’s down there, but which one?” Down below, fifty to sixty Alappons moved about the dwellings. With darkness getting close, Wartron told Tealayon, “I have it narrowed down to three. They’ve been together all planet turn.” He motioned to a group standing outside of a dwelling. Two entered the dwelling and the other stayed outside, talking to another who had just walked up. Wartron took another reading. “We got him. Now we need him to go somewhere by himself.”

 

C441 stopped talking and went into the next dwelling. In less than a teser the brightness disappeared from the viewports.

 

“How long do you think it will be till he’s resting?” Wartron wondered.

 

“Let’s give him four tesers. That way we’ll get a couple of tesers rest each. I’ll keep first watch,” Tealayon said.

 

Four tesers later, Wartron woke Tealayon. “We have a problem,” he told her. “There’s a guard on the dwelling top. I didn’t see him until he was relieved. Take control of the air bubble. You gave me an idea earlier. Go to that outcropping of rocks and let me out.”

 

A deron later Wartron returned with a big rock.

 

“I hope you don’t end him with that,” Tealayon said.

 

“I’ll just drop it a few sikers.” Wartron shrugged. “The most he’ll have is a bad shell ache this star break.”

 

As they hovered over the dwelling top, Wartron waited until the guard leaned on the side rail. When the rock hit him he fell with a soft thud.

 

Tealayon lowered the air bubble so that Wartron could climb out onto the dwelling top. He slid over the side of the dwelling and was in the door in less than twelve rons.

 

A blue light flashed from inside. Tealayon worried it might have been seen, but nothing happened. After ten derons, Wartron eased back up the wall onto the dwelling top carrying C441 and a holding bag.

 

“What’s in the holding bag?” Tealayon asked.

 

“I’m not sure, but I think these are fake portal button parts. I found a work room full of them. Number One needs to see this stuff.”

 

As they moved toward the riff, Tealayon reminded him about the riff guard.

 

“Let’s stop and get another rock,” Wartron said with a laugh.

 

After dropping the rock on the guard, Wartron checked to make sure he was okay. All he found was a big lump on the back of the guard’s head. Wartron kept watch as Tealayon slid the air bubble into the riff.


 

“Here,” Wartron said, pushing C441 toward a portal tech. “Stick him in a holding room.” Wartron handed the holding bag to another tech. “Can you tell me what this stuff is?”

 

“Best I can tell, they’re portal button parts. Where did you get them?”

 

“C441 had a room full of them. Tell me when you have a better idea. Tealayon and I will be with Number One.”

 

“He’s in his room, I think,” the tech said.

 

A short while later the tech banged on Number One’s door.

 

“What did you find out?” Number One asked.

 

“They’re fake portal buttons, Number One. The bad news is that if a runner gets in a riff stream using one of them, it could lock up the riff. The coding program is bad; everyone in the portal would be ended. What came out would not be what went in. The good news is that most of the buttons will never work.”

 

“Okay,” Number One said. “See if you can trace who might have made those parts.”

 

The portal tech left.

 

“We’ll turn this over to the Alappon Planet Control Officers. Good job, you two. Now go get some rest.” Number One waved Wartron and Tealayon toward the door.


 

A buzzing sound woke Wartron and Tealayon.

 

“What?” Wartron asked after pushing the answer button.

 

“You have a message from Number One. If you would like to hear this message now, press two.”

 

“Now what?” Wartron said, half-rested as he pushed the number two button.

 

“Number One here. The dwelling was cleaned out when planet control got there. The only thing they found was something that said ‘Strong Hold’ and a set of leg markings similar to Alappons. I’m going to send out a bulletin letting all trackers know to keep a watch out for anything on these fake portal button parts. There’s a big payment for finding out who is behind this.”

 

“That’s nice to know,” Wartron said, releasing the button.

 

Tealayon wrapped her tentacles around Wartron. “Now, what were you saying back on the planet about working on our touching signals?”


Chapter 6

 Go-between

 

 

Ysor kept looking out the viewport from the intake room of the dwelling rental. Elaray was busy intaking another plate of musers.

 

“That’s your third plate this star break. I remember you saying something about filling up on musers next time we got back to your home planet, but at this rate, Elaray, you’ll have your entire planet clean of them. . Look, we’ve been here for four planet turns now. I’m starting to think M685 isn’t going to show. I know the last report said he was coming back to this Hterus planet, but that that was five planet turns ago.”

 

“I’d like to know how he’s getting through the riffs. Most runners use stolen portal buttons. We track them down using the portal button identification numbers. But M685’s button doesn’t show up on any tech panel,” Elaray said through a mouthful of musers. “He did work in a portal fix-it dwelling here. He was also put in holding for taking the paperwork for portal button prints. They never found the paperwork or holding bag full of portal buttons they say he took.”

 

“Well, if he doesn’t show up soon, I’ll need to go back to tracker room. My cloak isn’t working right. This star break I got up with green feathers, not brown. Good thing I looked in the view reflector before moving outside,” Ysor said.

 

“If we don’t want to be noticed, we should go before star high when the Hterus rest.” Elaray looked out the viewport for the star, pulled out his tracker and took a reading for M685’s implant. “No reading. He’s still not here yet. We should go.” He got up to pay the dwelling keeper for their intake “Ysor, you need to intake more or you’ll get sick. Here. Try this last muser. They kind of tickle going down.”

 

“That’s okay. I’ll get something back in the tracker intake room.” Ysor backed away from the muser that Elaray was holding up for him.


 

In the portal Elaray was very quiet.

 

“Okay, partner. What’s bothering you?” Ysor asked. “I’ve seen that look on your face before.”

 

“Didn’t the portal tech say our cloaks were ready when we left tracker room?” Elaray asked then continued without waiting for an answer. “Cloaks are good for fourteen planet turns. Yours only made four planet turns before you started getting green feathers. Something’s not right. Here. Give me your tracker and cloak.” The portal came to a stop and the door opened. “I’m going to talk with a portal tech. You go get something to intake and meet me in the fix-it room.”

 

As Ysor entered the fix-it room with a holding bag, a portal tech and Elaray were looking over a screen full of readouts.

 

“Right here.” The tech pointed to a break in the wave line on the screen. “You’re right. Something deprogrammed his cloak. Here, let me see your tracker. Look here at these power signals. To me, it looks like an implant blocking screen of some kind.”

 

“What range are we talking?” Elaray asked.

 

“It’s like a cloaking shield,” the tech snapped at Elaray for asking what he thought was a silly question. “One siker or twenty thousand kayrons – it makes no difference. That’s if it’s a blocking signal like I think it is. We’d better get our hands on one and find out. If it is, we should be able to make a decoder chip. A runner with one of those will be invisible to tracker guides.”

 

“How would that implant shield deprogram my cloak?” Ysor asked the tech.

 

“I was thinking about that. It would have to get within eight sikers of your cloak. Look here.” The tech pulled up another screen and pointed at a mass of wave lines. “This happened just before your cloak was powered down. When you powered it up the cloak showed an Hterus with green feathers.”

 

Elaray murmured to himself, “So, M685, you’re staying in the same dwelling rental we are. Now all we have to do is find out what room you’re in.”

 

“Can you fix it so my cloak stays programmed if M685 moves by me on the planet?” Ysor asked, pulling the holding bag close.

 

The tech shook his head. “Sorry. Nothing we can do without one of those shield chips.”

 

“We’ll have to head back after darkness in case M685 moves too close to you,” Elaray said to Ysor “By the way, what’s in the holding bag?”

 

“Intake. If I have to intake one more muser, I’ll blast myself with green light,” Ysor muttered as he moved off. “Let’s go tell Number One what we found. There might be some more payment in it for us.”


 

“Great. That’s all we need,” Number One yelled. “With all these fake portal buttons the portal techs have had to clean out three portals. They haven’t been able to decode what they found yet. Now you’re telling me runners can hide their implants? Get M685. I don’t care if you have to pull his feathers out one at a time – get me some information.”

 

Elaray’s eyes widened. “Pull his feathers out?”

 

Number One looked over at Elaray. “Okay, you know I didn’t mean for you to pull his feathers out. Just get me that information. Now go.”

 

Ysor leaned against the portal wall, laughing.

 

“That wasn’t funny, Ysor,” Elaray snapped.

 

“No, but the look on your face was.” Ysor was still laughing. “Come on, partner. Let’s go get us a runner. After which I might even get you a plate of heated musers.”

 

“What about a plate of cold musers and some dipping fluid? Nice shade of green skin you have, Ysor,” Elaray said stepping into the portal behind him. “I thought gold and silver were the only two colours you turned?”

 

The portal tech turned to Number One. “Is that laughter coming from the riff?”

 

“You’re not getting payment for listening at riffs. Break that implant shield code or we’ll all be out of jobs,” Number One snapped, slamming his door.


 

After closing the door of their dwelling rental room, Ysor turned on the brightness.

 

“Your feathers are still brown,” Elaray said

 

Ysor took out his tracker and took a reading for M685’s implant. “I’m still not getting a reading.”

 

“It’s two tesers till star break. I’ll stay at the end of the mover way. You watch your cloak for changes.”

 

Within a teser, Ysor watched the cloak’s feathers flicker from brown to green.

 

“Something is happening. They started to turn green, but they went back to brown,” Ysor messaged Elaray.

 

“A door opened across from you, but no one came out,” Elaray reported back.

 

“They’re green,” Ysor whispered into his tracker.

 

Just as M685 left his room and stepped into the mover way, Elaray raised his light immobilizer. A female with an offspring stepped out into the mover way between Elaray and M685.

 

The offspring said, “Wommy, he has a blaster.”

 

The female looked up and saw Elaray counting a handful of payments.

 

“Stop making up stories, Eeeethe,” the female snapped at her offspring “Sorry,” she said to Elaray with an apologetic smile. “He’s been watching too much viewscreen.” She took her offspring down the mover way. “No more tracker stories for you before rest time, Eeeethe.”

 

M685 looked around the female at Elaray before hurrying away.

 

Elaray moved to the viewport and watched M685 cross the mover line and slip between two dwellings before turning and easing himself back out to see if anyone was following. After about twenty derons M685 took one last look before moving on as if nothing had happened.

 

Ysor joined Elaray at the viewport. They watched M685 moving down the line. “Maybe we’ll get him at star high when he’s resting. Just think, all this time he was staying in the same rental across from us. That’s one smart Hterus. He took the last room on this level so he could go out the door or the viewport. You take the first watch, Elaray.”

 

He woke Ysor. “He’s not back yet; your feathers are still brown. Take the watch. I’m one tired Hterus.”

 

Three tesers later Ysor tapped his partner’s foot.

 

Elaray opened his eyes to see a cloak of green feathers. “How long has he been back?” he whispered.

 

“About a teser. He should be resting by now.”

 

As they opened the door to their room, Elaray reminded Ysor that Hterus were easily wakened.

 

Ysor pointed his light immobilizer into the viewhole on M685’s door and fired a blast of blue light. Taking out a tracker lock pick, he quickly opened M685’s door.

 

When they stepped inside M685 was standing in the middle of the room with a blaster in his hand. Elaray removed the blaster. They picked him up and quickly carried him to their room.

 

After they tied him to a post, Elaray lay down for a quick rest.

 

Coming to, M685 saw Ysor was watching him. “Look, tell Artxe I was coming back to Strong Hold. I only needed the blocker deflector to get more tools. The boss and his offspring need more portal buttons.”

 

“Where’s the blocker deflector and portal button? Artxe told us to get them or end you,” Ysor said then looked over at Elaray. “What do you think? We end him and then look for them ourselves?”

 

“I think he’s taking too long to tell us.” Elaray put a hand on M685’s shoulder.

 

M685 started talking, very fast. “The portal button is in a holding bag in my room. The blocker deflector is around my neck under the feathers.” He paused and then spoke more slowly. “The only place you can wear a blocker deflector is around your neck. You should have known that. You’re not from Strong Hold. Artxe didn’t send you.”

 

“You’re right,” Ysor said as he blasted M685 with blue light. After untying him, Ysor limb-locked M685 back to the post. Elaray put a gag on M685.

 

M685 woke to find Elaray and Ysor resting. Carefully, M685 started pulling feathers out from around his hands until the limb-locks slipped off. Taking the blocker deflector off of the table, he turned it on and placed it back around his neck, picked up his holding bag and eased out the door.

 

Ysor sat up as the door closed behind M685, moved to the viewport and watched until M685 was out of sight. Taking out his tracker, he took a reading of M685’s implant. “The new chip is working just fine. He’s heading straight for the riff. I’m sending the signal to tracker room now.”

 

“So how long do you think it will take him to figure out we let him steal a fake implant shield and a holding bag of broken portal button tools?” Elaray asked.

 

Ysor went over to lock the door. “I hope not until he gets to this Strong Hold place and we can get a fix on it. I need some rest and the payment on this dwelling is good until star break. We can start back to tracker room then.”


 

Ysor and Elaray stepped from the portal into the tracker room.

 

“How is our runner doing?” Ysor asked the portal tech.

 

“It seems he went to a planet with a strange set of non-working riffs then we lost track of him. There’s something strange going on when you have one good riff right in the middle of a five hundred kayron circle of broken ones. Anyway, we sent a tracker team to the planet and they both took readings. No M685 anywhere. We have their trackers now and we’re looking for that strange wave pattern that came from the implant shield. Both trackers said they felt someone was watching them when they took the readings. We’re working now on breaking the code in that chip you portaled back to us.”

 

“M685’s in a portal leaving the planet,” another portal tech yelled.

 

“Do we have all the information we need from M685?” Number One asked.

 

“Yes, Number One. The tracker fix-it room just reported the signals match. They said the signal from the planet looked like a base beam of some kind. The tech said it was one hundred times stronger than the one Ysor had on his tracker.”

 

“Well, go bring M685 in then,” Number One growled. “Do I have to tell you everything?”

 

“M685 should be less than a hundred sikers from the riff,” the portal tech told Ysor and Elaray. “Here are two trackers. They’ll decode the blocker chip.”

 

“Good. We’ll have time when we get back for a plate of musers and dipping fluid,” Elaray said as the portal door closed, “or slimmers in a nice green fluid.”

 

The portal tech could have sworn he heard Elaray scream something about “face the other way” just before the portal vanished.

 

“Offsprings! Just a bunch of wet nosed offsprings! How can this tracker room catch runners if offspring are all they send me?” Number One was smiling as he closed his door.



Chapter 7

Jackpot

 

 

Harayah stood atop the dwelling as streaks of white flashed through the rolling vapours of the storm. Balls of fluid the size of zacker eyes fell out of the dark vapour.

 

Harayah studied her tracker readout. A flash from one of the white streaks lit up the dwelling top. On the readout, a signal faded in and out - the one signal she’d been trying to find for three planet turns. “I knew it,” she yelled down to Swal. “I told you Y392 came to this planet. There’s a faint signal seven hundred kayrons right planet.”

 

“Faint? Only seven hundred kayrons away? It must be all the white streaks in this storm. Now get down here before one of them hits you and I have to train another partner,” Swal hissed up at her.

 

Harayah leaped from the dwelling top and landed next to Swal, splashing planet ground onto him under his cloak. She laughed as his tail and legs became covered.

 

“Right. Just shake with fun,” he said, looking over his anti-cloak glasses. With a quick movement of his tail he splashed planet ground over all eight of her legs.

 

“That feels like frozen fluid,” Harayah said with a shiver. “Let’s go into that seller’s dwelling to get warm.”

 

Watching the two trackers enter his dwelling, the seller smiled. Get over here by the glowing to warm up. “This isn’t a good star turn to be out there. Where are you traveling from?”

 

Swal took out his log guide from under his cloak to plug into his arm. Stepping up behind Harayah, he put his arm around her and inserted a probe into her arm. He pushed the log guide download button. The seller didn’t notice.

 

Harayah asked, “Seller, do you know how we can get seven hundred kayrons that way?” She pointed.

 

The seller grinned. “It’s okay. I’ve helped trackers out before. I know about the payment. Now, if you’re willing to give up one point of your payment for the runner you’re after, my offspring, Yata, has an air bubble. He can take you there. He can be ready in about thirty derons and have you there in three tesers.”

 

“One point of our payment? Aren’t there rules on this planet about sellers like you?” Harayah asked, stepping back slightly.

 

Swal thought for a deron. “That’s a lot of payment. Harayah, it looks like we don’t have much choice. Give one point to this seller or walk. For the one point you’ll throw in some hot intake and warm fluid,” Swal hissed.

 

“Deal,” the seller said. “Put your mark here. And remember - I know what one point of a tracker’s payment is.”

 

“So do we,” Swal snapped back. “So do we.”

 

After they finished intaking their fill, Yata came in and told them the air bubble was ready to leave.

 

In the air bubble, Harayah whispered to Swal, “When do you think the seller will find out that one point of payment for this runner won’t cover the intake and fluid we had?”

 

“Serves him right,” Swal hissed, leaning back and rubbing his middle. “Better get some rest. We don’t know when we’ll get another chance.”


 

With a jarring bump, the air bubble set down on the planet ground.

 

Swal took a tracker reading for Y392’s implant. “Y392 is another nine kayrons to the right,” he told Harayah. “The next riff is fifteen kayrons.”

 

Harayah turned to Yata. “Fifteen kayrons right,” she instructed him.

 

“Take it up with the seller. This storm took too much of my power fluid. I can’t go any further or I won’t be able to get back. Just stay on the mover ribbon over there,” Yata said. “You’ll find other dwellings. They might be able to help you.”

 

Harayah and Swal got out of the air bubble and started down the mover ribbon.

 

“At least the star is bright and warm here,” Swal said with a smile.

 

A loud noise came from behind the trackers.

 

They turned and saw two three-legged beasts pulling a people mover toward them.

 

“Hold it,” Harayah said as she, stepped in front of the beasts. “Is this mover for sale?

 

“How much?” The driver asked.

 

Harayah held up a ring with a large clear stone in the center.

 

The driver stepped down and took the ring. He murmured to Swal as he passed him, "For this the female could have had the mover back at my dwelling, too." He started walking back in the direction from which he’d come.

 

After Swal and Harayah got on the mover, she picked up the lines and the beasts started moving.

 

Swal took another tracker reading for Y392’s implant.

 

“What’s that look on your face for Swal?”

 

“Y392 isn’t going to the riff. He’s coming this way and he’s less than a kayron from here.”

 

“We’ll set up a trap at the bend just up there.” Harayah pointed to some tall hard plants.


 

“Of all the planets to pick,” Y392 muttered as he headed back down the mover ribbon from the riff. “I don’t care if it is seven hundred kayrons back, I’m going to sink my claws into that Seller and his offspring. Bad enough I had to buy new gear and a portal button after that light streaking storm, but to leave me forty kayrons from the riff because he’s low on power fluid and then I find out the new portal button is useless? With no payment left, I’ll have to take a portal button from someone. It’s a good thing I look something like these planet males.”

 

Y392 was still deep in thought when he turned a bend and looked up. His eyes were filled with yellow light. He fell to the ground wrapping both claw arms around his middle feeling sicker than a millipede intake could make him.

 

“Swal? Yellow? Why is it always the yellow light?” Harayah sighed. “Now he’ll have his intake all over my new limb-locks. Let’s get him onto the mover.”

 

“Did you hear what he was saying about the seller and his offspring?” Swal hissed. “The same power-fluid trick his offspring used on us – plus they sold him a broken portal button.”

 

“Maybe it’s a bad riff.” Harayah laughed.

 

“I’ve never found a broken riff. I’ve heard they might move a few sikers. It’s starting to get dark. What do you say we find a dwelling for the darkness? I think the light streaking storm is coming this way. My skin took in enough of the wet fluid this planet turn,” Swal said, trying to watch the sky as he limb-locked Y392 to the mover.

 

“That’s a good idea. With both of us and Y392, I’m not sure how fast the beasts can get us to the riff. I’d like to stay dry for the darkness. I saw a dwelling back there. I think we can get the mover in it.”

 

After they pulled the mover inside the dwelling, Y392 turned his eyes and gave Harayah a contemptuous look. “Would you look at me, please, and tell this Alappon how much fun it will be staying dry all darkness? Why do you think I’ve been hiding on planets like this one? So, if you don’t mind, be kind enough to push me out into the darkness when the storm comes.”

 

Swal and Harayah eyed each other. Harayah took out her light immobilizer and set it on white. She turned to Y392 with a smile.

 

“No!” screamed Y392. “Don’t heat me for intake! I’m too old and sick. Yes, I’m very sick. You will be ended if you intake me.” He closed both eyes and pulled them inside his shell.

 

Harayah fired five blasts, sending waves of heat over the top of Y392’s head.

 

Y392 opened his eyes as he felt the mover being pushed around. He looked up to see holes overhead. Fluid was running through them to the ground.

 

Harayah helped Swal push the mover with Y392 underneath the leaks.

 

“Now be quiet or we might just intake one of your legs this darkness anyway,” Swal said, laughing.

 

Harayah moved to the other side of the dwelling and found a dry place to rest while Swal moved up into the overhead supports. “Y392, don’t try anything this darkness or you’ll wish I had heated you for intake,” he hissed.

 

Throughout the darkness fluid came down bringing cold air with it. Swal didn’t sleep well as he kept checking the air for Y392’s scent. At star break Swal felt warm air around him. Looking down he saw Harayah had started flickering heat in the dwelling warmer.

 

Dropping to the ground, he went over to her. “So, any sound from Y392 this star break?”

 

“Some strange sounds, but he hasn’t said anything. I’m going to check on him now,”

 

“I’ll do it. I want to check the limb-locks before we start for the riff,” Swal hissed through a yawn.

 

When Swal got to the mover he saw that the limb-locks had cut into Y392’s legs which had turned a sickly green. Swal quickly loosened them. “Harayah, come check out Y392. Something’s wrong. I think we need to get him to the tracker healers fast.”

 

Harayah looked at Y392 legs then started hooking the three-legged beasts to the mover. “He’ll be okay. We’ll get him there in a couple of tesers.”


 

As Swal tried to make the beasts move faster, they suddenly felt the mover spring up.

 

“Now I remember. Alappon’s can intake and remove fluids at will, making their limbs much bigger or smaller.” Harayah laughed. “Our first runner escape.”

 

Y392 looked back to see if the trackers had missed him, when the air around him filled with blue light. He landed face-down in a ground fluid hole.

 

Two tesers later Y392 found each of his legs limb-locked to the mover. “I’ll have you know,” he yelled, “if that seller hadn’t sold me a broken portal button, I’d be long gone. If I ever get my claws on him and that offspring of his they’ll never sell broken parts again. Listen up! For four star turns – four, I tell you – I outran trackers and then a seller trips me up!”

 

Swal looked at Harayah then turned back to Y392. “You say he sold you a broken portal button? Where is it?”

 

“Under my shell on the left side between the second and third leg. Why?”

 

Swal pointed his light immobilizer at Y392’s eyes and reached inside his shell. With a tug Swal pulled out the portal button. He held it up for Harayah to see. “This might be our one point if you’re thinking what I’m thinking.” He smiled.

 

Harayah glanced over her shoulder at Y392. “You have his mark to prove what you’re saying?”

 

“Yes – same place. Why?”

 

Stepping from the portal, Swal tossed Y392’s portal button to a tech. “How much time will it take for you to tell me what’s wrong with this? And put this into a holding room.” He pushed Y392 forward.

The portal tech smiled. “That’s easy. This portal button’s a fake. They’ve been showing up now and then, but we haven’t found out where they’re coming from.” He led Y392 away.

 

“Number One, can we have a word with you?” Harayah and Swal said at the same time.


 

“Seller, are you in?” Harayah’s voice boomed as she walked into the dwelling with Swal close behind.

 

“Be right there,” they heard him call from the back room.

 

“Trackers, you’re back,” the seller said as he entered the room. “I take it you got your runner? That was quick.”

 

“Yes and we have your one point as we agreed on,” Swal said, holding up the payment. “Your offspring was part of this deal so he needs to be here.”

 

“Yata come out here. The trackers have our payment,” the seller called to his offspring.

 

As Yata entered, Swal threw the payment to the seller. “Count it so we can get your mark to end this deal. We need to get back to tracker room.”

 

“What’s this? This isn’t all of my payment,” the Seller yelled. “Are you trying to break a deal? This doesn’t cover your intake and the power fluid for the air bubble.”

 

“You never asked what the payment was for that runner. That is one point. Here’s the payment marker from our tracker room. Now give us your mark so we can get back,” Harayah snapped at the seller.

 

“Fine. Here is my mark. I’ll never do another deal with trackers again,” the annoyed Seller said, his offspring nodding in agreement.

 

Swal picked up the mark then smiled as he showed it to Harayah.

 

Blue light filled the dwelling.


 

The seller and Yata looked around at a room full of people. They were shocked to find they were limb-locked together.

 

“What’s going on?” Yata asked angrily.

 

“You were brought here to the tracker room for selling fake portal buttons. The good news is you get to keep the payment for helping the trackers catch Y392 and they get two hundred times that for finding you. The bad news is you get to share a holding room with one mad Alappon,” Number One said. “Now take these two away.”


Chapter 8

New Friends

 

 

Somewhere out in the dense vapor a rumble began. Rocks rubbed against each other and were pushed aside as a riff opened and a portal appeared.

 

Stepping out of the portal, Magator kicked at some of the smaller rocks. “Another great planet to chase a runner on. Why couldn’t we chase one that likes a bit of star and shore? I’ve only seen one planet with sand and fluid, which you might call a ‘shore’.” Magator took out his tracker to take a reading.

 

Sayron, close behind, pulled off his eye shields and placed a covering on his head. Looking around he said, “A shore? First – how could you see a shore through this vapor? Second – that’s all we’d need. If I remember right, you can’t skim fluid. I would be spending all my time pulling you from the bottom to keep you from ending. Remember, you’re the one that thought the runner would come to this planet. Tell me. Is she here yet?”

 

“From what I can read on this tracker J899’s a couple hundred kayrons down planet,” Magator said, pushing the portal button. The portal slid back into the riff. He turned and pointed. “That way.”

 

Gray mist swirled. More rocks shifted as a second portal appeared. The door opened and a people mover eased out. “There,” a tech said before closing the door. As quickly as it had arrived, the portal disappeared.

 

Sayron plugged into the tracker guide, holding up the other end to Magator. “So what’s this Dorfor running for?” he asked.

 

Magator plugged in, watching Sayron push the tracker down-load button. “This doesn’t seem right,” he said. “All she did was get in a battle with a Sinne at one of the fluid intake dwellings. They must have broken the place up some, but her payment is high for something that small.”

 

“Payment is payment But you’re right,” Sayron added. “I’d like to know myself why it’s so high. There aren’t a lot of fluid intake dwellings Sinne haven’t broken up, but I’ve never seen a payment this high for that.”

 

Magator put down his tracker. “Well, J899 doesn’t seem to be moving fast. With the people mover, we should catch her by next planet turn.”

 

“Don’t bet any payment on it. With no mover lines, I say it’ll take two planet turns, if not three.” Sayron pointed at all the large rocks. “We’ll be going more left and right than down planet. Why didn’t you get the air bubble?”

 

Magator pointed at the people mover. “If that stops working, we step out. If the air bubble stops, we have to jump out and you know I’m too heavy for those little floating chutes.”

 

“You did it for Frank.” Sayron reminded him.

 

“Frank’s not a runner,” Magator snapped. “I’d take an air bubble for you and you know it.”

 

“Just offspring. You know that, too.” Sayron slapped Magator on the back. “We had better get going or it will take four or five planet turns to catch up to her. Looks like the vapor is lifting.”

 

 

A little after star down Sayron saw dwelling brightness off in the distance. Tapping Magator on the shoulder, he pointed. “We might get some intake there and a place to spend darkness. It beats spending the darkness out in the open. That and the fact most Dorfors are friendly.”

 

Shaking his head, Magator steered the people mover toward the dwellings.

 

Pulling up along side of three female Dorfors walking by the mover line, Sayron asked if any of them knew a place where they could get intake and spend the darkness.

 

“Sure. There’s a dwelling rental down at the end of the mover line.” one of the Dorfors replied. Laughing, she asked, “Do all your planet kind have four upper limbs and two lower ones?”

 

“Yes, I’m a Baywa.” Sayron winked. “Thanks.”

 

The Dorfor, giggling, turned to one of her friends and said, “I think I’m in love.”

 

Magator started to laugh. “I think you just asked her to be your mate with that wink.”

 

“What?” Sayron asked, wide-eyed.

 

Magator was laughing so hard he found it hard to control the people mover. “It’s okay. They can’t take a mate until they’re over one hundred and fifty star turns.” Still laughing, he managed to say, “But we could wait if you like.”

 

“No. That’s fine. I’m too young to be taking on a mate,” Sayron replied, crossing all four of his arms. “Just find the dwelling so we can get some rest and be out of here by first star break.” Pulling out the tracker, Sayron took another reading for J899’s implant. “Like you thought, she must be moving slow. Unless she moves all darkness, we’ll catch her by next star down. I did a wide scan and there are no other implants around her. After what happened with R739, I don’t want to end up like Frank.”

 

“Frank will be fine. He’s is getting out of the skin tank today or tomorrow.” Magator guided the mover to a halt along side a dwelling.

 

A female Dorfor was standing in the doorway.

 

“A young Dorfor told us we could rent a place to rest and get some intake at this dwelling,” Magator said to her.

 

“One or two resting chambers?” the female asked. “We seem to be getting a lot from other planets through here lately. Did you come to see our rocks?”

 

“No. My partner is here looking for a mate.” Magator laughed. “I think he might have found one down the mover line. Three young female Dorfors were out walking. I think he took a liking to one.”

 

“I only winked. We do that all the time on my planet. I meant nothing by it and you know that,” Sayron said with a huff.

 

“A wink? You winked at a young Dorfor female? I hope she wasn’t over a hundred and fifty star turns or has very understanding elders. We take winking very seriously here,” the female Dorfor said to Sandron with a straight face, winking at Magator when Sayron wasn’t looking.

 

Magator and Sayron were sitting down with two plates of intake when the young Dorfor they had spoken to earlier walked into room. She set fluid intakes in front of them then clicked her long nails on the table.

 

Just as Sayron looked up he heard the elder female Dorfor say, behind them, “I found out it was my offspring you winked at and I’m not ‘understanding’.”

 

Sayron started coughing with his mouth full of intake. Nearly choking, he finally managed to swallow.

 

Everyone laughed at the silly look on his face.

 

“So, he doesn’t want to be my mate,” the young Dorfor said, winking at Sayron. She was still laughing as she left the room.

 

Magator leaned over to Sayron and whispered, “I forgot to tell you. Dorfors have a great sense of humor.”

 

“I owe you and I owe you big.” Sayron shook his forkful of intake in Magator’s face.


 

Just before star break, Magator took a tracker reading while Sayron readied the people mover.

 

The young Dorfor moved up beside Magator, watching over his shoulder.

 

“So, where are you taking my mate before star break?” she asked with a giggle. “And what does that thing do?” She pointed at the tracker.

 

“It tells us where runners are so we can catch them,” Magator explained, putting the tracker down. “Sayron, J899 is still only sixty-nine kayrons down planet. She must not have moved last darkness.”

 

The young Dorfor moved over to the people mover and looked inside. “Don’t leave. Wait till I get back.” She went into the dwelling. Within derons she returned with two large containers of fluid intake and some packaged intake. “There’s nothing down planet. You’ll need this.” She placed it in the people mover.

 

“Thanks. We might just need some intake before star bright is over.” Sayron moved the packages to the back of the people mover.

 

“The intake is for the Dorfor. Fluid intake is for all of you. I overheard you last darkness and a Dorfor can’t carry enough intake to be going that far and back. You’ll have to hurry or this runner will be ended before you can get her back here. She’ll be on the dark side of a big rock when you find her - to get out of the bright star. Now go while it’s still dark.” As they left she called out, “By the way, I’m Kelona”

 

***

 

Magator took a tracker reading and smiled. “J899 hasn't moved all star bright. She's just two hundred sikers that way.” Magator pointed. “That Dorfor was right. You know, she’ll make someone a good mate someday.”

 

“Well, don’t look at m- ,” but Sayron’s words were cut short by the nearby sounds of blasters. Stopping the mover at the bottom of a hill, Sayron got out a set of long looking glasses. They left the mover and carefully made their way to the top of the ridge.

 

Magator was taking a wide implant reading. “I don’t show any other runners but J899.”

 

From the top they saw two Sinne and an Osiver blasting at a Dorfor. The Dorfor was blasting back at them.

 

Sayron took a closer look through the long looking glass then handed it to Magator. “There’s an Elan trying to get behind her. Look at their necks. Remember the coded message from tracker room? It looks like they have a different type of implant blocker from the one we saw in that report. The way they’re blasting, she'll be ended if we don't hurry.”

 

Magator picked up his tracker and started programming it. “There,” he said after downloading to Sayron’s tracker. “I’ve wanted to try this new air cloak. Sayron, you take the Elan and I’ll take the two Sinne and the Osiver.”

 

“Why do I get one and you get three?” Sayron snapped.

 

“Kelona would never forgive me if something happened to you.” Magator laughed, starting to the right.

 

Sayron whistled. Magator stopped to look back. Sayron was pointing at the ground. Magator looked down and saw the tracks Sayron had made in the soft ground. When he looked up, Sayron was gone. All he could see were little puffs of dust moving to the left.

 

After Magator got into position, he tossed a rock at the Osiver. When the Osiver turned around, Magator hit him with a blast of blue light square in the face. One of the Sinne fired in his general direction. Two shots missed, but the third clipped his tracker. Magator’s cloak failed, but he managed to shoot yellow light into the eyes of the Sinne who dropped to both knees and toppled to the ground.

 

The other Sinne tried to get a blast off at Magator, but Magator was quicker and the Sinne soon joined the first.

 

Magator heard a Dorfor scream, “NO!” just before a blaster was heard behind him.

 

Spinning around, he saw the Elan crumpling to the ground with his blaster still in his hand. “What just happened?” Magator asked turning pale.

 

Sayron came over to his partner and de-cloaked. “I guess the Elan thought trying to get behind J899 wasn’t working, so he started back this way. He was a lot faster than I was. I think we saw you uncloak at the same time. I didn’t have a clear blast at him. He was going to blast you when J899 screamed and blasted him. When I looked back she was looking at my tracks, which, by that time, was quite a dust storm. She dropped her blaster and put both hands up.” He reached down and picked up J899’s blaster and tossed it back to her. “I have a feeling you’ll be safe with her watching your back, partner, while I go get the people mover.”

 

“Okay,” Magator said. He turned to face J899. “I want to know what this is all about.”

 

***

 

Mary, Frank, and Sayron were sitting around in the star chart room listening to Magator tell J899’s story.

 

“J899 told me that she’d heard the seller and his offspring had put out a super big payment for Swal and Harayah’s heads because they broke up his fake portal button scam. J899 said that she was in a place called Strong Hold. Everyone there was talking about how to get their hands on that payment. She was against ending anyone - especially trackers. After she snuck out of Strong Hold and got off the planet, she found out they’d put a payment on her.”

 

Sayron piped up, “With payment for the five runners, we did okay. When we get to the fluid intake bar, the first round is on us.”

 

“Tell me again. How much is that payment for Harayah and Swal?” Mary asked.

 

A tech poked his head around the door. “Sorry, everyone, but Sayron has a message from some female named Kelona.”

 

As Sayron left the room Mary turned to Magator. “It looks like you’re going to have to keep an eye on that lover boy.”

 

The room filled with laughter.


Chapter 9

Strong Hold

 

 

Beams of light from the planet star shone across a narrow fluid fall. Gray mist bubbled up through the fluid. Without warning or sound, a portal appeared. Fluid flowed over it as if the portal was being washed after its journey. The door flew open. A golden-skinned female stepped out into the sicker deep fluid with a blaster in her hand. “Unload quickly! Move it! We don’t know if they’ve got our code. They could be just derons behind us,” Mary yelled.

 

Three males jumped out of the portal.

 

Frank carried a holding bag over his shoulder. He had two blasters strapped to his middle.

 

Sayron with a blaster in each hand faced left planet and looked down at a small mover ribbon.

 

Magator started unloading holding bags from the portal.

 

“We need to find another riff before the trackers find us.” Sayron said. “Where are Sdik and Trop? They were just behind me.”

 

“Portal techs ended them, but I ended one tech and the big guy here got the other one just before the portal door closed.” Frank laughed. “You should have seen the look on that tech’s face as the blast went through his light deflector.”

 

Sayron looked over at the other three then said, “Mary, we need to find a place we can hold up to tend to our burns.”

 

“We don’t have tesers to stand here talking. Get a gas ball on that riff and let’s move out,” Mary replied.

 

“I’m already on it,” Frank said. He opened a holding bag and removed a gas ball. He placed it under the fluid where a portal coming out of the riff would set it off.

 

Magator unfolded an old paper guide. “I’ve never seen so many riffs this close,” he said, looking it over. “Just three tesers right planet and we’ll be off this planet and they’ll never find us.”

 

“They don’t have to. We have,” came a voice from the rock overhead. “Place your blasters on the ground. Don’t make any fast moves.”

 

“You didn’t look up, did you?” Mary said angrily to Sayron.

 

As the four looked up, they saw six or seven males with blasters powered up and pointed down at them.

 

Slowly Mary lowered her blaster and placed it on the ground. The rest did the same.

 

One of the males held up a tracker guide and smiled over at a large, dark green, scaly masked male. “Artxe, they have runner implants. The old tracker guide can’t get a clear reading on their new implants, but they’re runners like us.”

 

“We’ll see,” Artxe said. “You four move right along the people ribbon. Leave your holding bags. We’ll bring them.”

 

Two kayrons down the people ribbon, the group came to a number of dwellings.

 

“Okay, sit on the ground in front of the poles and place your limbs behind them.” Artxe pointed at six poles standing in the middle of the clearing among the dwellings.

 

After Artxe had one of the runners limb-lock the four to the poles, he said, “Let’s see what’s in the holding bags.”

 

One of the runners checked Frank’s holding bag, cried out and threw it down.

 

“What is it?” Artxe asked.

 

“Look.” The runner pointed at the two heads that had rolled out.

 

“What on planet?” Artxe said. “You - green one - tell me why you have those heads in the holding bag or I end all of you now.”

 

“Those are the tracker heads of Harayah and Swal. A seller is offering a very big payment for anyone who ends them. This seller asked for proof before he would give his mark,” Frank told him.

 

“Artxe,” a female voice called out from one of the dwellings. “We’re getting signals from all the riffs. Six runners portaled into Lainer Tracker Room and blasted up the place. They ended four trackers and cut off two of their heads before getting away. Two runners were ended in the battle. Trackers are looking for four runners - one female and three males - with immobilizer burns.”

 

Artxe pointed to one of the runners. “Unlock them. We have new runners to add to our group. You know,” Artxe said, as he kicked Harayah’s head back into the holding bag, “all payments are shared and I count out the split. First, you’ll have to make it through the hole. We don’t let just anyone in Strong Hold.” He pointed to a small dwelling. “Go and get some rest. You’ll need it next star break. I’ll send over some salve for your burns.” He started to walk away.

 

Frank spoke up, “More trackers than you’ve ever seen will riff in here any deron now. We can’t stay here.”

 

Artxe stopped, turned and said with a laugh, “All the riffs within five hundred kayrons of here are down except for one. They can’t read implants through our implant blocker deflector. Just so you know, two trackers have already been here and took some readings, and moved on. Trackers think you already riffed from this planet. Get some rest,” Artxe repeated.

 

Frank said to Sayron and Magator as they entered the dwelling, “I have to get that gas ball by the fluid fall before someone sets it off and ends that riff”

 

One of the guards, holding a huge blaster, spoke up. “We’ve got your gas ball in our blaster room. Get in there and don’t leave the dwelling this darkness or you’ll be ended before you even get to the hole. Now move it.”

 

Mary, the last to enter, felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to look at the empty air with a smile.

 

***

 

At star break a guard entered the dwelling. “Artxe wants you four by the hole in five derons.”

 

Magator asked the guard, “Where is this hole?”

 

“You’ll see. Let’s go.”

 

Magator stuck his head outside the door. “I hear voices off to the right. Must be that way,” he said, leaving the dwelling.

 

Two guards watched as the four left. Magator first, then Sayron followed by Mary. Frank took his time.

 

Mary looked over her shoulder and whistled. “Wow, I never saw that covering before. Hey, guys, look at Frank.” Mary laughed. “Frank, I think we’re going to a battle, not a party.”

 

“I had this made after getting my new skin which I hope isn’t torn from my body.”

 

“Be quiet and keep walking.” One of the guards butted the end of his blaster into Frank’s back.

 

A few minutes later they joined a huge group of runners standing around the edge of a hole twenty by twenty sikers wide and six sikers deep. Artxe was seated at one side and directly across from him were eight empty seats.

 

The guards led Mary and her group to the seats.

 

After they were seated, Artxe stood up to speak. “Normally we battle old runners against new ones, but this star bright we have eight runners that want to enter Strong Hold.” A roar went up from the gathered runners. “We pick battles by the order the runners leave the dwellings.” There was another loud roar. “The choice is theirs.” The group roared again. This time laughter was mixed in with cheers as the other four runners were led in and seated by the guards.

 

“Look at your seat number. Lowest numbers go first. Let the battle begin,” Artxe yelled.

 

Magator looked at his number, got up stepped forward and jumped down into the hole. An Nretse, with eight vine-shaped arms tipped with spear-like points slid into the hole behind him.

 

The Nretse shot out an arm and slid the tip up under Magator’s hard plate, pressing the tip into his flesh. Magator winched in pain, but stepped forward before the Nretse could pull his vine back. With a powerful blow, Magator hit the plate over the Nretse vine and severed the tip. In pain, the Nretse pulled his arm back; white fluid ran from the end. Angered, he leaped at Magator, jamming five more of his tips under Magator’s plates. With both arms Magator beat down on the plates, severing the tips. With the six tips cut from his arms, the Nretse screamed in pain and leaped from the hole. A sudden blast hit the Nretse in the middle of the back. Ended, it fell backward into the hole.

 

Artxe stood up with his blaster in hand. “Did I forget to tell you? No one leaves the hole till I say they can. Okay, now get that coward out of there and let’s get on with the battles.”

 

Sayron dropped in the hole next to an Alappon. The Alappon kept trying to snap its claw around Sayron’s arm’s, but each time Sayron would strike the claw’s joint. Blow after blow fell until Sayron heard a crack. Stepping in close, Sayron dropped his arms. The Alappon opened his claw as wide as he could to close in around Sayron’s head, but the claw wouldn’t close. The Alappon turned it over and saw a piece of broken shell had locked it open. Before he could turn back to Sayron, four fists slammed into his eyes. With his claw locked, and temporarily blinded, the Alappon stumbled wildly around the hole.

 

Sayron looked up at Artxe. Artxe waved the fight to an end.

 

Mary slid down into the hole next and looked over at the biggest Sinne she had ever laid eyes upon. It wasn’t possible to know whether a Sinne was male or female, but even standing at full height to impress Mary, the Sinne’s arms reached the ground.

 

Mary started to rub her middle with both hands. The harder she rubbed, the more her gold skin shimmered. Just then the Sinne’s huge fist came at Mary like a light streak. Mary reached out with an open hand and brushed the Sinne’s fist to the side. A ball of blue light jumped from Mary’s palm, turning the yellow hair on the Sinne’s fist to flickering heat. As the flickering heat moved up the its arm, the Sinne quickly roll it back and forth on the ground.

 

“So, you have light sparks coming from your gold skin, but what good will those do you if I’m in the sky?” The Sinne yelled, jumping at Mary.

 

Mary dropped on her back, raised her legs and placed her feet in the Sinne’s middle, sending it flying over her to land, headfirst, against the wall. The Sinne never got up.

 

Mary went over to check and make sure she hadn’t ended the Sinne.

 

Frank smiled at Mary as he prepared to hop into the hole. “Looks like I’m the lucky one,” he told her. “I get the venomous, thorned Osiver to play with.”

 

“How can that be lucky?” Mary asked with a frown.. “You’d better be watchful.”

 

“I’m the offspring of two who have the Polty code. His venomous thorns won’t hurt me.” Frank laughed.

 

The Osiver struck Frank’s chest with his forearm then hit him in the gut. Frank flew up against the wall.

 

Frank righted himself and brushed broken-off thorn tips from his cover. The Osiver closed in and wrapped both arms around Frank, trying to push a thorn into Frank’s skin. Frank kept his hands down by his sides, never trying to fight off the Osiver’s attack. Without warning, the Osiver shivered, fell away from Frank, crumpling to the planet ground, asleep.

 

Frank stood with one of the Osiver’s leg thorns in his hand. “They never could take their own venom. Puts them right to sleep.” Frank laughed and dropped the thorn.

 

Artxe turned to one of the guards standing close by and whispered something to him and then turned and said out loud, “You four go back to the dwelling. After star down we’ll talk about what you’ll do around here.”

 

Frank entered the dwelling first. Sayron, Magator and Mary saw him stiffen then shake his head “no”.

 

Once they were inside the dwelling the guard told them, “I don’t have to watch you anymore. Just don’t go moving around outside of the dwelling until Artxe comes back.” The guard left.

 

Mary nodded to Sayron. He went and stood in the doorway. He held up one finger before slowly making a fist.

 

“You can talk now,” Mary spoke to the middle of the room. “What have you found out?”

 

In a soft whisper Harayah said, “They shut down the riffs with some kind of poison rock. Where they set this rock everything turns brown and ends. Swal found rocks that looked the same. He replaced the poison ones in all the riffs within ten kayrons of here. Trackers moved in last darkness. Number One and fifty trackers are ready when you are. Trackers are watching their riff guards.”

 

“Artxe and some runners have gone. I heard a runner say they’ll be back by star down. Tell Number One we’ll take out the implant blocker deflector and most of their blasters,” Frank whispered.

 

“What will the signal be?” Harayah asked. “Here’s your equipment.” She crouched down to set light immobilizers, deflectors, and eye shields on the dwelling floor. “One last thing, take care of our heads. We need to use them against the seller for offering that payment on us.”

 

“We only kicked your heads around a few times,” Magator smiled and whispered. “Don’t worry. Tell Number One to listen for a gas ball.”

 

***

 

Twenty derons before star down, Artxe and the runners returned and headed directly to a dwelling that stood about one hundred and fifteen sikers from any of the others. A few derons later the group emerged without their blaster or implant blockers.

 

“Now we know where the blaster holding room is,” Mary said to the others from her position at the viewport. “Artxe locked the dwelling and is headed this way.” She moved over to the door.

 

Artxe saw Mary standing in the doorway. “I want the four of you to come over so we can talk about what you will be doing to earn your keep.” Artxe gestured toward the intake dwelling.

 

“We’ll be there in a deron.” Mary said, reaching inside her foot covering, and pushing a button. The gas ball roared, turning the blaster holding dwelling into a hole in the ground.

 

Artxe was knocked to the ground. He got up and, without looking back, ran down the people mover ribbon toward the fluid fall. Blasters could be heard in the distance at other riffs. When he reached the fluid fall he pushed his portal button. The portal door opened and Artxe jumped right into Wartron’s tentacles.

 

“What do we have here?” Wartron asked. “Look, Tealayon, if it’s not our old friend, Artxe. We haven’t seen you for three or four star turns. What are you doing so far from your galaxy?” Wartron reached up and removed Artxe’s face covering to reveal one large eye.

 

Tealayon’s immobilizer filled the eye with blue light. “Good thing we were late,” she said.

 

Wartron saw Mary standing in the portal door.

 

“Are you going to hold him all darkness or help us load runners?” Mary winked at Tealayon. “Wartron, does Tealayon know about you and Artxe?”

 

Tealayon started laughing.

 

“Well, I didn’t want him to fall down when she immobilized him.” Wartron turned red and removed his tentacles from around Artxe.

 

“Sure,” Tealayon replied with a wink. “Maybe later you can show me just how you were holding him up.”



Chapter 10

Helping Hand

 

 

Persamp looked out over the fluid to the stick he had tied to the line. “Not a single bite all day. What am I going to tell my mate when I come back to the dwelling without some intake for the little one?”

 

Suddenly the stick shot up four sikers, spun around before being sucked down into the fluid as a gray mist swirled in the air. Giving a hard tug on the line, Persamp felt the hook dig into something. A portal came to rest on the top of the shimmering blue fluid.

 

Ysor looked out of the portal door. “It’s good to be back on my dwelling planet again. You know, Elaray, I don’t get back here as often as I should.”

 

“Tell me about it. We spent eleven planet turns on my dwelling planet bringing in M685 and I never even got to spend a ron with my elder.” Elaray sighed. “I need some time off.”

 

Persamp yelled over to the strangers, “You’re trackers, I take it.”

 

“Yes,” Elaray answered. “Can we do something for you?”

 

“Take my hook out of your portal and throw it back in the fluid. I have to catch some intake before I go back to my dwelling.”

 

Elaray reached around, pulled the hook out and tossed it away from the portal. Because of the stick the hook swung back, caught one of Elaray’s feathers and plucked it. The hook never reached the fluid. A huge husser leaped out of the fluid and bit the feather, sinking the hook deep into its mouth.

 

Ysor guided the portal to the edge of the fluid. He and Elaray stepped out. Then they sent the portal back to the riff and watched as it disappeared into the swirling fluid.

 

Persamp pulled the biggest husser he had ever seen from that body of fluid out onto dry ground. He turned to Ysor and Elaray. “Thanks. Without one of your feathers, my little one would have gone without intake this darkness. You have to come to my dwelling and help us intake this husser. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

 

Elaray smiled. “You don’t happen to have any green sauce do you?”

 

“Don’t you dare start that again!” Ysor snapped then turned to Persamp. “Sure, we’d be honored. I’m Ysor and the feathered one is Elaray.” He offered the male his hand.

 

Persamp shook Ysor’s hand. “I’m Persamp. Nice to meet you.” He took the feather off the hook and offered it back to Elaray. “And you, Elaray.”

 

“No. You keep it, Persamp. Once they come out we just grow a new one. Who knows? You might catch another husser with it,” Elaray said with a laugh.

 

“I heard you say this was your dwelling planet,” Persamp said to Ysor. “What brings you back?”

 

“We’re here to pick up a runner that your planet officers were holding for us. It seems A222 is good at getting out of holding rooms. We spent three planet turns riffing here only to find out she’s done it again.”

 

Persamp shook his head. “So it is true. I heard a runner got out of the holding room last darkness. She’ll have at least a planet turn’s head start.”

 

“No. We took a tracker reading and it seems she is less than seven kayrons from here.”

 

“Well, are you going to rest this darkness and get a fresh start at star break?” Persamp asked as they started down a narrow people ribbon toward a small group of dwellings.

 

“Do you know where we could find a dwelling rental? Ysor asked.

 

“I have a place where you can put up till star break,” Persamp replied as they reached the dwellings. “The one on the left is yours till star break. When my mate has the intake ready, I’ll come and get you.” He headed for another dwelling.

 

“Thank you, Persamp, We’ll see you later.” Ysor pulled out his tracker and took a reading. “Great. She’s still less than seven kayrons from here. At star break we can get a people mover from the planet officers and go after her.”

 

“How far is she from the next riff?” Elaray asked.

 

“Well, the tracker shows this planet has three riffs and two are on the other side. So, unless she gets her hands on an air bubble or comes back to this riff, we have her.” Ysor put his tracker away. “Besides, I’m beat and need a good rest.”

 

“This is one time I’m with you, partner. Sleeping in that portal is no fun. So, Ysor, you plan on going to see your elder while we’re here?”

 

“No. She’s on the other side of the planet, but I think you’re right. After we get A222, I’m going to take some time off and spend it with her.”

 

The two trackers settled into the dwelling and it wasn’t long before Persamp came to tell them the husser was ready for intake.

 

As they sat around Persamp’s table eating husser, Persamp’s mate, Elda, bounced their offspring on her knee. She said, “Persamp told me you’re going after this A222. I heard from a good friend of mine, who is married to a planet officer, they think she had inside help. My friend told me a darkness guard was resting and they couldn’t wake him. The other guard didn’t even remember coming to work. Now, mind you, I don’t know, but they say this A222 is a looker. They say her eyes are softer and bluer than a deep pool of fluid. Yes, my friend was sure mad at her mate. She kept saying how her mate’s eyes sparkled every time he talked about A222. You take my word for it - A222 is not to be trusted.”

 

Ysor looked over at Elaray and signaled him to move outside. As soon as they were alone, Ysor said, “I think we’re going to need help with this one.”

 

“What? A222 hasn’t hurt anyone and she’s only known to be a thief. I don’t think Number One will send us backup, but you’ve always have good gut instincts.”

 

“I don’t have proof for what I’m about to tell you, but I need you to back me up on this one partner.

 

***

 

They went back inside to ask Persamp if they could stay for another three or four planet turns.

 

“Payment!” Persamp smiled. “How much? Sorry, but times have been hard and you don’t know how much that would help. First the husser and now payment to rent a dwelling. I’ll have to ask the mate first, but I’m sure she’ll be glad to heat extra intake.”

 

“Two more trackers are going to show up in three planet turns. So that’ll make four trackers in all. Is this okay with you?”

 

“I can have one of the other empty dwellings set up by then,” Elda said from the doorway.

 

“Okay here’s a payment marker for the dwellings and intake at the standard tracker payment rate.”

 

Persamp turned to see his mate leaving the room. “Elda, where are you going?”

 

“There is work to do. After star break I’ll have to go to the seller’s dwelling. It gets cool in the darkness and we don’t have enough resting covers, dear.”

 

“I need you to do something for me when you’re out buying,” Elaray told her. “Spread the word that there are two trackers watching the riff. Don’t tell anyone we’re staying in your spare dwelling. We don’t know what kind of runner we’re dealing with yet. I think it’s time I got some rest.”

 

“I think I’ll get some rest to.” Elaray said. “Bye the way what time is intake?”

 

Elda voice could be heard from the other room. “One teser after star break.”

 

Ysor put his hand on Elaray’s shoulder. “Trust me. One quarter of a payment is better than no payment. At star break we should try to catch some hussers. They sure make good intake. Do you think I might get a feather off of you, partner?”

 

“Keep your hands off my feathers,” Elaray brushed Ysor’s hand off his shoulder.

 

Ysor shrugged. “I guess I’ll just have to find a place to dig up some ground wigglers. They’re good for catching husser. Not as good as your feathers, but they’ll do.

 

***

 

On the fourth planet turn, Ysor looked down at his tracker before throwing his line back out into the fluid. ‘Elaray, it looks like A222 finally came to check on the riff.”

 

“It is about time. Fishing is fun, but, enough is enough and look how many feathers those hussers stole from me. Where is she?”

 

“About one hundred eighty sikers left planet and watching us. Let’s make sure she sees us lock the portal and block the riff. Now she’ll know the only way she can use this riff is by getting hold of our button. After she is gone we can head back and give these hussers to Elda.”

 

Ysor pushed the portal button and watched the portal lifted up from under the fluid. A red light over the door signaled that it was locked. Ysor looked at his tracker. Yep, there she goes. The trap is set. Now all we have to do is pull her into it.”

 

“Which reminds me,” Elaray said. “I don’t care to hear another word about my musers. Hussers are the only intake you’ve had for four planet turns.”

 

Ysor checked his tracker then picked up the husser caught that planet turn and he and Elaray headed back to the dwellings.

 

***

 

Around the intake table that darkness the trackers discussed the best way to spring a trap for A222.

 

Elda spoke up. “That seems to be a lot of snooping and peeking around dwellings. The fluid intake owner’s mate, Hender, told my friend that a strange Lappaul female has been coming in there almost every darkness. This Lappaul was getting free fluid intake from Hender’s mate who isn’t the type to give something away for free. Well, anyway, Hender overheard the Lappaul say she would be back every darkness until she found a way out. My friend said Hender didn’t know what that meant and I didn’t tell her anything - just like you told me.”

 

Elda, could you find out how late A222 stays in the fluid dwelling?” Ysor stopped to take a reading for A222’s implant. “Good. She’s still on the far side of the main dwellings. Okay, let’s go over what we’re going to do next darkness.”

 

***

 

Ysor and Elaray went to the fluid intake dwelling just before closing time. Standing outside the door, Elaray took a tracker reading that showed A222 was about twenty sikers to the right inside the dwelling. Elaray smiled at Ysor. “You ready to do this?”

 

“Yes. Let’s see if I gave up half of the payment for nothing. You have the portal button where she can find it?”

 

“Less hope A222 is not as blind as you are.” Elaray pointed to the key around his neck then they stepped into the fluid intake dwelling with light immobilizers in hand.

 

As the door closed behind them, a blue light filled the dwelling. A deron later the door opened and A222 stepped out holding the portal button. Two trackers stepped in front of her. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Harayah’s fist hit her in the mouth, knocking out three teeth.

 

A222 spit blood and teeth into her hand. “Do you know what you’ve done?” She screamed.

 

Mary hit her with a right cross.

 

Harayah followed with a left cross and sent her to the ground, unconscious.

 

Crouching down, Mary opened one of A222's eyes so that she could shine her glow stick into it. “Just like we thought. She’s wearing insert eye-shields.” Mary shook her head and removed the inserts, holding A222’s eyes open so that Harayah could fill them with blue light.

 

Harayah helped Mary put two sets of limb-locks on A222. They filled the key holes with hardening jell.

 

Mary stood up and began to laugh. “Now let’s see her get away. She’ll have to cut those off.”

 

“So, what is she?” Harayah asked. “I thought she was a Lappaul.”

 

“Every five hundred star turns, or so, one of our kind will have the gift for using their voice to control others of the opposite gender. One of the effects is that none of the people remember what they were told to do. That’s why no holding room could keep her and why Ysor asked for female trackers to back them up.”

 

“A quarter of the payment may not be enough. I think I hurt my fist on her mouth.” Harayah rubbed her hand.

 

“Well, when you knocked out those teeth you stopped her from ever using her voice to control others again. Let’s see if we can get those two love-sick boys out of their trance and head to tracker room.”

 

***

 

One star turn later the portal tech handed Ysor a paper.

 

“What does it say?” Elaray asked.

 

“It’s from Persamp and Elda. They turned the extra dwellings into dwelling rentals and called the place “The Trackers Inn” after us. They said they’re doing a great business and, if we come back, we can stay for no payment for seven planet turns.” Ysor looked at Elaray and asked, “What’s an ‘Inn’?”

 

“How would I know? I’m not from your planet.”

 

“Well, you should know. You always say you’re the brains. Anyway, if we go, can I get some feathers to catch husser with?” Ysor reached over for a feather.

 

“KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY FEATHERS!”

 

“Now what?” Number One yelled.


Chapter 11

The Seller

 

 

The six-eyed portal tech handed Mary a note he had just printed off from an incoming message. “Here. I think Harayah will find this to her liking. I know she’s been waiting for a break like this. Well, I’ll be,” Arear said, printing off another message. “This must be Harayah’s day.” He handed it to Mary.

 

“So, Arear, when are you going to marry me?” Mary asked as she read the second message.

 

Arear looked up. “When you grow a few sikers. You know I like tall females.”

 

Mary laughed, poking Arear on the arm. “We’re all taller than you.”

 

“Right.” The tech smiled. “Why do you think I’m not in a hurry with so many females to pick from?”

 

Mary was still laughing when she knocked on Number One’s door.

 

“What do you need, Mary?” Number One asked, looking up from his desk.

 

“Number One, we just received two messages for Harayah and I would like to be the one to give them to her - with your permission.” Mary handed him the notes.

 

“Fine with me.” Number One gave the messages back to Mary. “Get your backup duty tracker to watch the board and don’t take all day.”

 

“Thanks, Number One,” Mary said closing the door behind her.

 

Mary got on the intercom and called for Elaray to report to the Tracker Room.

 

“What’s up?” Elaray walked in intaking a muser sandwich.

 

“I have to get these messages to Harayah. Could you watch tracker room for a few derons?”

 

“Got you covered. By the way, I just saw Harayah and Swal down in the intake room,” Elaray said, sitting down next to Arear. “So, tech, I heard you were out with Hayme most of the darkness a few planet turns ago.”

 

Arear just smiled.

 

Mary shook her head as she left. “Males!”

 

She entered the intake room and found Harayah and Swal sitting at a table. “Mind if I join you?” she asked, pulling up a chair and then tossing two half-moon pins in front of Harayah.

 

Harayah’s eyes lit up like a new stars. “These are mine? You’re not offspringing me? They’re really mine?”

 

“It seems so.” Mary handed Harayah one of the messages. “Tracker League thinks it’s time you were promoted and given a bigger payment. If you keep this up you’ll be Tealayon’s and my boss soon. I was going to offer to take you out for a few fluid intakes, but then this came in and I know you and Swal won’t have time till after you get back.”

 

Swal handed the message to his partner with a smile. “It looks like this is our lucky planet turn, Harayah.”

 

Harayah read the message. “The seller and his offspring, Yata, were spotted back on their home planet. Good. Now we can get them for putting a payment on our heads.”

 

Mary frowned. “It’s not going to be that easy. They’re both out on payment because they haven’t been found guilty of the portal button scam. Neither one has an implant yet. You’ll have to come up with some way to locate them or get them to find you. Well, I have to get back to the Tracker Room.” She stood up and started for the door. “Let me know if I can help in any way,” she said over her shoulder as she left.

 

“So, what do you have in mind?” Swal asked Harayah.

 

“First, we’ll need some extra payment and I have just the right runner to go after.” Harayah pointed a finger at a Dorfor’s name on the runner’s board.

 

Swal gave Harayah a questioning look. “Her payment is so low and, after what she did, no tracker is after her. I’m not sure where that mind of yours is going, partner.”

 

Harayah pulled on Swal’s arm. “Let’s go back and finish our intake and I’ll tell you all about it.”

 

***

 

Yata entered the small shop where the seller was working over a bench full of portal button parts. “Forot, the two trackers we’re looking for were last seen on a planet in the Dorfor star system. The word is that they’re looking for some runner called J899. Why don’t they just call them by name?”

 

“Unlike us, offspring, they have implants and those are just the last letter and three numbers in that implant’s I.D. tag. So, unless you want a name change, I think you’d better start finding out just which of those planets they’re on.” As Yata started to leave the room, Forot added, “Get four of our best people to go with us and try and do it before the trackers leave that system.”

 

Yata stopped in the doorway. “ ‘With us?’ Why are we going? Can’t we just send our men to do the job?”

 

“What? And end up with another mess like at Strong Hold? No, this time I want to see the job done right. Now get moving.” Forot shook his head, muttering, “I know he can’t be my offspring.”

 

***

 

Harayah looked over Swal’s shoulder as he took another reading for J899’s implant. “It‘s been two planet turns now. You’d think she has a tracker the way she’s keeping one step ahead of us. All the power lines these planet dwellers put overhead and underground are playing havoc with your tracker.”

 

“I heard that there is a soft metal that could block out the rocks interference. The techs were hoping to have a fix by now.”

 

“We have to get her before we can go after the seller and Yata. I want to do it before they know what we’re up to and go deep underground,” Harayah said, checking her tracker. "Mine's acting up, too."

 

Swal put his away. “I’m getting hungry. Let’s call it a planet turn. We should get some intake and a good rest this darkness. We’ve been after Stareen for two planet turns now. Maybe the techs will have this problem worked out by star break.”

 

“When did you start calling runners by their first name? If anyone hears you,” Harayah snapped.

 

“Sorry,” Swal hissed back. “I need to go back to the dwelling rental and clean up. This Dorfor planet is hot and sticky. With all the people movers even the air is dirty.”

 

As Swal and Harayah headed back to their rental, they didn’t notice the Dorfor in a doorway, watching them.

 

The Dorfor moved back into the dwelling as they passed then started following them from a safe distance. Keeping in the shadows of the dwellings, J899 kept a hand on the blaster hidden inside her loose covering. She found a quiet place to think out of the starlight.

 

"Great, not only do the seller and offspring have a payment on my head, but now the trackers do, too. What I do within the next few planet turns might be my only way out of this mess,” J899 murmured, touching the implant blocker around her neck.

 

A planet officer, out on patrol, stopped and watched J899. “Are you okay, Miss?” he asked.

 

“Yes. Sorry. Is there anything wrong?” J899 smiled at the planet officer and tightened the grip on the blaster under her covering.

 

“No. I saw you talking to yourself and see you don’t have a band in your ear. A young, unmated Dorfor female shouldn’t be out this late by herself. You need to get back to your dwelling now.”

 

“Yes, officer. Thank you very much.” Stareen loosened the grip on her blaster and walked away until the officer was safely out of sight. Turning, she retraced her steps, slipping in behind the dwelling Harayah and Swal had rented. J899 opened the back door so quietly that neither of the trackers heard her.

 

Swal was the first to spot Stareen standing in the room with blaster in hand. “Here we’ve been looking for you all this time. Look who dropped in on us, Harayah.”

 

Harayah started to stand, but J899 pointed her blaster at the chair. “You might as well sit back down. It might be some time before Forot and Yata get here.”

 

“What makes you think they’re coming here?” Harayah looked over at Swal then to her light immobilizer on the chair beside him.

 

“Those two fake heads that were under the bed - I sent them to Forot as a gift from me.” Stareen smiled. “You really should keep your back door locked. There are thieves out there, you know.”

 

“So it’ll be two or three planet turns before he gets here,” Harayah said to Swal.

 

Stareen laughed. “I took those heads the first planet turn you got here. No, I think Forot will be here sometime around star high.”

 

***

 

In a portal Yata and four runners watched as the seller looked into a holding bag which contained two heads.

 

Forot took out Harayah’s head. “You’re telling me this is what let the trackers into Strong Hold and got most of my runners captured? They don’t even look like the real thing.” Forot growled and threw the head back into the bag.

 

“But, Seller, it was almost darkness when they showed up,” said an Osiver from the other end of the portal.

 

Forot took out Swal’s fake head and tossed it to the Osiver. As he caught it, Forot pulled out his blaster and blew a hole in the runner’s chest. The portal started shaking as if it was coming apart. “Now, does anyone else have anything to say to me?”

 

“You’re going to get us all killed firing a blaster inside a portal!” Yata yelled getting to his feet. “Put it away. Next time end him outside the riff.”

 

Forot pointed the blaster at Yata’s face. “I’m still the boss. Watch how you talk to me.”

 

“Sure, sure.” Yata said, sitting back down.

 

Forot reached back into the holding bag, pulled out the note and read it out loud again, “Here are the two fake heads of the trackers you’re looking for. I will have the real ones by the time you get here. Bring two-thirds of the payment you offered. Stareen.” Forot paused and looked at Yata. “That goes to show you, offspring, what some runners will do to save their own ota.” He threw the note at a Hterus runner. “Here. When we get to the Dorfor planet go find this Stareen and see if she has these trackers like she said. If not, end her. Don’t take all planet turn. We’re going to find an intake dwelling. It’s a long way back.”

 

“Boss, you want me to end her if she has the trackers and save you the payment?”

 

“NO. A deal is a deal. How long would I last if I ended everyone that I owed a payment to? Just do as you’re told.”

 

***

 

Stareen finished limb-locking Harayah and Swal together inside the covering room. “You two wait here while I go check for the seller and his offspring.”

 

Stareen went outside to stand in front of the main dwelling rental. She had been there for less than a teser when she spotted the Seller and four others coming down the moving lane heading for the intake dwelling. All but the Hterus entered the dwelling.

 

The Hterus continued walking and passed Stareen to enter the main dwelling rental. He came back out a few derons later.

 

Stareen stepped in front of him. “May I have a word with you between the dwellings?”

 

“Who do you think…” The Hterus’ words died out when he saw the blaster tip sticking out of a hole in her covering.

 

“It keeps one’s covering from bursting into flickering heat if this blaster just happens to go off. This way please.” Stareen smiled, pointing around the corner of the dwelling.

 

Stareen took a quick look back to see if any of the others had come out of the intake dwelling as they stepped between the dwellings. She gestured to the back door of Harayah and Swal’s dwelling rental. “Open it. Get inside and be quick.” She followed him inside the room. “Now open the door to the covering room.”

 

“What and get blasted by someone inside?”

 

“Just open it.” She poked the blaster at him.

 

He opened the door to find Sway and Harayah limb-locked to each other and the cover hanging bar.

 

J899 reached around and closed the door. “Tell the seller to bring the payment and fast. I have other places to go. I saw the five of you. Tell the seller only he and his offspring can be in the room when he hands me the payment.”

 

Ten derons later, Stareen heard a knock at the front door. Out the front viewport she saw the seller and two males. She opened the door.

 

Forot and Yata entered, closing the door behind them.

 

Stareen opened the covering door and showed them the two trackers . She slowly closed the door. “Did you bring the payment?”

 

“Yes, but first I have a question. Why only two thirds of the payment? Why not all of it?”

 

J899 pulled down the covering around her neck to show the implant blocker. “I want to buy this with the other third of the payment.”

 

“For those two, I would have given you that.” Forot’s laughter filled the room.

 

Outside all hell broke loose as blasters could be heard and light flashes seen.

 

Forot reached for his blaster as the covering room door flew open.

 

Harayah and Swal stood with light immobilizers pointed at Forot and Yata.

 

“It’s three against two. You trackers are ended,” Forot said then heard Yata drop his blaster on the ground.

 

“Three to one now,” Forot heard. From the corner of his eye he saw J899’s blaster pointed at his head. Forot dropped his blaster on the ground beside Yata’s.

 

Wartron and Tealayon came through the front door at the same time as Ysor and Elaray entered from the back.

 

“I see you have everything under control in here,” Tealayon said. “I’ll tell Mary we only need one tracker healer.”

 

“One? Who was hurt?” Swal and Stareen asked in unison.

 

“A runner blasted his own foot; quite a mess of yellow fluid everywhere. He almost blasted it clean off. He’s doing a lot of talking, too, about the runner we found in the portal and how he was ended.” Wartron pushed the seller to the ground and started putting limb-locks on him. “I think, Mister Seller, you wont’ be seeing the light of planet turn ever again.”

 

***

 

Three planet turns later, Stareen woke up in a tracker healer recovery room.

 

Harayah, Swal, Sayron and Magator were standing around her.

 

“Here you go, Stareen.” Harayah handed her a small bottle of clear fluid with a tiny black dot in it. “Stareen this is J899. J899, I would like you to meet Stareen. You two are no longer one.”

 

“My turn.” Swal gave Stareen a bag of payment. “This is the one percent for the runners we brought back and the payment for Harayah’s and Swal’s heads. The seller was found guilty and will never leave the mines on the moons of Berran. So, Stareen, what are you going to do now?”

 

“Well, the first thing is I’m going to pick up my two offspring. I’ve found work at a dwelling rental. The owner’s offspring just started work as a planet officer after a tracker recommended her. I think her name is Kelona or something like that.”

 

The trackers all turned to look at Sayron.

 

“What? I think she’ll make a good officer.” Sayron started for the door.

 

“And mate,” someone added.


Chapter 12

Trial by Fire

 

 

Magator kicked the side of Sayron’s resting platform. “Number One wants us in meeting room G, five derons ago. They spotted two runners on your favorite Dorfor planet. They were last seen in the area where Kelona is working.”

 

Sayron jumped off his platform, grabbing up his tracker gear. “What other tracker team is going with us and how much time do we have to get ready?”

 

“I don’t know. Number One said to wake you up and get to G meeting room now. I can tell you one thing - he did not seem happy about this one. Did you know Ysor was sick? Elaray is pulling Tracker Room watch while his partner is being held over in the healer room for the next two planet turns. I asked Arear what other teams are not out after runners and he had no idea.”

 

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go, partner, and make some payment,” Sayron said, pushing Magator out the door.

 

Number One watched Sayron and Magator enter the meeting room. “Take a seat. I have bad news,” Number One started off. “All the tracker teams are out or on vacation. I just found out Ysor has to have something cut out of his middle, so he will be down seven planet turns. You two will have to try and take the two runners on your own. Q325 is an Osiver and E756 is a Nretse. It’s been reported that they have robbed a payment dwelling and are known to be armed and dangerous. I got word from the local planet officers that they will give you two officers to help track these two down and bring them in. Our six-eyed tech has downloaded you a new tracker. The tracker repair tech said this offspring will see through any blocking device known at this time. Look, guys, this is the first time I have had to send two after two. Be careful.”

 

In the portal Magator and Sayron plugged into the tracker.

 

When they were finished downloading all the information Arear installed for them, Magator reached over and pulled two bottles out of the pack. “That six-eyed tech thinks of everything. After the fight in the hole at strong hold, Frank set up some anti-venom for the thorns of an Osiver.” Magator gave himself a shot first, then Sayron. “We have the anti-venom for the two planet officers who’ll be waiting for us at the riff with a people mover and supplies. I even think there might be enough for one more.”

 

***

 

In the darkness of a big rock two planet officers sat in an oversized people mover.

 

“I tell you, we could have brought in the two runners. I have no idea why our overseer had to call the trackers in. I heard Eirton caught a runner sometime last star turn and he got to keep one third of the payment. Think of how much payment that would be for two runners,” Ossee told the other planet officer. “I could get a new people mover with that kind of payment.”

 

“Do you have any idea how many Osiver and Nretse there are on planet at any planet turn? Just which one will you throw into the holding room? I don’t know about you, but I can’t tell one leaf-covered Nretse from the next, not to mention understanding the thorn pattern of an Osiver. A tracker can go straight to the right Nretse because of the implant. If you remember right, Eirton just happened to put that runner in a holding room. The runner took in too much fire fluid and was lying in the middle of a moving line,” the ranking officer said.

 

Just then, sand and rocks started to whirl within a white mist. When the wind stopped swirling, and they could open their eyes, on the ground before them sat a portal.

 

A door slid open.

 

“Sayron, Magator,” Kelona said with a smile. “I had no idea they were going to send you two. What has it been? Three star turns now? It is about time you two came back for a visit.” She hugged Sayron and shook Magator’s hand. “Good to see you two.” She turned back to Sayron.

 

Magator stood there holding both arms out for a hug, too. “Well, I see where I stand,” he said, sticking his lower lip out.

 

Kelona laughed and threw herself into his arms. “Sorry. By the way, I would like you to meet my partner, Ossee. Ossee, these are the two trackers I have told you all the stories about.”

 

Ossee shook the two trackers hands and stepped back.

 

Sayron pulled the bottle of green fluid and some testing equipment from his holding pack. “I have to get a blood sample from the two of you to see if our anti-venom for the Osiver poison is safe to give you. If it is, we can get started.”

 

“So how much are these runners worth?” Ossee asked.

 

Magator and Sayron looked at each other, then over at Kelona.

 

Magator spoke. “You will get one quarter of the payment for each runner. If we find a runner ended, there is no payment for that runner. If you quit before the runner is caught, you get no payment. No tracker can tell the payment before the runner is back in a tracker holding room. Like all rules, sometimes we have to break them, but this is not one of them. So tell us now if you want to go or not.”

 

“Yes, I want to go,” Ossee said holding out his arm for Sayron to get a sample of blood.

 

Sayron turned to Kelona. “How do you know the two we are after are the same two that robbed your payment dwelling?”

 

“One of the Dorfor payment handlers overheard the Nretse tell the Osiver, ‘We better hurry. After this, the trackers will really be after us.’ So we checked a runner list and saw where an Osiver and Nretse were in our area and known to run together.”

 

“Well,” Magator said, putting his tracker down. “Q325 and E756 are still together and a little over two hundred kayrons left planet and still going left.”

 

“We have many large groups of dwellings that way. They could lose themselves in any one of them,” Ossee said with a frown.

 

“Not with this they won’t.” Magator kissed the tracker.

 

Kelona stood with her bottom lip sticking out. “Now I know where I stand.” She started laughing.

 

Magator chuckled. “I’ll let Sayron take care of the little stuff for me.”

 

Kelona stopped laughing and raised her eyebrows. “Please do.” She smiled at Sayron.

 

Sayron turned red. “Do you want this shot or not?” He tried not to grin.

 

“We had better get started. I don’t want to meet Sayron’s offspring before we leave this planet.” Magator pointed “That way driver.”

 

Kelona started up the people mover.

 

As it lifted over the tops of the large rocks, Magator looked down at the rocks below. “This is not a people mover. It’s an air bubble.”

 

“More of a cross between the two,” Ossee said. “It won’t go as high or as fast as an air bubble, but you can move it around on the ground the same as a people mover. Other than some really big rocks, you can go in a straight line. Kelona said your people movers can only go on the ground.”

 

“So how long have you had it?” Sayron asked, looking over the control panel.

 

“Since last planet turn. It’s what they call a test demo. First of its kind,” Kelona said. She moved the vehicle a little faster.

 

Magator watched the rocks fly under them. “You said first of its kind and this thing has not been tested or proven? How fast are we going?”

 

“About thirty kayrons a teser. At this rate, we should be on top of the runners in three tesers.”

 

“Or ended,” Magator mumbled, sitting back and closing his eyes.

 

***

 

“Magator, wake up. My tracker said they’re only a kayron ahead of us.” Sayron shook Magator’s shoulder. “Kelona is going to come in low and see if we can find out why they have been stopped for the last teser.”

 

Without warning, a white flash filled the mover and Ossee slumped forward.

 

Sayron pulled Ossee back and saw a hole in his chest. The mover started spinning.

 

“Were going down. Hang on!” Kelona yelled. “Hang on!”

 

The people mover hit a rock, tearing the back storage area off, then spun around and slid on its top until coming to rest just seventy or eighty siker from an overhanging rocky outcropping.

 

Kelona checked Sayron. He was out cold. Magator was conscious but still groggy. “Magator, we have to get out of here. We have no cover against a blaster in this mover. There’s a rock group over there - under that overhang. It will give us cover from the back and top, but we have to hurry. They’ll be here in less than ten derons. They lost a wheel on their mover. Probably thought the fastest way to get one was just to shoot us down and take ours. Sayron is out. My partner is ended. You get all the holding bags and fluid you can carry. I’ll get Sayron and anything else I can carry.”

 

In two trips they had stripped the mover of all the supplies that had not been lost when the back was torn off. As Kelona checked what supplies they had managed to recover, she saw Magator holding his arm. “Let me see,” she told him. “How long have you known it was broken?”

 

 

Magator laughed “Since I pulled that first holding bag out from under the sand. It’s not the first time and I doubt it will be my last.”

 

Kelona looked out and saw a piece of the mover haul sticking out of the sand. Before Magator could say a word, she ran from between the rocks to pick it up and started back for cover. Suddenly a blast of white light hit a rock behind her. Blast after blast of white light came from between the rocks. She saw Magator with a blaster in both hands, drawing their fire, giving her time to get back to safety.

 

“Who said you could stand out there like a big lump on two feet letting them blast away at you?” she said to him, as she soon as she was safe.

 

“Well who said you could run out there for that piece of mover?”

 

“Men always trying to be heroes,” Kelona said. She tied the thin metal around his broken arm with a holding bag strip. She then checked Sayron as Magator kept watch for the runners’ next move. “All I can find is a bump on his head. Does he always lie down and rest during all the trouble? I have a feeling we are going to need him before we get out of this.”

 

“Keep watch and I’ll take a look.” Magator took his tracker and pushed a button. He held it over Sayron. In less then a ron, he had a reading. “It seems you’re right. All he has is a bump on the head. Hand me some of that fluid.”

 

Magator poured some fluid on Sayron’s face and neck.

 

Sayron opened his eyes and tried to look around. He reached up and touched the bump on his head. “That hurts! Ossee is ended, partner. What about Kelona?”

 

Magator smiled. “Right over there with a blaster in hand. How you feeling, partner?”

 

Sayron gave Magator a look they both understood. “That’s a dumb question,” he muttered, getting to his feet.

 

Kelona filled Sayron in and helped him find his cloak. “They don’t know you’re here. All they saw was Magator, Ossee and me. So no one will be looking for you to go out the other side.”

 

“Okay. You ready?” Magator asked “We’ll give you some cover so you can get around behind them. Try not to get ended.”

 

Sayron watched as Kelona and Magator blasted away at the two runners from the far side of the rock. With his air cloak on he slowly walked across the open area until his footprints disappeared behind some other rocks. He started to work his way around behind the two runners.

 

Magator was changing his light immobilizer power pack when a shadow from overhead caught his eye. He looked up and saw the Osiver drop from a rope and land between Kelona and him.

 

Before Kelona could react, she felt a thorn being rammed deep into her shoulder.

 

Magator watched Kelona crumble to her knees and then fall over on the ground. The Osiver spun and struck Magator, sending him, the light immobilizer and the power pack, flying. When Magator hit the ground, he felt a thorn slip under one of his chest plates and break off.

 

The Osiver pulled out his blaster. Before he could point it at Magator, he let out an ear piercing scream. Looking down, he saw the thorn he had plunged into the shoulder of the woman officer sticking out the back of his leg. His mind went blank as he hit the ground.

 

Magator got over to Kelona just as Sayron turned his cloak off.

 

“The other one is limb-locked and ready for shipping. Here, partner, let me do that,” Sayron said, pulling the thorn out of Magator’s chest. “You’ll live.” He tossed his partner some healing salve. “Okay, Kelona. Your turn. Let’s see that shoulder of yours.”

 

***

 

Number One saw Magator and Sayron going past his room.” You two get in here. Here is the paper work you asked for. All Kelona has to do is put her mark on it and she’ll start Tracker School next long star. The Tracker League read your report and has agreed to skip the mandatory five star turns as a planet officer in her case. You two better be right. She’ll be assigned to this tracker room. Now

get in that portal and take this to her.



Chapter 13

 Training

 

 

“Wake up,” Ysor said, shaking his partner. “Number One wants us in his room in five derons.” Ysor plucked a feather out of Elaray’s leg.

 

Elaray sat up with a yelp. “What in Hterus did you do that for? I heard you the first time! I thought we had the planet turn off.”

 

“We did, only you slept through it. Don’t you remember the party we went to?”

 

“Party? Well, yes. I just don’t remember leaving it.”

 

“That’s because I carried you to the resting room. Enough of this. Now we only have three derons to get to Number One’s room.”

 

Ysor pushed Elaray through Number One’s doorway. Hardzer and her partner, Anon, were talking to two strangers.

 

Elaray’s eyes lit up like a supernova. “Hardzer, Anon! It’s been too long. What brings you back?”

 

“We’ve been reassigned. They told us you two were loafing and they needed some good trackers to take up the slack.” Anon was laughing as he shook Ysor and Elaray’s hands.

 

“You offer a hand to me and I’ll break it,” Hardzer said hugging her friends.

 

“Well, they couldn’t have sent a better couple of old, used up trackers to follow in our footsteps.” Ysor grinned.

 

“Old! How would you like this Gordon to knock a little respect into you?” Hardzer hit Ysor in the arm hard enough to make him step back.

 

“Easy boys!” Anon warned. “She’s gotten meaner as she’s gotten older.”

 

“Watch that ‘old’ thing partner or you’ll be next,” laughed Hardzer.

 

“Okay, okay! Everyone sit down. We have a lot of work to do and very little time.” Number One turned to Elaray and Ysor. “Tracker League assigned four brand new trackers to us last planet turn. I’d like to introduce Kelona from the Dorfor home planet and Rkin from the Morea planet group. The other two, Cmanr and Laga, are with Mary’s and Wartron’s teams already. Hardzer and Elaray, your teams will help in the training. We want them up to running speed in sixty planet turns.

 

“During each training assignment the new trackers will be rotated so they have the opportunity to work with each other. They will then be prepared to pick their own partners and may the great power help us all. Go get your first assignment from Tracker Support Room.”

 

***

 

“Hey, portal tech, do you have the tracker number for the runner we are to train the new trackers with?” Ysor asked.

 

“Didn’t Number One tell you? Arear is the head of Tracker Support,” the portal tech replied. “It’s a new department for programming trackers and lining up equipment in Star Chart Room B. Star Chart rooms A and C will be used by trackers for checking data.” and equipment”

 

When they entered room B the six trackers found holding bags on a table with their names on them. A tracker log guide was on top of each bag. The trackers grabbed their equipment, moved into room A and plugged in their tracker guides to start downloading.

 

After Kelona and Rkin finished downloading, Kelona started pulling out riff maps and Rkin took his holding bag to the portal. He returned to find Kelona studying the maps.

 

“Something doesn’t match up. This riff is twenty five kayrons up planet and nine right of where the log guide said it is.” Kelona started looking through her holding bag. “Okay. What’s going on? My covering isn’t close to being warm enough for that planet.”

 

Arear came into the room. “Good job, Kelona.” He turned to Rkin. “Your life, and your partner’s life, depends on you having the right equipment. Lesson one: Always check your gear before you start out after a runner. If you had checked the star charts you’d have seen the eye shields I gave you would have rendered you blind before you could get back in the portal. Here is the right program. This time you better double check it.” Arear left the room, slamming the door behind him.

 

After downloading, Rkin checked not only his holding bag, but Kelona’s and the other four trackers’ equipment, too. Kelona and Rkin went over the star charts a couple of times before they said they were ready.

 

In the portal the six talked about the Sinne they were after. It seemed she was hiding on an Hterus planet. She hadn’t broken any Hterus laws, so they weren’t going to hold her for the trackers. The Hterus would maintain surveillance so it would be easy to capture her when the trackers got there. She was working in a husser cannery and spent a lot of time in a fluid dwelling after work.

 

When the portal opened Rkin saw nothing but tall hard plants and frozen fluids. He took a tracker reading and pointed down planet and right. “F290 is about one and a half kayrons that way. It’s almost star down. She should be either headed to or in the fluid intake dwelling by now.”

 

“There are six of us. We could go ahead and take her at fluid intake dwelling this darkness,” Anon suggested. “Three of us could go in the front, while the other three go in the back.”

 

“Sinnes love to battle. She’ll have the upper hand in such close quarters,” Hardzer added.

 

“But we have a Dorfor and Morea that compare in strength for in-close battling,” Ysor pointed out.

 

“I say we yellow and green light her, then we won’t have to battle,” Elaray squawked.

 

“Yellow and green light in a dwelling full of Hterus? The floor would be so covered in musers none of us would be able to stand up. I don’t want to battle in a mess like that,” Kelona said. “I was given a cloak. Why don’t Elaray and I go in and see what we’ll be up against? We might have to wait till she goes back to her dwelling and take her when she’s resting. We’re not in a hurry, are we?”

 

“I think Kelona’s right.” Rkin winked at her. “This isn’t a timed run. Remember, we’re splitting the payment six ways. It’s not enough to get anyone hurt over. I learned something in lesson one. Let’s make sure we know what we’re dealing with and that we have what it takes to handle it. Good thinking, Kelona.”

 

***

 

Elaray and Kelona returned from the fluid intake dwelling to report to the others.

 

Kelona drew a sketch of the inside of the fluid intake dwelling on the ground. “Before Elaray and I went in, I took another reading for F290’s implant. She was inside. I saw two Sinne, a Hideas, an Osiver and a Jaka sitting around a table. Including the owner, there were eight people there. On our way back I took another reading and my tracker showed three signals as well as F290’s. I think it’s a meeting place for runners. I believe there are four runners and not just a Sinne we have to worry about.”

 

Elaray added. “Okay. Ideas anyone?”

 

Rkin spoke up. “I say we should blue light the room and yellow light the Sinnes as they come out. If we stay ten sikers back from the door we’ll be able to get one or two blasts of yellow light off before the Sinnes get to us.”

 

“What happens if one of the Sinnes is the cannery owner? I don’t want to be the one that tells Number One we made some big shot roll around on the ground in their own intake,” Ysor said.

 

“I, for one, think Rkin’s plan is the best so far,” said Hardzer. “It stops the other three possible runners cold in their tracks. It gets the two Sinnes out of the dwelling in case they want to battle.”

 

Anon agreed. “Okay. Rkin and Kelona take the back door. Hardzer and I will take the front and Elaray and Ysor will go in and do the blue light.”

 

“I think Elaray and I should take the front door.”

 

“Fine. I have a flat rock.” Anon marked one side then threw the rock up in the air.

 

Ysor yelled, “Mark!”

 

 The rock landed with the mark facing down.

 

“Well, seeing how you’re an Hterus anyway, partner, it’s probably best we lost. Kelona, can I borrow you cloak?” Ysor asked.

 

“Great partner,” Elaray said, setting his light immobilizer to blue. “We’ll go in and forces the Sinnes out the front.”

 

With Anon and Hardzer in position near the front door of the fluid dwelling, the other four trackers made their way to the back.

 

“If anything comes out this door blast it with yellow light only,” Ysor instructed Kelona and Rkin. “Remember that Sinnes run close to the ground. Don’t stop blasting until they’re on the ground and too sick to stand.”

 

No sooner had the door closed behind Ysor and Elaray when the dwellings viewports glowed with blue light. The sound of a brief battle was heard. Yellow light flashes were seen from the other side of the fluid dwelling.

 

Kelona and Rkin went through the back door and found Elaray and Ysor lying on the ground. The other people in the dwelling were frozen in place.

 

Kelona went to the front door and eased it open. Hardzer was helping Anon up. F290 was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Rkin, set your immobilizer on red and watch that back door.” Kelona quickly checked both directions outside the dwelling door before she ran out to help Hardzer. “What happened?” she asked.

 

“They were just too fast. I never saw Sinnes move like that,” Anon replied, trying to stand up straight.

 

Elaray and Ysor walked up.

 

Rkin followed, looking back to make sure the Sinnes didn’t circle back. He pulled Kelona aside. “Something’s not right.”

 

“What?” Kelona asked.

 

“I don’t smell Sinnes anywhere.”

 

“What do you smell?” Kelona took out her tracker and checked for F290’s implant. “She is moving up plant and right. I think she’s headed for the riff.”

 

“All I smell is the six of us, a Spytaen and an Elan,” Rkin continued to sniff the air. He turned to Hardzer. “Do you think the Sinnes had eye deflectors?”

 

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. Why?”

 

“Just asking.”

 

“You and Kelona start heading for the riff. We’ll be there shortly.”

 

They approached the riff in a wide arc.

 

“I have my immobilizer set on green,” Kelona told Rkin.

 

“I do, too,” Rkin said. “I think we’re thinking the same thing.”

 

When they were up planet about twenty sikers from the riff, Kelona took another tracker reading. “Just like you said, F290’s implant doesn’t show up. But two faint signals do,” she whispered.

 

Rkin pointed at a shadow behind a tall hard plant. Kelona pointed to another up in a tall hard plant on the other side of the riff.

 

Rkin touched Kelona, holding up three fingers. She nodded and pointed her light immobilizer at the shadow in the tall hard plant. Rkin held up first one finger, then two and finally three.

 

The dark green light from the immobilizers hit both shadows.

 

***

 

The four trackers returned to the riff to find Kelona and Rkin heating some intake.

 

“Anyone hungry?” Rkin asked.

 

“Sure,” Elaray said, glancing around. “Everything okay here?”

 

“Yes,” Kelona replied. “Here. Have some fluid, too.”

 

Frozen fluid started to swirl as a portal appeared and slid to a stop.

 

Harayah and Swal stepped out carrying two sets of limb-locks. They walked over and dropped them at Kelona’s and Rkin’s feet.

 

“Nice job. We came to our senses back at tracker room wrapped up like gifts. How did you know it was us?” Swal asked.

 

“Your smell and that implant echo on the tracker. Rkin and I thought something was up when you whipped four trackers that easy. Sinnes are fast, but not like a Spytaen or an Elan.”

 

“Why didn’t you tell us when you figured it out?” Anon inquired.

 

“We didn’t know for sure till we got back to the riff. Sinnes don’t hide in ambush and they sure don’t climb tall hard plants then hang upside down from them.”

 

“I can tell you the next assignment will be for real. Still, great job figuring this out. Never again hold anything back from your partners. Not what you suspect or even think you might know. Remember,” Hardzer said, "you and your partner must always communicate. Let's get this place packed up and get back to tracker room."


Chapter 14

Revenge

 

 

Kelona and Rkin entered the intake room early one star break.

 

“Look, Rkin. Do you think those two over there are the other new trackers?” Kelona pointed at two younger trackers, one a Gordon and the other a Hidea, sitting alone at a table. “Let’s go see.”

 

“Hi.” Rkin held out his hand. “This is Kelona and I’m Rkin. We’re kind of new around here. Are you the other new trainees?”

 

Laga stood up and shook Rkin’s hand. “Yes. She’s Cmanr and I’m Laga. We heard how you two sent Harayah and Swal back to tracker room in limb-locks. Mary and Wartron let us talk them into trying to take F290 in the fluid dwelling. I was the last to enter and by then it looked like all underplanet had broken loose. One of the Sinnes came up behind Cmanr and picked her up over its head. I pulled my light immobilizer, changed it to green, and was about to blast when it was pulled from my hand. A sound horn went off right next to me. Swal de-cloaked and stopped the exercise. I thought I did something wrong, but Swal said that Cmanr was going to kick Harayah in the face and he didn’t want his partner to get hurt.’”

 

“That’s right. Thanks to speed draw here,” Cmanr laughed, “they had us in the battle room the next day. They almost beat the life out of us. All I could think was that if runners battle as good as these old timers, I need a lot more time in the battle room.”

 

“Great.” Kelona moaned. “We have battle room in three planet turns.”

 

“Don’t hold back - they won’t. Only thing they told us was no head or knees seeing as how it was training,” Cmanr said, rubbing her upper leg.

 

Mary stuck her head in the intake room door. “Cmanr, Laga get a move on. Arear wanted us in Star Chart Room A thirteen derons ago. This is not a star club you’re in. Now move it. Cmanr, where are your foot coverings? Go get them and you better be running.”

 

“Glad they’re not our trainers,” Kelona said to Rkin.

 

Ysor yelled from the doorway of the intake room. “Rkin, Kelona. What are you two still doing in here? We have to be in Star Chart Room C in five derons. You don’t want to keep that little six-eyed tech waiting. Now move it.”

 

“The intake worker hasn’t brought our intake yet,” Rkin whined.

 

“So grab a handful and get moving,” Ysor yelled.

 

An intake worker passed by them carrying a plate of intake. Before the worker could stop him, Rkin grabbed some of the intake. “Here.” He tossed some at Kelona as they started for the door.

 

“That was my intake,” Rkin heard someone say. He looked over his shoulder and saw Number One glaring at him.

 

Number One laughed out loud at Rkin’s widened eyes as he disappeared through the door. “What are you standing there with your mouth open for, worker? Go get me more of whatever that tracker took. I still haven’t had my intake yet.”

 

***

 

“It’s so nice of you to join us, Cmanr,” Arear snapped. “Now that you’re ready, can we get started? We have two Dorfors running together on Mary’s dwelling planet. One is a known runner Q4343. The other is Jbonalen; he is the late R739’s mdora. We have word they’re looking to end Mary and Wartron because of R739. Jbonalen has been seen carrying two iron ball blasters. Your light deflector cloaks won’t be any good against those blasters. I have your tracker log guides ready. I also have locaters in your foot coverings in the portal. Mary, I made sure you have your special foot coverings for this assignment. The air eye on your dwelling planet will be keeping a close watch on your location at all times. Look, trackers, from what we know this Jbonalen is dangerous so watch your backs.”

 

Wartron turned to Frank. “Frank, come with me. I want to pick up some extra gear from the weapons room. We’ll have to get Number One’s permission first, but I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it. Tealayon, love, don’t leave without us. We’ll be right back.”

 

Tealayon rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure we’ll wait for you. The newbies are going to check star charts and equipment.”

 

Thirty derons later, Wartron and Frank came back with their arms loaded with strange looking coverings.

 

“Here. Put these on under your light deflectors,” Wartron told them.

 

“What are these?” Laga asked.

 

“In the old days trackers used iron ball blasters. These are what they called ball proof vests. They’ll stop the balls when our light deflectors won’t,” Frank said. “Laga, you have yours on backwards.”

 

"If everyone is ready, let's get in the portal," Tealayon ordered.

 

Cmanr stopped by the portal door and removed her foot coverings. “Put them on, take them off, put them on and take them off.”

 

“Are you having a problem with your foot coverings?” Mary asked from behind her.

 

Cmanr jumped. “No, Ma’am!”

 

“Good. So get the foot coverings on that Arear set up for us and get in the portal.” Mary went around her to sit with the others. “And close the portal door when you get in.”

 

When the portal came to a bumpy stop, Tealayon placed a force cover around the portal door before opening it.

 

“Why the force covering?” Laga inquired.

 

“R739 loved to gas ball the riffs. If her brother is after us he might pull the same trick. It cost me my skin because I didn’t have one, plus a lot of pain. So now it should be standard procedure if someone is after you. Okay?” Frank winked.

 

“Right and after that one saved Mary and my husband,” Tealayon added.

 

“What luck!” Mary smiled, putting down her tracker after taking a reading. “Q4343 is just seven kayrons up planet from here.”

 

“Okay, everyone, activate your cloaks,” Wartron ordered. “If Jbonalen is out there watching he shouldn’t notice three Aggaray and three Hidea.”

 

About a quarter kayron down planet, Jbonalen watched the six travelers step off the portal through his long looking glass. “Under planet,” he said out loud. “I know they wouldn’t let offspring tag along with trackers after a runner.”

 

Jbonalen downed the last of his fluid intake and moved up the hill and caught a people mover heading back to his dwelling rental.

 

At the people movers next stop the six travelers got on. The two offspring looked around the people mover and began battling over where to sit.

 

Wartron saw a Dorfor setting near the back. He and Tealayon took the seat behind him. Mary and Frank sat up front.

 

Tealayon was telling Wartron, “This is the last time I take a trip with your boss. I want to stay in a different dwelling rental this star down. Excuse me,” Tealayon said to the Dorfor. “Do you know any good dwelling rentals here on this planet?”

 

“Do I look like a travel guide to you? Find your own rental,” Jbonalen snapped.

 

Wartron pulled out his light immobilizer. Tealayon placed a tentacle over his and shook her head.

 

Wartron kissed Tealayon's tentacle. "It is okay, love. We can find our own dwelling without the help of a rude Dorfor.”

 

Jbonalen got up and moved to a seat closer to the front.

 

Frank and Mary were watching out of the corner of their eyes and slipped their light immobilizers back into their holsters.

 

Cmanr whispered to Laga, got up from her seat and started down the aisle toward Mary. Just then the people mover made a sharp turn and she fell against the Dorfor.

 

“Watch it,” Jbonalen said, pushing her away.

 

“It wasn’t my fault.” Cmanr stuck her tongue out at Jbonalen.

 

“Get back here and sit down,” Tealayon snapped at Cmanr. “And don’t get out of your seat again.”

 

The people mover stopped. Jbonalen got out, crossed the mover line and went inside a rundown dwelling rental.

 

Mary took a tracker reading then told the driver to stop at the next dwelling rental. “We’ll take one large rental and start fresh at star break,” she told the others after they got off the mover.

 

Inside their room Wartron checked the back door and locked it. “I think that was Jbonalen on the people mover.”

 

“I think you’re right. My tracker picked up Q4343’s implant from inside that dwelling the Dorfor went into,” Mary said.

 

Tealayon turned to Cmanr and Laga. “If you two hadn’t been playing around you might have learned something.”

 

Laga pulled out his tracker. “I gave tracker room a location of the dwelling where Q4343 was at so the air eye could keep a close watch over him.”

 

Cmanr held up a strip of tape. “I retrieved a sample of the Dorfor’s skin so we can compare his code to R739’s.”

 

“By acting like kids you two took the pressure off the rest of us. Good job,” Frank told the two newbies.

 

“You had me fooled. Sorry,” Tealayon apologized.

 

Cmanr went over to Tealayon and put her arms around her. “That’s okay, elder. I still love you.”

 

The room filled with laughter.

 

Cmanr’s tracker beeped. “The code reading is back. It shows we have a hundred percent match. Well, we all just met R739’s mdora.”

 

***

 

By star break the six trackers, cloaked like Lappauls to blend in, had set up around the rundown dwelling rental. They were hoping to catch Jbonalen and Q4343 before the mover line filled with people.

 

As a people mover came to a stop in front of the dwelling, Jbonalen and another Dorfor came out and stood as if they were going to get on. Instead they crossed the mover line to sit at a table outside of an intake dwelling.

 

Mary nodded and all the trackers started moving in.

 

Jbonalen looked up from the intake chart and noticed two Lappauls coming their way across the mover line. From the corner of his eye he saw two more approaching from the lower end of the mover line. He nudged Q4343. “Something’s not right.”

 

When he saw another two Lappauls approaching from the upper part of the mover line he carefully drew out his two iron ball blasters, keeping them hidden under the table.

 

Q4343 saw what Jbonalen was doing and eased his two blasters out underneath the table.

 

Jbonalen suddenly realized that all the Lappauls had one hand hidden inside their coverings. He leapt to his feet, sending the table tumbling. As the Lappauls pulled out light immobilizers, he and Q4343 started blasting.

 

Laga had just gotten off one blast of blue light when something hit his upper right shoulder. It spun him around, slamming him to the ground. He felt Cmanr grab him. She was blasting away while dragging him over behind a parked people mover.

 

He got to one knee and found he was still holding his light immobilizer. Unable to lift his right arm, he changed the light immobilizer to his left hand, changed the setting to white light and started returning blasts. One of his blasts set the intake table, by Jbonalen’s feet, to glowing heat.

 

Q4343’s first two blasts hit Mary in the middle of her ball proof vest, knocking her up against Frank. She felt the third ball hit just below the vest and a warm wet fluid poured out of the wound. Her legs gave out from under her; blackness filled her mind.

 

Frank grabbed Mary with his free arm then sent a blast of white light at Q4343. The blast took the top of Q4343’s head off. Not having a clear shot and seeing Jbonalen turn up the mover line toward Wartron and Tealayon, Frank stopped and pressed his hand on the wound in Mary’s middle, trying desperately to stop the flow of fluid.

 

Wartron and Tealayon dropped to the ground and flattened out, weapons drawn.

 

With her light immobilizers set on white Tealayon blasted four holes through Jbonalen before he even knew he was hit. She felt a ball from Jbonalen’s blaster tear into one of her tentacles.

 

Wartron, armed with the two forty-four magnum ball blasters, blasted several balls through Jbonalen’s chest. Two of the balls from Jbonalen’s blaster slammed into Wartron’s chest and he slid backwards a few kers.

 

Jbonalen fall face first onto the hard mover line.

 

Over the trackers, Arear’s voice could be heard: “We have backup trackers on the way. Be ready to transport all wounded trackers immediately upon arrival of air bubbles. We have backup up trackers on the way. Be ready to transport all wounded trackers immediately upon arrival of air bubbles.”

 

***

 

Mary opened her eyes and looked around. “First - is everyone okay? Next - did we get him? Why do I hurt so much and why are you grinning?”

 

Frank thought for a ron. “Well, Q4343 and Jbonalen are ended. Tealayon was hit in a tentacle, but was released after a planet turn. She’s doing fine. Wartron, Laga and you were hit in the chest by balls from their blasters. Those ball proof vests did their job or you and Wartron might have been ended. Other then bruising, they’ll be fine. You took one under the vest and will have to stay in the healing tank for fourteen planet turns.”

 

“Okay. So why the grinning?” Mary asked again.

 

“It’s my turn to read manuals to you.” He opened the field Healing Manual and started reading.

 

“Oh, for the love of the Great Power, someone just blast me.” Mary groaned, closing her eyes.



Chapter 15

New Partner

 

 

Kelona poked her head into star chart room B and saw Arear at his desk. “Excuse me, sir. Have you seen Laga around the tracker room this star high? I need to talk to him.”

 

Arear looked up from a stack of star charts he was going over. “The last time I saw him he asked for some extra time in the blasting room. He’s been spending a lot of tesers there in his off time. That might explain why he did so well on the blaster range in Tracker School.”

 

“Thank you,” Kelona said and headed for the blaster room.

 

After finding Laga on the far lane, she went over and stood behind him, watching as he placed holes left and right of the center spot on a target board. Laga got mad and changed hands, blasting five times and cutting the center of the spot out. Kelona whistled. “Nice blasting.”

 

“That was my right hand.” Laga shook his head. “After that battle with Q4343 and Jbonalen, I learned I’d better know how to blast with both hands. All I did was set the table to flickering heat.”

 

“Have you ever considered that the flickering heat distracted them? Here. You try it.”

 

Kelona pulled a table over to Laga and laid it by his feet. She took out her light immobilizer put on white and set the table to glowing heat. “Okay, now try with your right hand.”

 

Laga blasted at the target five times. He missed the target with the first two blasts and barely nicked the center spot with one of the last three. He tried again, but didn’t do any better. On the third try, he only hit the target with two of the blasts. He grabbed a flickering heat extinguisher and put the glowing heat out. “We better stop before we get all the tracker room glowing heat techs down here. Okay, I see your point. Thanks, Kelona.” He smiled.

 

The door flew open. “What in the under planet is going on here?” Number One demanded.

 

“It was just a test, Number One,” Laga said.

 

“A test?! Who set one of my tables to glowing heat for a test?”

 

Kelona spoke up. “I did, Number One.”

 

Number One looked at her. “Fine. Just remember the cost of my table will be taken out of your next payment.”

 

Turning to leave, Number One saw a squad of glowing heat tech heading in. “What are you doing? Can’t you see there’s nothing to do here? Get back to whatever you should be doing.” He stomped off, muttering under his breath, “Next they’ll be setting off gas balls in the intake room.” He started laughing. “Still, it might help the taste of what they’re calling ‘intake’.”

 

“Oh,” Kelona said as she turned to leave. “I nearly forget why I came here. We are to meet in star chart room C thirty derons after next star break. Harayah and Swal will be taking Mary’s and Frank’s places until Mary gets out of the healing tank.”

“Don’t you think you should get in some blasting just in case we get into a battle?” Laga called after her.

 

“You’re right. Mind if I use your light immobilizer?” Kelona put up a new target and took the position where Laga had been standing. Taking Laga’s light immobilizer in her left hand, pulling hers out with the other hand, she began blasting away. After five blasts, she handed Laga’s immobilizer back to him. “Thanks. See you at star break.” She turned and left.

 

Laga pulled the target to him and saw ten holes evenly spaced around the center spot. Each hole was half in and half out of the spot. As he took the target down the center spot fell out.

 

***

 

Wartron and Tealayon, along with Harayah and Swal, were already in the star chart room when Kelona arrived. Laga showed up a couple of derons later.

 

Arear looked around the room. “Okay, now that we’re all here, let’s get started. Runner T2098 is an Osiver. He’s chosen to hold up on a number of different planets. This will all be in the tracker log guide. Still, we have worked out a pattern of his movements. It seems he changes planets every ten planet turns. He should now be on one of the Quad red star planets. We’ll break down into three teams to save time. Frank is setting up some anti-venom, but it will take a couple of planet turns.

 

“Wartron and Tealayon, there are fifteen wet planets in this star group / you take them. Harayah, Swal, you’ll have the most planets to check out. There are twenty five dry ones and you two can go the longest without fluids. Kelona, Laga, you two will take the last twelve planets. If T2098 is on any of those planets you are to report it immediately and wait for back-up. That’s. Don’t try and capture him on your own

 

“It should take four planet turns to check out the entire list. If you don’t find him, go back to each of the planets on your list again then return to tracker room. You have one and a half tesers till your portals leave. You’d better get to the star chart room and do an equipment check. Good luck.”

 

***

 

As the portal door closed, Kelona was still checking her gear. “We might be out eight planet turns if we have to check out the planets twice.” She sighed. “We have to check everything from frozen fluid planets to others covered in nothing but plants.”

 

“Look, there’s not much we can do about it now. In four planet turns we’ll have stopped on more planets than I’ve been on in ten star turns. Most of the time all we’ll be doing is riffing from one planet to another taking tracker readings,” Laga said with a yawn, laying back to take a nap.

 

A sharp bump and a sweet smell of plant life brought Laga out of his rest. He looked out the portal door and saw Kelona standing in flowing green plants as far as the eye could see. He wondered why she was sitting on the ground then realized the green plants came all the way up to her torso.

 

“Laga, T2098 isn’t on this planet,” Kelona said over her shoulder. “Start programming in the next planet. I want to talk to you about something I saw in the star charts.”

 

“Okay.” Laga started punching in the new destination as Kelona headed back to the portal.

 

She pulled out a copy of the riff chart for the quad red star planet group. “In four planet turns, if no one locates T2098, all the teams will be close to the Lappaul home planet. If we have to go through this list again let’s stop there and get a good darkness rest and a hot intake. There’s a portal watcher named Persamp who owns a dwelling rental. I hear he has the best steamed hussers in that star system.”

 

“You talked me into it. I’ll send a signal to the other teams and see what they think.”

 

Within a teser the other two teams sent back their replies: “See you at Trackers Inn.”

 

***

 

Harayah turned to Swal. “Did you send the signal to Laga about meeting at Trackers Inn?”

 

“I did,” Swal said.

 

“I could use at least one night on a cool planet. Not a trace of T2098. Other than a few dwellings now and then, there’s been nothing but moving sand for hundreds of kayrons. Remind me when we get back to kiss Arear for including all the extra fluid containers and a people mover. It’s been kayrons and kayrons between some of these riffs.”

 

Swal tapped on the mover’s fluid indicator. “Next group of dwellings we’d better try and find some mover fluid. I sure don’t want to be out here on foot. Harayah, how do you think those two Aggarays are doing on the wet planets? From what I saw those planets don’t have a lot of dry ground.”

 

“Just a deron and I’ll check.” Harayah picked up her tracker.

 

***

 

“Did they find T2098?” Wartron asked Tealayon as she came back from the front of the skimmer and sat down beside him.

 

“No. No one has reported seeing him on any of the planets yet. Harayah asked if they could trade a holding bag full of sand for some fluid.” Tealayon rolled her eyes. “Fluid? We’ve got fifteen planets of fluid. Does Arear think we’re hussers or something? Thank the Great Power for this skimmer.”

 

Wartron laughed. “I think Arear had something to do with the skimmer too, love.  The way our riffs align we’ll be at Trackers Inn a full planet turn ahead of the others. I told Frank to send the anti-venom to Persamp.”

 

“Well, at least I don’t have to clean sand out of my tentacles.” Tealayon slipped four tentacles around Wartron.

 

“I wish this skimmer had an auto driver,” Wartron said with a grin.

 

***

 

Persamp received a signal from Tracker Room to pick up a package from the portal at star high.

 

“So, what do you think that is all about?” Elda asked her mate. “You’d think they might give a bit more information!”

 

“Look around you. We have more now than we’ve ever had. All of it is thanks to the trackers. I know they wouldn’t have asked me if it wasn’t important. I have less than a teser till the portal arrives. I’m going to try and catch a husser while I wait.”

 

“You hurry up and get back here. One of the helpers didn’t show up this planet turn and we still have three dwellings to clean.” Elda said as Persamp headed outside.

 

Persamp was pulling a large husser out of the fluid hole when the portal burst through the surf, spraying him with fluid. As the door opened he saw two Aggarays step out. One was holding a container.

 

“I believe you have a package for me. I’m Persamp,” he told the big male who was holding the parcel.

 

The two Aggarays were sizing him up.

 

“How do we know you’re Persamp?” the female asked. “Do you think we should just give this to anyone that claims to be Persamp?”

 

Shaking his head, Persamp put the pole down and took the feather off the line. He put the feather in his back pocket. “I’m not telling you again / hand over my package.”

 

The male poked his partner. “I do believe he has one of Elaray’s feathers, love. You remember the story Ysor told us back at tracker room about how many feathers his partner lost in some fluid hole catching hussers.”

 

Persamp’s eyes widened. “Wartron. Tealayon. I should have known. Welcome to Trackers Inn. All I was told was to pick up a package, but not that you would be bringing it.”

 

“We stopped in tracker room before riffing this way so we brought it along.” Tealayon hit Wartron. “Give him the package before he ends up battling both of us over it.”

 

Wartron passed the package to Persamp. “Here. This needs to be kept in a cool place. Oh, Number One sent along this payment for three dwellings and intake, too. There will be six of us. I hope we haven’t come at a bad time.”

 

“No, not at all. We just had four groups check out this planet turn.” Persamp picked up his pole and motioned for them to follow.

 

Back at the dwelling he introduced Elda to the ‘famous duo trackers’.

 

Tealayon leaned close to Elda and whispered, “I would rather be unknown and back in my dwelling watching my offspring grow up. Elda I hear you have three now.”

 

“Yes, two males and a female, but please call me Elda,” she whispered back. “I have two more dwellings to clean and then I can start on star down intake.”

 

Tealayon laughed. “I can help with that.” She turned to the two males and said, in a loud voice, “You two go and clean those last two dwellings so we’ll have a place to rest this darkness.”

 

Persamp and Wartron, still talking, headed off to clean the dwellings.

 

Elda looked at Tealayon in amazement. “Now that was impressive.”

 

Wartron and Tealayon had just settled down at the intake table that star down when the door opened and in walked Harayah and Swal. They were covered in fine dust from all the planets of sand.

 

“Where are Kelona and Laga?” Tealayon asked.

 

“Outside. They were standing too close to the end of the dock when our portal arrived. They’re totally soaked,” Swal replied.

 

“Persamp, do you think you might hold off our intake until the rest of the trackers can get cleaned up?” Wartron inquired.

 

“Sure, if you could show them to their dwelling. I’m really shorthanded right now.”

 

Forty-five derons later all the trackers were seated around the table intaking some of the best steamed hussers they had ever tasted.

 

The door opened and three Osivers stepped inside. Two of them stayed by the door as the third moved over to the counter where Persamp was standing.

 

“I was told you had a list of portal runs to other planets. I want to know how soon one leaves for the quad red star planets.”

 

“Sure. On the wall to your left.” Persamp pointed to the schedule.

 

While the Osiver looked over the list, the other two keep running their eyes over everyone in the intake room.

 

Swal had slipped his tracker out and was taking an implant reading. When he looked up, he saw Laga looking under the table. As their eyes met, they both nodded at the Osiver by the portal list.

 

Swal cleared his throat and slipped his eye shields on. The trackers had just put on their shields when one of the Osivers at the door noticed their movement and yelled, “Trackers!”

 

Persamp’s eldest stepped out of the back room. T2098 grabbed the offspring and held a thorn to his side. “If anyone moves I’ll stick him.”

 

A loud clang was heard and T2098 slumped to the ground.

 

The offspring ran and hid behind Persamp.

 

“Not my offspring, you won’t,” Elda snarled standing over T2098 with a big iron intake warmer in her hand.

 

Before the other two Osivers could react, six narrow beams of blue light hit them. They froze in place.

 

Kelona rushed to the offspring and checked him over for any thorn marks he might have gotten when the Osiver grabbed him. “Not a scratch.”

 

Harayah went over to Kelona and the offspring. “Arear said it takes a major stab to get enough poison to hurt anyone so the offspring will be fine.”

 

After limb-locking the three Osivers outside to the Tracker Inn iron sign pole, Wartron turned to Elda. “You know, we have a rule about sharing payment with people that help us bring in a runner. You’ll get one-seventh of T2098’s payment. Now let’s get back to that delicious husser before it gets cold.”

 


Chapter 16

Secrets

 

 

Sayron looked at Magator who was poking his arm. “My watch, I take it. I’m glad Arear added this tall hard plant chair stand to the list of things to take along. It’s been so long since I had to spend the darkness up in one of these tall hard plants, I forgot how uncomfortable it was. I wonder why W6618 spent the darkness only eight kayrons from the riff.”

 

“I know. You’d think an Nretse would use this time to slip into a riff. They’re probably the worst battlers of all the races. It’ll be two tesers and thirty derons till star break. Wake me up then,” Magator whispered back.

 

Sayron took another tracker reading. W6618 had not moved since his last watch. With Baywa eyes he could see better in the darkness than most of the trackers except, of course, Elaray. Scanning the area for movement or sound and finding nothing, he moved his stand to the sitting mode.

 

***

 

A teser later Magator felt three taps on his arm. He turned his head and opened one eye. “What is it?” he asked Sayron.

 

“Someone just used the riff and is now heading up planet in a people mover.”

 

“A people mover? Is it another tracker team?”

 

“No. I did a scan. The only team it showed is us.”

 

Magator pulled out his tracker and punched some buttons. “My tracker shows the same thing. I did a scan for planet officers, too. It showed nothing. You know what an unauthorized people mover could do to a riff if they had a portal mishap.”

 

Sayron looked up from his tracker. “It’s not an unauthorized people mover, partner. It belongs to a tracker room.”

 

“Let’s see what happens,” Magator said, placing his stand in the sitting mode. “I’m not going to get back to resting now anyway.”

 

Magator kept his tracker on to watch W6618’s implant. Sayron did the same for the people mover. Within derons, the people mover’s signal was at the same location as W6618.

 

“Sayron! Call for an air bubble! We’ll try and head them off at the far right planet riff.” Magator was sliding down the tall hard plant.

 

“No can do. Two air bubbles are being used and the other is in for repair. It’ll be tesers before one is free.”

 

“Okay, let’s pack up and get back to tracker room. I want to try and find out where this people mover came from. It’s not one of ours. We don’t have anything that fast.”

 

After getting every thing in the portal Magator closed the door and programmed the portal for tracker room.

 

Sayron sat, shaking his head. “Something isn’t right. All our down-load told us was that W6618 was wanted for robbing some payment dwellings and two payment movers. Think about it, partner. Remember what Hardzer said when she found out we were given W6618? Their Tracker Room couldn’t catch this runner. Every time they thought they had him, he would do a one-eighty. Add that together with the fact he robbed two payment movers. I thought their movements were kept under close guard.”

 

“Right. To hit one payment mover you’d have to be very lucky, but to rob two? I see where you’re coming from, partner. Let’s go see Number One when we get back. I don’t know who else we can talk to about our idea. Hey, Sayron.”

 

“Hey what?”

 

“Do we even have a ‘idea’?” Magator laughed as he pushed the portal button.

 

***

 

Number One was waiting as Magator and Sayron stepped out of the portal. "Don't say anything. Come with me to my room."

 

Arear and Toezon, a communications tech, were waiting in Number One's room. Sayron closed the door.

 

Number One spoke up. "When I got your message on my private tracker, I knew we couldn't handle this alone. Toezon, tell the trackers what you found."

 

“Okay. We pulled the reports from Tracker League for Hardzer’s old tracker room. We looked closely at reports from every tracker that has tried to catch W6618. First - every planet that he has been spotted on had few inhabitants. Second - he stops the darkness before going to a riff like he did last star down. Third - at some point in the darkness he will go the other way for no apparent reason. So why did he waited so long this time before going the other way? Low level blue wave signals! That planet blocks blue wave signals. I think whoever has been helping him has been using blue waves signals only this time they couldn’t get through to him so they had to bring a mover in so he could get away. I’m betting they knew how close you two were last darkness.”

 

“What is a low level blue wave signal?” Magator asked.

 

“It’s a signal used by warring groups, fighting units, battle core; whatever you want to call them,” Arear interjected.

 

Toezon added, “There are only two signals we don’t monitor – white light signals and low level blue waves. The chance of even hitting another planet with a white light signal - much less a ker by ker receiver box - is too low to even think about. Using blue waves makes it easy to signal in and out without anyone knowing.”

 

Arear look over some notes. “We’re going to have to locate W6618 again. The records from the riff he used to get off that planet have been tampered with. I’m doing a full check of all riffs on any planet he could have gone to. Sorry, but it will take time.”

 

“I’ll start scanning for any lingering traces of blue waves around the last planet. If you don’t need me, I’d like to get started,” Toezon said to Arear.

 

Number One looked at Arear.

 

Arear nodded. “Sure. I’ll be in later to see how you’re doing. Remember, don’t say anything to anyone about what you’re doing or looking for.”

 

After the communications tech left, Number One spoke up. “Arear, how’s the other thing we talked about coming along?”

 

“Everything’s ready, Number One. Sayron, you and Magator report to the healer room in ten derons.” Arear reached inside his covering and pulled out a small metal box. He opened it to reveal what was inside. He handed the box to Sayron. “Take this with you.”

 

***

 

The next planet turn Arear called Magator and Sayron to Number One’s room.

 

“I think W6618 left the planet and, in mid-riff, turned around somehow and went right back after you portaled off planet. There’s no record of you using that riff. We found a portal watcher in the next star system that saw an Nretse get out of a portal and head into the main dwelling area in a fast people mover. There was no one with him. We do have some good news. The next planet turn the riff was used again and scrambled, only this time I put a tracer on the portal. It went straight to Hardzer’s old tracker room. We can’t poke around in their portal log files or someone might spot us.”

 

“I can run a portal time log through the Tracker League riff files. Tracker rooms do it all the time. No one will even notice.” Toezon smiled.

 

“Go do it now, Toezon. I think it’s time Hardzer and Anon took a riff back for old time’s sake. Where are they now?” Number One asked.

 

“After a runner.” Arear consulted a report in his hand. “They’re with Elaray, Ysor and two of the new trackers, Cmanr and Rkin. From their last report, they should be back in two or three planet turns.”

 

“I want W6618 found by the time Hardzer’s bunch gets back,” Number One growled.

 

Arear checked his tracker. Wow that was quick. “Number One, Toezon just found out to the ron when that portal returned to their tracker room. All we have to do now is find out who stepped out of the portal. I also just received a message that Hardzer’s team will be back sooner than they thought.”

 

“Well, you have till ‘sooner than they thought’ to find W6618. Now get a move on,” Number One said, pointing to the door.

 

Magator saw Arear whispering something to a healer.

 

The healer looked around Arear at Sayron and Magator.

 

“I wonder what that was all about?” Magator asked Sayron as they left Number One’s room.

 

“I don’t know. Number One and Arear have being acting strange since we got back. I imagine they’re under a lot of stress. Come on, we need to get down to the healer room.” Sayron tugged on Magator’s arm.

 

“I know. It seems we all have secrets these last few planet turns. I’ll be glad when it’s all over.” Magator shook his head. “And soon, I hope.”

 

***

 

Sayron’s tracker started beeping. “It’s Arear. Hardzer is almost here. Number One wants us in Star Chart Room B in five derons. Have you got that marker off yet? We don’t have any time left.”

 

“There. Got it. What? No faith in your old partner? Let me get cleaned up. You know what they’ll do to us if we get caught. Have you figured out how we’re going to get this out of the hanger and into the portal with us?”

 

Sayron smiled at Magator. “We’re not. Put that marker under the seat and quit asking questions. We’ve got three derons to get to the meeting.”

 

As Sayron and Magator entered the star chart room they saw Hardzer talking to Number One.

 

“What happened to the Sinne we saw being taken to the healer room?” Magator inquired.

 

Hardzer looked up. “D8732 made the mistake of putting his hands around Cmanr’s throat. She kicked him so hard she broke his leg. Rkin was standing next to her and he broke its arm in two places at about the same ron. Remind me not to make them mad at me.”

 

Anon entered the room. “I have D8732’s mate in a holding room. The board of trackers is looking into what they want to do with her for attacking us when we tried to take her mate away.”

 

“Do you mind if we get back to why we’re here?” Number One growled.

 

“We’ve found W6618. The only problem is the planet he’s on has numerous riffs. Right now we think he’ll try and used riff 8a4b89w, but we’re not sure. This isn’t a good planet to try and pull this stunt. Still, if he moves, we don’t know how long it will be till we find him again.” Arear stopped for a deron and looked at his tracker. “Wartron’s requesting an air bubble, Number One, and we only have one here. I just checked with repair and they said the other air bubble is ready and will be back here by this darkness.”

 

“You tell them if it’s not in our hanger by star down, I will personally rip their arms off. Send Wartron the one we have. I’m getting too old for this,” Number One huffed.

 

Toezon handed Hardzer a tracker guide. “When you get to the tracker room just go about visiting with everyone. It’ll start vibrating when it gets around someone that has a low level blue wave signaling device on them. It’s only good within eight sikers of the device.”

 

Hardzer took the tracker guide. She and Anon left to get in the portal for Baytar Galaxy Tracker Room.

 

Anon came back in and whispered to Number One, who nodded. Number One then whispered something to Arear. Arear turned and left.

 

Sayron and Magator were in the portal, preparing to leave, when Arear showed up at the door. “Good luck. I hope you have better luck in catching W6618 this time,” he said just as the door closed.

 

“What was that about?” Magator asked, but Sayron was busy pushing buttons on his tracker log guide.

 

“There. Our package was sent.”

 

A few tesers later the portal came to a stop and the door opened. Sayron put his hand on Magator’s shoulder as they stepped out and pushed a button on his tracker log guide. A beeping sound was heard off to their left. Sayron put his hand out, moving toward the sound. “It’s here. Wow, Wartron and Tealayon did a great job cloaking it.”

 

“Now, let’s get set up for the darkness and see where W6618 stops this time,” Magator said as he started up a tall hard plant.

 

After setting things up and getting back on the ground, Magator took a tracker reading for W6618’s implant and any trackers in the area. “Elaray and Ysor are over by the right planet riff, Cmanr and Rkin are at the left one and we’ve got this one covered. Okay, W6618, you’re right in the middle of us. Let’s see if you go for one of the unguarded ones.”

 

Arear, standing behind one of the techs on duty at the riff board, said, “We have W6618 now. You keep a close watch on the tracker’s and his implant. I have to go to the communication repair room for about ten derons. Call me if any of them move.”

 

***

 

Sayron looked down from their cloaked air bubble. “W6618 is holding some kind of box. I can see a screen on it, but it’s too small for me to read from up here.”

 

“Look. He’s is getting ready to leave. Under world! He’s running for the mover. He knows it’s a trap?”

 

“Well, if he does, it’s too late.” Sayron swung the air bubble around so Magator could get a clean shot with his light immobilizer. A blue light beam hit W6618 in the face. “Wow! Great shot - from a moving air bubble, too.”

 

***

 

Number One, Arear and Frank, with his light immobilizer drawn, stepped into the tracker room and headed over to the riff board. The tech Arear was standing behind jumped out of his chair.

 

Frank filled the tech’s face with blue light.

 

“Limb-lock him and get him out of here,” Number One growled.

 

Arear looked at his tracker guide. “I got a message from Hardzer, Number One. They have the other tech; caught her in the act of sending the signal. It seems she’s telling them everything trying to make a deal. These two techs are related somehow and were in on the payment mover jobs with W6618.”

 

A portal arrived. When the door opened, Wartron and Tealayon stepped out and she tossed Arear a small black box. “You’ll need this air bubble marker.”

 

"Arear, Sayron and Magator say they have to get their implants out of a tall hard plant?" She frowned. "And then they'll be bringing W661 in along with a people mover from another tracker room and an air bubble without a marker? Am I getting this right?"

 

“One of my air bubbles is out there without a marker? Techs helping runners! Everyone keeping secrets from each other! No wonder I have gray hairs!” Number One shouted, throwing his hands up and leaving the room.

 

The tech board room went quiet.

 

Number One stuck his head back into the room and smiled. “By the way - good job, everyone.”

 


Chapter 17

 Rule Changes

 

 

Rkin and Kelona were in the battle room working on their defensive moves when Cmanr and Laga entered.

 

Cmanr went over to the cage. “Did you see the bulletin board this planet turn? They have a message posted that Tracker League is looking into the placing of partners now.”

 

“It looks like they’re going to be doing the picking and not us,” Laga added.

 

Kelona looked at Rkin. “What’s going to happen to new trackers that are mated like Wartron and Tealayon? Are they just going to start drawing names from a holding bag?”

 

Rkin sighed. “I don’t think Tracker League would just draw names. Think about it. Wartron and Tealayon are already partners and they’re suited for wet planets. You and Harayah or Swal would be great as partners on drier ones.” He and Kelona stepped out of the cage.

 

“You’d send Frank and, say, Elaray or me only after runners on planets with lots of plant life?” Cmanr snapped.

 

Laga placed his hand on Cmanr’s shoulder. “We don’t know what the rule changes are yet. Let’s keep our heads till we find out.”

 

“When does this change take place? Maybe we can get Number One to let us pick partners before that date?”

 

“It sounds like you’ve have already picked, Cmanr,” Kelona said.

 

“I have. Don’t tell me you haven’t.” Cmanr turned to Laga and Rkin. “Well, guys?”

 

Rkin stepped up behind Kelona. “I’m sure we all have, Cmanr. I say we find out what is going on first before we jump to the wrong conclusions. We’ll know what we can do about it then.”

 

“I think she’s right. We should have the right to say who we want to risk our lives with. After going after a runner with each of you, I’d be happy to have any one of you as my partner. But I still know who I want to partner with,” Laga said.

 

“This is just the reason Tracker League has made the rule change,” Number One’s said from behind them. “Be in Star Chart Room B in two derons. I’ll tell you who your new partners are after this mission. If you don’t show up it better be because you’re packing a holding bag for the trip back to your dwelling planet.”

 

Number One stepped back as the new trackers all tried to go through the battle room door at the same time.

 

Arear walked up with a message in his hand and handed it to Number One. “It’s from Tracker League. Their picks for the newbies match-up.”

 

Number One read it then asked Arear, “What do you think?”

 

“Well, Cmanr’s headstrong, a little too quick to jump into battle, but she’s a great battler. She’s smart and can almost read a runner’s mind.

 

Kelona’s a bit too cautious. She always seems to be running different angles, strong, can blast a hair off your arm at a hundred sikers and is easy-going.

 

Laga’s harder to understand. He’s more of a laid-back kind of guy, can shoot almost as well as Kelona, smarter than anyone gives him credit for. He’d be a great back-up in a battle.

 

Rkin’s gentle as a lamb, but don’t cross him or his partner. Not the best shot, but with the speed he can get off a light blast, he doesn’t need to be. He’s smarter than he lets on, too. He’s the only one I have seen that can almost beat Harayah in a race. I think they lucked out this time with whoever they get teamed up with. What about you, Number One?” Arear looked up.

 

“I think you’re right, Arear. You do know they gave me the final word?”

 

“That’s why you get the big payments, Number One. Don’t forget you have to give the team leader their stripe.”

 

“Okay, let’s get this over with.”

 

Number One and Arear pushed open the door to the star chart room and walked in.

 

“Tracker League put your scores together and came up with who they think you should be partnered with. The breakdown is as follows: Class Room thirty percent; Battle Room ten percent; Light Blaster Room ten percent; reports from the trainers thirty percent and input from tracker room personnel twenty percent. I’ll have the last word on which partner you’ll get which I’ll announce after this mission.

 

“Arear will brief you on two offspring runners. Listen up, trackers. This is not a drill. This mdora and fadora team has ended a seller for a set of foot covers. Don’t get ended and don’t get your partners ended either.” Number One left the room.

 

Going behind the desk, Arear picked up a folder. “This has a list of the star charts you’ll need to study. The runners are Jakas. H0214 is male. H20213 is female and they are from the same life pod. Your trackers will be downloaded in a few derons. I wish I had more to report. These two started their life of crime less than a star turn ago. Petty things like taking covering articles and intake without making payment. They have implants so we were given the job to find them. Here is the tape of the ending.”

 

As the trackers watched the tape they observed H0214 looking around the room as H0213 placed a set of foot covers inside her covering and started out the door. There was a bobble in the tape as a white light blast flashed across the screen. The seller stumbled into view holding his chest. He then fell to the ground, ended. It looked like he was clutching something in his right hand.

 

Cmanr and Kelona were whispering to each other when Laga spoke up. “Do H0213 or H0214 know that they’re wanted for ending a seller?

 

“We’re not sure,” Arear said. “We know they have been doing a lot of moving around, but they haven’t tried to leave the planet. Why?”

 

“So we don’t have to start after them this planet turn?” Laga was looking over at the girls whispering.

 

Rkin asked Arear, “Can we take that tape to Star Chart Room C with us?”

 

Kelona and Cmanr stopped whispering and looked over at Rkin and Laga. They both grinned.

 

Arear handed them the recording. “Sure, but be in the portal at star break. We don’t want to be telling the planet officers why there’s more ended bodies lying around.”

 

***

 

For two tesers in the star chart room they watched the tape over and over.

 

“Something’s wrong. I just can’t put my finger on it.” Laga moaned, rubbing his eyes.

 

“Well, that’s one thing we all agree on. I just want to know what it is that’s bothering us about this tape,” Cmanr said.

 

“I want to know what’s he’s holding so tight in his right hand,” Rkin added.

 

“Maybe we’ll get some answers on their home planet. But right now I’m going to start checking equipment and that star chart.” Kelona got up to stretch her legs.

 

Cmanr brought over one of the tracker guides and a four way adapter. “Is everyone ready to download?”

 

They stuck out their arms and plugged in the probes as Rkin pushed the download button.

 

Laga pulled out his probe when the download was finished. “That will help if the tracker guide is right about them living in the same group of dwellings all their lives. Plus the planet officers will have a people mover at the riff for us.”

 

Kelona shook her head. “But there’s over fifty thousand Jakas living in a ten kayron by ten kayron area. I think we need another people mover.”

 

“Why? All four of us will fit in a mover,” Cmanr said. “Oh, wait a minute. With H0213 and H0214 in limb-locks, two of us will have to find another way back.”

 

Rkin turned on his tracker and took a reading for Mary’s implant as a test. “Look, everyone. I have one of the newest tracker models. This window gives me a pointer and tells me how far it is to the implant. No more up, down, left or right of planet. This offspring will lead you right to a runner in thirty siker high, wavy green plants.”

 

Laga turned on his tracker. “They gave me a new one, too. It’s going to take me a deron or two, guys, to run through the teaching mode.”

 

“Mine’s not the newer one. Is yours, Cmanr?” Kelona asked.

 

“No. I still have the older model. But if we get another people mover we can do a cross reference and pin-point both runners at the same time.”

 

“She’s right. With both teams taking a reading on the same implant, we can find them a lot quicker. It’s getting late and we still have to get some rest. Star break comes early. Looks like, because of the two new tracker guides, there’ll be a man and a woman on each team. Rkin, do you want to go with me and see if we can get a people mover from Arear?” Kelona asked.

 

“Sure. I want you to go through the teaching mode for my tracker in case you have to use it.” He followed Kelona out of the star chart room.

 

Laga let out a sigh of relief.

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Cmanr asked, turning to give him a questioning look.

 

“I was afraid he was going to ask you to be his partner. I’m not sure you wanted me for a partner, Cmanr.” The edges of Laga plates started turning red.

 

Cmanr smiled and opened her hand. In it was a slip of paper with only one name written on it – ‘Laga’. “You big rock head. I won’t have another partner.”

***

 

“So? Do we give them the people mover or not?” Arear asked Number One.

 

“Go ahead. I hate to send them out on their own so soon. Still, we have to start trusting them. Arear, I’m getting too old for this job.”

 

“It will do that to you, Number One.”

 

Number One handed him a report. “Send this off to Tracker League. It’s who I chose to be partners and team leaders.”

 

Arear read the report. ‘Team leader: Kelona, partner Rkin. Team leader: Cmanr, partner Laga’.

 

“Post that on the board after they leave. I’m going to get some rest. Who’ll be on watch at star break?”

 

“Swal will be, Number One.”

 

“Have him wake me and turn the lights off when you close the door.”

 

***

 

Laga entered the portal. “I took that tape to an electronic tech. With luck he’ll have it broken down, frame by frame, next planet turn. He gave me a view screen so they can send us anything they find.”

 

Swal stuck his head inside the portal. “We moved in another people mover last darkness. Here, Kelona. Sign for it. Good luck, guys.”

 

The portal door slid closed.

 

At the end of the riff the portal started shuddering before coming to a rest.

 

“What was that?” Cmanr asked.

 

“Some Jaka planets have a fluid bearer around them. It’s nothing unusual. It has something to do with when they were at war with other planets. The other people mover’s already here.” Rkin nodded to it as the portal door slid open.

 

Each of the teams took an implant reading for a different runner.

 

Kelona’s tracker showed H0214 down planet five kayrons and left one kayrons.

 

Cmanr’s tracker showed H0213 down planet seven kayrons and right three kayrons. Cmanr shook her head. “They’re not together. It looks like we’ll have to go after them one at a time. Which one do we nab first?”

 

After confirming the new readings Laga said, “From the planet chart it appears the planet officer’s room is closer than either runner. I’d like to go there first.”

 

“Sure,” Cmanr said.

 

Rkin and Kelona nodded approval.

 

On the way to the planet officer’s room Kelona asked Rkin, “Why did you want me as your partner and not one of the others?”

 

“Just a feeling is all. I don’t really know. It’s kind of like asking why you picked that light immobilizer you’re wearing. I know that either Cmanr or Laga would make a great partner. So why did I pick you? Just a feeling.”

 

Kelona watched as Rkin steered the people mover toward the mass of dwellings down planet. “You know, they might partner us up different when we get back.”

 

“I know, for now I’ll be with the partner I chose. Now bring that planet chart up in your head again and tell me which way to turn.”

 

“Make a right up here and it will be about fifty sikers on the left.”

 

Pulling up and getting out of the movers, they all walked into the planet officer’s dwelling.

 

The officer at the desk looked at them and then at the light immobilizers hanging from their sides. He slipped his hand down to his light blaster. “May I help you?”

 

Laga stepped up to the desk. “We’re the trackers from Lainer Galaxy sent to bring in runners H0213 and H0214. We’d like to talk to the officer who’s working on the ended seller’s case.”

 

The officer put both hands back on top of his desk. “It will take a few derons. You can have a seat over there.”

 

An officer came out, carrying a folder a few derons later. “I’m planet officer Ossamon. I’m in charge of the seller’s ending case. How may I help you?”

 

“I only have a couple of questions,” said Laga. “Did anyone see the ending and we’d like to know what the seller had clutched in his right hand.”

 

The officer opened the file. He flipped through some views and pulled out three. “Nothing. It was out to his side. Look.”

 

The view showed the seller lying, fingers outstretched as if he was reaching for something.

 

Rkin studied the three views. “Great, these views bring up more questions. Would you say the seller was ended when he hit the ground?”

 

“The blast took out six kers of his stem from the neck down. I’d definitely say he was ended before hitting the ground. Why?”

 

“Look at the last views you sent us of him lying on the ground,” Cmanr said to the officer as she patted Laga on the back. “Good work.”

 

***

 

It was almost darkness and H0213's and H0214's implants were together moving continuously from one location to another.

 

Kelona pointed to a spot on the dwelling mover line chart she had picked up from the desk officer. “They must’ve gotten word that we’re here looking for them. About every two tesers they seem to cross the same spot. Instead of us moving around the dwellings behind them, let’s sit and wait on them. There’s a dwelling that sells intake at that point. We can wait for them there.”

 

As the star started to break, Rkin and Kelona waited in a narrow mover way between two dwellings across from the intake dwelling.

 

Cmanr and Laga were inside having a cup of fluid and something the Jaka called a sweet baked grain.

 

A mover stopped in front and a young female Jaka got out and entered the dwelling.

 

Blue light filled the darkness.

 

The male in the mover put it in reverse, but, before he could power it up, he felt a tapping on the side of his head. Turning off the power, he put his hands in the air.

 

Kelona looked into the back seat and saw a small offspring resting. “Who does this belong to?” She pointed to the little one.

 

“She’s my fadora’s offspring.”

 

Kelona saw the foot covering on the offspring that H0213 had taken from the seller.

 

Laga came out of the dwelling carrying H0213 over his shoulder. “Look at what just came over this viewer.” He passed the viewer screen around so the others could see it.

 

***

 

Number One closed the holding room door. “You’re lucky my trackers and techs discovered someone had cut and spliced the view tape. We know you didn’t end the seller. The movement of the star light in the dwelling and the coverings changing places on their racks, showed he was ended over a teser after you left. The blast was a multicolored one. We still don’t know who did it or why they tried to blame you. For taking the foot coverings you’re going to be sent to a tracker room in one of the other star galaxies as workers for three star turns. H0213, you’ll get to take your offspring with you.”

 

“Thank you,” they said together.

 

Number One leaned forward and snarled, “If I ever see either one of you in my holding room again, you’ll live out the rest of your planet turns deep in a moon mine. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, Sir,” they said with their heads down.

 

Number One turned and left, closing the door behind him.

 

Arear stopped Number One in the mover way. “Sir, here’s a view of the light pattern in the dwelling when the seller was ended. Here’s a view of the test blasting from R739’s blaster.”

 

“Underplanet, they’re the same. Is that one of our light deflectors?”

 

“Yes, Sir. With the right setting it can blast right through our deflectors.”

 

Number One handed the views back to Arear. “Send this on to Tracker League and to all Tracker Rooms. Tell our trackers to be on the look out and get our tech’s working on some way to deflect that light blaster.”

 

“Yes, Sir, right away.”



Chapter 18

 J899 Returns

 

 

Stareen stepped behind a rock as dust begun to swirl around in a wild pattern. “I think they should mark the riffs better. Look, Tedar.” Stareen pointed. “Over there under the swirling dust. See the portal rising up through the ground like some mechanical beast leaving its dwelling after a cold darkness to warm itself in the light of our star?”

 

The portal came to rest on the ground. The door slid open.

 

An Elan and a Gordon stepped out and looked around.

 

“Are you Stareen?” the Gordon female asked.

 

“Yes. You must be Hardzer.” Stareen stuck out her hand. “That would make you Anon.”

 

Anon set down one of the holding bags to shake her hand. “Sayron and Magator told us a lot about you. Who’s this cute little offspring you’re holding?”

 

“She’s my youngest. My oldest is back at the dwelling rental painting over the still views he drew on the walls in the intake room.”

 

Hardzer removed the last holding bag from the portal along with a large flat package. “That looks like everything. Whenever you’re ready, Stareen.”

 

The three loaded the people mover that Stareen had borrowed from the dwelling rental.

 

“The people mover your techs left here for you will be out of the shop next planet turn. The air storms here can do a lot of damage to anything left out in the open. Kelona’s elder had it taken in for repairs. By the way, how’s Kelona?” Stareen asked.

 

“She partnered up with Rkin. He’s a Morea. She told us to say hi and ask how you were,” Anon said, getting into the people mover.

 

Stareen laughed. “I have my two offsprings, a great home. Waveart sold half of the dwelling rental to me. I think she was afraid I would leave like Kelona did. She couldn’t light blast me out of here. I have never met a sweeter Dorfor; she treats me like one of her own offspring.”

 

Hardzer took some intake out of one of the holding bags.

 

“You better put that away,” Stareen said. “Waveart has been fixing intake all darkness and star bright. She’s looking forward to seeing some of Kelona’s friends. She’s fixing some kind of blue plant root covered in a green lump sauce for you, Hardzer and a large, red twelve-legged bug, steamed over hot rocks all darkness then covered with a yellow grease and dried till star high for Anon. For fluid intake she went out and got some bean you boil till the fluid is a dark brown. After that you pour it into a container and cover it with a foamy white topping.”

 

Hardzer put the intake back into the holding bag. “Rambe roots in a hicka plant sauce and brewed coffii with whipped herder’s fluid. Did the Great Power just smile down on me? I love rambe roots with coffii.”

 

Anon leaned over and said, “You did say a centibeetle dried in slug grease? Do you think you can get this thing to move a little faster?”

 

***

 

After everyone finished intaking, Anon got up and left the room.

 

He came back carrying the large flat package Hardzer had taken off the portal and went over and handed it to Stareen’s oldest offspring, Dartor. “Here. Kelona sent this to you. I’m sure she heard about the intake room walls.”

 

Dartor ripped open the package to find a big stack of drawing sheets and markers. “Wow. Could you thank Kelona for me?”

 

Stareen patted Dartor’s hand. “It’s only proper you send her a message yourself. Now get the table cleaned off. I need to talk to our guest for a deron.”

 

“Everyone take your containers of coffii into the setting room. I’ll help Dartor clean up and put the offspring to rest,” Waveart said.

 

Stareen leaned close to Hardzer and Anon after they were all in the sitting room. “That’s a lot of gear to be going after a runner. Can I ask what’s going on?”

 

The trackers exchanged looks.

 

“I don’t know why not,” Hardzer finally said. “We’re going about three hundred kayrons left planet and four hundred kayrons down planet to set up an implant reporting station. Our air eye keeps getting blips from that area, but nothing we can get a good reading on.”

 

“That’s a long way into No One’s Land. Why don’t you use an air bubble?”

 

“We think some runners have set up a base out there and that they’re watching our air eye. They’re probably tracking everything in the air. Thirty planet turns ago, Harayah and Swal tried to use an air bubble, but when they got to seventy- five sikers high the blips started disappearing off the air eye. They tried it eight or nine times that planet turn and the same thing happened each time. In the last three star turns we’ve picked up more and more fluid vapors in the air. Remember the four runners that came after you out there? We can’t figure out how they got on planet. The people mover they had was full of fluids and equipped to move over large rocks. The covering was also the type one would use in a place like No One’s Land.”

 

“Will you have enough mover fluid to go that far and back?” Stareen asked. “That’s a nine planet turn, round trip.”

 

“There’s a super riff about halfway that very few know about. It’s too small for life forms to use, but containers of intake and fluids can easily be sent. Here’s the location in case you ever need it in an emergency.” Hardzer wrote it down and handed it to Stareen.

 

“You do know the way the rocks are formed out there? You have layers of hot and cold waves making it almost impossible to get a signal in or out. The best time is just before star break, when it has all cooled off.” They all turned around to see Waveart standing in the doorway. “Every star break you better send a signal. I kept one of the runner’s old tracker units from when Magator and Sayron were here.”

 

“We can’t send a signal. They would know we’re there and try to lock in on our trackers,” Anon said.

 

“If they’re there, they’ll know your coming anyway. How long will it take them to lock in on a tracker? Can they do it in one word?” Waveart asked.

 

“No. If they’re good I would say five derons. Why?” Anon looked puzzled.

 

“Here’s a letter for each planet turn. You say one letter each day in this order.” Waveart ran her finger across the two words. “I’ll say the other letter back and then you turn off your tracker. If you don’t signal, I’m messaging Number One.” She gave Anon a stern look.

 

Hardzer laughed. “No wonder Kelona makes such a good tracker. She takes after her life giver. Okay, we’ll do it. Every star break you’ll have two derons to reply before we turn off our tracker.”

 

Anon nodded to Hardzer. “Star break comes early. We better get some rest.”

 

After the trackers left for their dwellings, Stareen turned to Waveart. “You know, it’ll take five planet turns for tracker room to get anyone here through the riff after you message them. That could be too late.”

 

“I know, Stareen. We’ll just have to wait and see.” Waveart sighed. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

 

***

 

Anon was up just after star break having a container of coffii when two people movers eased up quietly to the main dwelling. Anon’s hand slipped down to rest on his light immobilizer.

 

The door to the rental dwelling swung open. As one Dorfor stood holding the door, another walked over to the table where Anon was sitting.

 

"Are you the tracker Hardzer or Anon?" he asked.

 

Through the open doorway, Anon could see Hardzer standing in the shadows of the dwelling. “I’m Anon. What can I do for you?”

 

“We brought your people mover. Tracker room has already made the payment for all the repairs. Next time try and leave it down air of a big rock during a storm. I put new tires on it. The ones you had wouldn’t last a planet turn out there in No One’s Land. Oh, I also doubled the size of your power fluid tank. Here.” The Dorfor threw the key on the table.

 

“What makes you think I’m going into No One’s Land?” Anon asked.

 

Both Dorfors laughed.

 

The one holding the door said, “The intake fluid tank under the back seat is not normal equipment.”

 

After the Dorfors left Hardzer entered and looked around for a container. “Did you leave me any coffii?”

 

“Over there in the little pot. I’m going to load the people mover. Oh, if they get up, see if they’ll warm up some of that centibettle for this star break intake.”

 

Hardzer looked at Anon with half opened eyes. “Talk to me after I get some of this coffii down.”

 

Anon finished loading the last holding bag then returned to the intake room. The smell of warmed centibeetle filled the air. “Now that’s intake.”

 

“You and Elaray!” Hardzer rolled her eyes. “He has his musers and you have those smelly centibeetles. When you’re done, come on outside. You can steer the people mover first. I’m going to try and get some more rest.”

 

Within a teser Anon and Hardzer were in the mover and headed into No One’s Land.

 

“We have a rental to run.” Stareen said, heading off to clean some dwellings.

 

Waveart called after Stareen, “Hold up. I have a bad feeling. Go get the people mover. We’re going to see a friend of mine. Those dwellings can wait.”

 

“Who is she?” Stareen asked.

 

“Not a she. He’s my ended mate’s friend. He’s the one that builds those rock hoppers for the planet officers. He keeps two around his dwelling all the time. I’m going to see if he’ll teach you how to steer one of those things just in case.”

 

“How long do you think it’ll take for him to teach me?”

 

“I don’t know and we’ll not find out with you just standing there. Now go get the people mover. I’ll get Tedar and meet you outside. We’ll be back before Dartor gets back from learning.”

 

Waveart came out carrying Tedar. “I messaged Amaner. She’s coming over to stay with Tedar and watch the dwelling rental until we get back.”

 

***

 

“What do you mean you lost Hardzer’s and Anon’s signals?” Number One yelled.

 

“We figured this would happen, Number One. The place they’re going to is a natural signal blocking area. The air eye lasted two tesers after star break. We’ll keep searching, but the longer we point the air eye their way someone is going to start wondering what we’re looking for. Around star break will be the next best time to scan for their tracker implants. We’ll keep on top of it, Number One,” Arear said reassuringly.

 

He turned to the tech board leader. “At mid-darkness and star break I want you to scan around the dwellings and then swing the air eye over the super riff and back out again. They may think we’re just doing a general scan. If you spot either tracker don’t stop the air eye. Just keep on moving it. If you don’t spot them at mid-darkness, wake me for the star break scan.”

 

***

 

A knock on Arear’s door woke him up. “Yes?”

 

“We’re getting ready to scan for the trackers again. We didn’t get a reading at mid- darkness, Sir,” a tech reported through the closed door.

 

“Be right there. You’d better wake up Number One,” Arear replied, getting up.

 

“He’s waiting on you, Sir,” the tech responded.

 

When Arear arrived in the tracker room Number One told a tech, “Go ahead and start scanning.”

 

Blip after blip started disappearing. Two got clearer.

 

“There they are. Keep moving the air eye. Well, it looks as if they’re right where they should be, Number One.”

 

As the air eye passed over the trackers everyone heard Anon say, “R.” Another voice, that no one recognized, said, “T.”

 

Within rons of receiving the last voice transmission three blips appeared then quickly disappeared.

 

“Did anyone get a reading on those blips?” Arear yelled.

 

“No, Sir,” the shift leader replied.

 

“If this happens again, and one of you doesn’t answer ‘Yes’, the whole lot of you will be looking for work.” Arear turned to Number One. “Sorry, Sir. It’s my fault. I’ll try and not let this happen again.”

 

“Arear,” one of the techs said. “My readout panel flashed so fast I couldn’t make out the numbers. Is there some way the equipment tech could record the implant readout display?”

 

“Good idea. Get her up here and see what she can rig up. And it better be ready before next star break.” Arear started out of the tracker room. “I’ll be in the intake room if anything else happens.”

 

***

 

Hardzer put her tracker away. “Did you see that? Three blips showed up and quickly vanished after Waveart sent her signal.”

 

“What kind of blips do you think they were?” Anon was packing up his resting gear.

 

“If this was a payment wager, I’d say it was a runner’s implant.” Hardzer finished the last of her cold intake. “We only have a planet turn and a half to go and we can get the station set up and get out of here. These rocks have too many eyes.”

 

“Next stop is power fluid and intake.” Anon started the people mover.

 

***

 

“That’s one planet turn. Only five or six to go. How are the rock hopper lessons going?” Waveart asked Stareen.

 

“He said I’d have everything down pat in two planet turns. If I do as well this planet turn as I did the last one I can bring the rock hopper back to the dwelling. When he gets here with your people mover I can take him back to get in some extra practice.” Stareen sighed and shook her head. “I don’t like this feeling I’m getting about those two out there in No One’s Land.”

 

***

 

Number One looked up as Arear knocked on the door. “Come in. What do you have on those blips this planet turn?”

 

“Hardzer and Anon are at the location for the new station. We didn’t figure on this much interference from the heat and rock formation. The new reporting station is only going to give us a small band of coverage. The implant readout record our tech put on the panel board picked up three more runner’s implants this star break, Number One. That makes nine we know about and another three from the first day.”

 

“Did you get another letter message? Number One asked.

 

“Yes, Sir. This star break it was a ‘D’ then an ‘E’. We have not broken the code yet, sir.”

 

Number One looked at the letters on the board. “Keep me informed.”

 

***

 

Hardzer put down her tracker log guide and picked up some equipment. “Those blips showed up again. They’re not any closer, but they’re behind us now. I think we should cloak the people mover when we’re out setting up the station.”

 

Anon pointed to the people mover’s tracks in the sand. “Won’t do any good. They’ll just follow them till they bump into it. We could take all our equipment out and cloak it up on that rock ledge. If we brush away our tracks they’ll never know we went up there.”

 

Hardzer laughed. “I knew I kept you around for something other than that toothy smile.”

 

***

 

Waveart put away the old tracker. “If everything went okay they should be starting back before star down. You still have that feeling, Stareen?”

 

“Yes. It’s worse. I feel like people are closing in. Reaching out and trying to grab hold of me. It’s probably just in my head,”

 

***

 

Arear ran into the tracker room. “What do you mean you can’t find their tracker implants? How long has it been?”

 

The tech board leader spoke up. “It’s been ten derons. The implant reporting station is sending signals back. We’re making a twenty kayron circle before we move the air eye out of the area.”

 

“Increase that to seventy-five kayrons down planet and do a hundred and fifty kayron sweep back along the route they took in,” Arear yelled.

 

“Sir, we’re getting a message from the planet.”

 

“Well? What the underplanet is it?” Number One growled.

 

“ ‘Two friends missing. Going to find. Remember who was then wasn’t, is again.’ That’s all it said, Sir.”

 

“Number One, the air eye has completed the scan. There’s no sign of Hardzer, Anon or the people mover.”

 

“Message the tracker room in Zarta galaxy. I want every air bubble and tracker team they can send us.”

 

***

 

Waveart stuck her head into Stareen’s room. “I have everything in the rock hopper. I sent the message like you asked. I hope they understand.”

 

“I’ll be there in a deron.” Stareen strapped on her star blaster, and reached under a covering to pull out a small bottle of clear fluid with a tiny black dot in it. “J899, I need you.”


Chapter 19

Crosshairs

 

 

Harayah looked out the viewport in the dwelling rental. “This is the third planet turn. When’s that informant going to show up?”

 

Swal put down the local information paper. “I don’t know when this Nretse is going to show up, but did you know we can get a bag of intake grow for twenty-five percent off?”

 

“Well, it’s almost star high and I need some intake fit for a Spytaen. If they offer me another pot of ground to stick my feet in I’m going to scream.” Harayah moved over to the table and sat down.

 

Swal stuck out his tongue. “You’re right. Dark or light ground blended with either a bug or wiggle sauce is not my idea of intake. I bet Arear is getting tired of sending us intake through the riff. You want to watch for the Nretse or go meet the portal?”

 

“They were supposed to meet us last planet turn. I say let’s both go and get the intake. I don’t like this waiting. Something’s wrong.” Harayah pulled her light immobilizer out and checked the setting.

 

“Okay,” Swal said. “We’ll give it till star down then head back to tracker room. The first thing I’m going to do is go straight to the intake room to see how many green beetles I can down.”

 

Harayah and Swal had just stepped through the back dwelling doorway when they heard a voice whisper, “Don’t turn around just listen,” followed by the unmistakable sound of a light blaster powering up. “Remember a place called Strong Hold? A good friend of mine was ended there in a pit, fighting trackers. Don’t worry. I know trackers didn’t end him. That wasn’t the only base the seller had. There were three. The Strong Hold just made the implant blockers. You busted the portal button operation on the fluid plant forcing them to move it to Strong Hold. Well, guess what? They’re still making blockers and portal buttons. If I knew where, I would tell you. Find a lowlife, little weed called Hydra. She said she’s seen the third base and it’s in full operation. She talked about how you had to get in and out fast or you’d be ended from the heat.”

 

“Where can we find this Hydra?” Swal asked.

 

Harayah and Swal heard the light blaster powering down. When they turned around the Nretse was gone.

 

“It looks like we have our work cut out for us,” Harayah said. “I’ll go make the dwelling payment. You go get the gear and I’ll meet you back at the portal.”

 

Swal had just pushed the portal button when Harayah showed up.

 

“They wanted an extra darkness payment because we were leaving early. I had to threaten to call the planet officers. They changed their minds and offered me half a planet turn payment back.” When Swal finished putting all the holding bags into the portal, Harayah closed the door. “Three planet turns and a six teser portal trip will be worth it if this pans out. I heard that last star turn Zarta galaxy had two more portal mishaps. They’re not sure if they’ll ever find who or how many people were lost because of the seller and his counterfeit portal buttons. If we can shut that base down maybe it’ll put an end to it, partner.”

 

“I hope so,” Swal answered, closing his eyes for a quick rest. “Wake me up at tracker room.”

 

It seemed to Swal he had no sooner closed his eyes when the portal started shaking, came to a quick stop and threw him and Harayah to the front.

 

“What happened?” Harayah asked climbing off of Swal who was lying on the portal bottom.

 

“Not sure, but if you help get some of these holding bags off me, I’ll check the instrument panel,” Swal replied as he tried to get up.

 

The portal door slid open and a tracker room tech stood looking in at them with a surprised look on his face.

 

“Okay, what’s going on?” Harayah demanded.

 

“Sorry. I was testing an accelerator for the portals. It should shorten a planet turn riff trip to rons. I sent this portal to a planet and brought it back. No one was supposed to be in it.”

 

“Well, next time lock the portal,” Swal said, throwing the holding bags out the door and almost hitting the tech. He stepped out of the portal. “Where are Number One and Arear?”

 

“They’re still resting,” a voice said, off to Swal’s left. “Can I help you?”

 

A smile spread across Swal’s face as he spun around.

 

Harayah almost knocked Swal down as she hurried from the portal.

 

“Mary!” they said together.

 

Harayah wrapped her arms around Mary and gave her a gentle hug. “How are you doing? I see they finally let you out of the tank. What are you doing working so soon? You’re looking great. I missed you.”

 

Swal taped Harayah on the shoulder. “I want to hug her, too. Give her a ron to answer your questions, partner.” After hugging Mary, Swal stepped back and looked around the room. “You’re on watch already?”

 

Mary started laughing. “Guys, I’m not dead and I was tired of doing nothing. This was Frank’s watch and I had to beg him to let me have it. He’s been handling both of our watches and sitting with me. He needed the rest. So what do you need Number One or Arear for?”

 

“This person that Frank’s informant sent us to meet said we have to find a Nretse named Hydra. This Hydra knew the Seller. Not only that, but he has another base and she’s been there. If we can find her we might be able to put an end to these counterfeit portal buttons.”

 

The portal tech went up to Mary and whispered something in her ear then stood behind her.

 

“You two have to go to the Healer Room and have a complete checkup right now,” Mary said.

 

“I’m going to the intake room first,” Swal answered.

 

“Sorry, Swal, but from what the tech tells me, you have to be checked out right away. You’re the first to travel at that portal speed. It’s just for your protection. Please don’t make me order you to do this.”

 

Swal winked at Mary. “You don’t have to order me, but if one leg hair is out of place that little six-eyed eyed tech is ended.”

 

“Look on the light side. The checkup will take over two tesers and Number One and Arear will be awake by then.” Mary said.

 

Swal gave the tech a big toothy grin, “And I’ll be really hungry by then, too. I could probably even eat a tech whole.”

 

Harayah hit Swal on the arm. “Go on before you have this poor tech believing you.”

 

Mary turned to the tech. “Pull that portal out of service until it’s been checked from top to bottom. There better not be so much as a burned-out light on the instrument panel.”

 

***

 

Swal and Harayah had just sat down in the intake room when a message runner came in looking for them. “Arear and Number One want you in star chart room B in five derons. Number One said you can intake after the meeting.”

 

Swal looked down at the plate of beetles, grabbed some with both hands and stuffed his mouth full of them. “I’mm readyy … wess ggo.

 

Harayah laughed at Swal as she threw sliced zacker between two pieces of bread. “Me, too.”

 

Arear grinned as the two trackers came walking in - Swal with both cheeks poking out and Harayah trying to shove the last of the zacker into her mouth. “I’ll try not to take too long. From your reports, and what Mary said, I think this base is located on Kelona’s home planet. We have been getting some strange blips from the air eye on routine scans. Hardzer and Anon left five planet turns ago to set up an implant reporting station and should be getting there about now. They still have a three or four planet turn trip in the people mover to the location where the station is going to be placed. If you’re right, and this Hydra knows the location of the base, it’ll help. All payment for this runner will be covered by Tracker League. Her implant number is H390. You have anything to add Number One?”

 

“She might not know anything, but if she does I want to know it and soon. Oh, and Swal. You can swallow now.”

 

***

 

The next planet turn as Harayah and Swal got in the portal Arear stuck his head in the doorway. “We got a signal and message from Hardzer and Anon. I’ve sent a people mover ahead for you. Find H390 and get her back here fast.”

 

Three tesers later the portal came to a stop and the door slid open. Swal asked Harayah, “This accelerator thing - what do you think about it?”

 

“It’s too unstable right now. They’ll get the bugs worked out some planet turn, but right now I’ll stay at the known riff speed. Swal, take a tracker reading for H390’s implant. You have the chip that sees through implant blockers.”

 

“The tech that almost ended us set my tracker up with one. Look, see the little ‘x’ by the H390 in the corner? She’s wearing a blocker. She’s also a planet turn, or more, up planet from here.”

 

 Harayah held her tracker for Swal to see. “There’s a programmable riff within two kayrons of her. Let’s get the people mover inside the portal and pop right up there.”

 

After they loaded everything inside the portal, the door closed and reopened.

 

“These cross-planet riffs don’t even give you a change to catch your breath,” Swal said, as Harayah steered the people mover out of the portal.

 

“Crossing star systems is one thing, but to go two-hundred and eighteen kayrons up planet that fast blows my mind. Then they give us movers that have a top speed of sixty kayrons a teser.”

 

Swal took another implant reading and pointed. “H390 is two kayrons that way. We had better cloak as Nretse. We don’t want to get her running.” He switched on his tracker cloak with one hand as he pushed the portal button with the other.

 

Harayah eased the people mover past a group of young Nretse standing around the crossing of two mover lines.

 

Swal nodded toward a group of young females. “She’s one of them. Did you see all the blasters they’re wearing out in the open? You could start a planet war with them. There’s no way we can blue light all of them without getting ended first. We’re going to have to let them thin out so we can spot her.”

 

“I know which one she is,” Harayah said. “She’s wearing the covering wrap around her neck to hide the implant blocker.”

 

“What if she’s wearing it around her waist?” Swal asked.

 

“Males! They never see anything. All of the females are wearing their covering too tight on their bodies to hide anything. See how small her neck is and how far the wrap is away from it? That’s H390. Let’s go over to that intake dwelling and get a pan of fluid to stick our roots in.”

 

“You get the fluid. I’m just getting plain brown ground for my roots,” Swal answered.

 

All planet turn H390 stayed with the other Nretse till star down. She and two other females went into a dwelling and a few derons later a light came on in a corner viewport of the top row.

 

Swal took another reading. “H390 is on the top level where that light is. Do you want to go in, or me, at darkness?”

 

“I will,” Harayah answered.

 

Swal sat in the people mover and watched Harayah moving along the top of the dwelling. When she got to the corner she looked up and down the two mover lines. Before he could blink, she slipped over the side and through the open viewport. Four quick blue light flashes filled the room.

 

Swal steered the mover to the corner of the dwelling and watched Harayah climb down the outside of the dwelling with an Nretse over her shoulder.

 

“That went smoothly. In less than ten derons we should be off this planet,” Swal said as Harayah put H390 in the back of the mover.

 

Swal started to steer the people mover away from the dwellings when a blast of light hit the back. He stomped on the power lever and the mover shot forward.

 

Harayah looked out the back viewer. “Two sets of lights coming this way fast.”

 

Swal tried to press the power lever down harder. “We’ll be cutting it close. I’m going to drive the mover in. Make sure H390 keeps her hands inside.”

 

Harayah leaned over the seat to place limb-locks on H390. “Go for it. She’s not going anywhere.” She turned back, saw the riff location coming up and pushed the portal button.

 

Swal came to a sliding stop. Dust and rocks flew around. The riff opened up and spit out the portal.

 

Harayah jumped out, yelling for Swal to line it up as she opened the portal door.

 

Blasts of light were hitting around the portal as the Nretse fire came from the approaching movers.

 

Harayah pulled out her light immobilizer and fired a blast of yellow light at the lead mover. It swerved to the left and ran off the mover line.

 

Jumping inside the portal behind the people mover and closing the door, the portal lunged forward and started to vibrate.

 

“Where’s that vibration coming from?” Swal asked. “Is this another one of the tech test portals?”

 

“Let’s ride inside the mover just in case it is. I don’t feel like trying to pick a mover off you.” Harayah took a deep breath. “That getaway was a little too close for me, partner.”

 

“We had lots of time. By the way, nice shot back there. That driver is probably sicker than you were the time you intook those bad slimmers.”

 

When the portal door opened at tracker room, Harayah stepped out and handed H390 over to a tech. “Place her in a holding room, alone. Don’t let her talk to anyone.”

 

Swal got out and walked around to the back of the portal. “Harayah, you were right. They did hit the back of the portal with a light blast. That’s probably why it took so long to get here.”

 

“How long?” the little six-eyed tech asked, running his hand over the burn marks.

 

“It took around twelve tesers. Why?”

 

The tech looked up at Swal and smiled. “Thank you. That’s the answer we’ve been looking for.” He turned to one of his helpers and told him to get the portal down to testing.

 

Number One called Harayah and Swal into his room. “Has H390 said where the base is located?”

 

“No, Sir. All she wanted to do was battle when the blue light wore off. We placed her in a holding room for now,” Harayah said.

 

“We got Hardzer’s signal again this star break - about a teser ago. We have stopped all missions until Hardzer’s team returns. Those blips seem to be moving with them or trying to find them. If there is a base there, and we can bring in the entire lot of runners, it’ll make one underplanet of a payment to split. Good job. Go get some intake and rest. I’ll have interrogators see what they can get out of H390.”

 

Harayah and Swal entered the intake room. “Wow. This is the most trackers I’ve ever seen in one place.”

 

The trackers had pulled tables together. Wartron and Tealayon were at one end holding tentacles under the table. Beside them sat Mary and Frank. Sayron was sitting next to Elaray, turning green as he watched Elaray intaking musers. Cmanr and Laga were asking Magator a hundred questions, not giving him time to intake anything.

 

“Where are Ysor, Kelona and Rkin?” Swal asked as he and Harayah sat down.

 

Tealayon looked up. “Kelona and Rkin are after a runner in the Diedon system. They’ll be back in a planet turn or two. Ysor has Tracker Room watch. If that runner you brought in can confirm the base and its location, Zarta galaxy Tracker Room will help us out by using the riff up-planet from the one we’re using. We'll have them in our crosshairs.”

 

“Sounds like they have everything worked out. Are we getting payment to not chase runners?” Swal asked.

 

“Yes. They’re covering intake and fluids, but, if there is a base, it’ll be taken out of your share of the payment,” Mary told him.

 

“Nothing changes, does it? I could use the two or four planet turns off, anyway,” Swal answered.

 

“Check the watch board, Swal; I do believe you have Tracker Room watch in eight tesers,” Cmanr said from around Magator.

 

Swal groaned.

 

Harayah turned to the intake worker. “Bring me a plate of sliced zacker and my partner two plates of steamed green beetles.” Harayah started laughing. “Better make one of those to go. Oh and put one of those plates of beetles on my payment ticket.”

 


Chapter 20

 Base Three

 

 

Stareen bent over and slipped the small bottle into her foot covering. She yelled out the door, “Where are the offsprings?”

 

From outside she heard Waveart call back, “I have them out here with me. You need to hurry.”

 

Stareen kissed her two offsprings and looked at Waveart. “If something-”

 

Waveart held up her hand. “They have a dwelling right here from now on. Don’t worry about it. Just get back here safe. How will you know where the listening station is?”

 

“Hardzer handed me this before she left.” Stareen showed Waveart the location of the supper riff and the implant reporting station, then got into the rock hopper.

 

Dartor and Tedar waved as Stareen and the hopper disappeared down planet.

 

***

 

“Arear,” one of the techs yelled. “Tracker room in Zarta galaxy said they sent trackers and air bubbles five planet turns ago.”

 

“Number One, we just got readings from three portals coming our way. One portal has Kelona’s and Rkin’s implant readings, plus T4876’s. The other two are from the Zarta galaxy. They hold six trackers and two air bubbles,” another tech called out.

 

Rkin and Kelona stepped out of their portal and pushed T4876 to a waiting tech.

 

“Lock her in a holding room and watch out. T4876 is in a battling mood,” Kelona warned

 

“That is one mad Morea; her mate turned her over to us. He is still upset she ended his Alfa mate. If I take on a mate, there will only be one. T4876 was his seventh. That is too many mates for anyone to have at one time,” Rkin said.

 

“Number One,” Arear said. “We have Zarta Tracker Room’s air bubbles in the hanger. Their tracker portal will be here any ron now.”

 

All the trackers showed up, standing around in full gear.

 

Kelona looked around the room. “What is going on?”

 

Mary went up and hugged Kelona. “We think there is a base of runners on your dwelling planet. Hardzer and Anon went there to set up an implant reporting station. We were on standby in case they needed help and now they’re missing. You better get down to supplies for your light deflector and eye shields.”

 

Rkin stood there looking at Mary. “What about my hug?”

 

Frank and Sayron walked up behind Rkin and threw their arms around him and gave him a big hug.

 

“Did you need your nose rubbed, too?” Sayron reached up for Rkin’s nose.

 

Rkin pushed Sayron and Frank back. “No, thanks. The hug was good enough.”

 

Everyone in the room was laughing at Rkin’s red face when a riff opened up and a shiny new portal came to a stop.

 

The door opened and six trackers stepped out.

 

A tall female Shadaton walked up to Arear and started shaking his hand. “Number One, I’m Meka from the tracker room in the Zarta galaxy this is-”

 

Now it was Arear’s turn to glow red. “No, no. That is Number One. Over there.” Arear pointed to Number One.

 

“Sorry, Number One. I was told that you would be here to meet us and I just assumed you’d be the closest to the portal,” Meka said.

 

“That is okay. Arear has been after my job for star turns now.” Number One laughed.

 

“As I was saying, this is my partner, Zoeona. That is Hoffador and his partner, Qutine and Idenp and her partner, Haytore. Number One sent us ahead because of the five planet turn riff trip from our galaxy to yours.”

 

“Okay. Let me see if I get this right.” Number One said. “Your name is pronounced ‘Mee-kaa’, then we have ‘Zo-awn-ah’, ‘Hoff-a-dor’, ‘Quaw-tin-a’, ' ‘Iden-pee’ and ‘Hay-to-ree’?”

 

“Yes, only mine is Quaw-tin-ee,” Qutine corrected him, then she started going around shaking all the tracker’s hands.

 

“We don’t have a lot of time here, trackers. It is going to be five planet turns until we can even start looking for Hardzer and Anon. It’s a big planet. Meka, our techs are loading your air bubbles with extra fluids, limb-locks and power packs for your light immobilizers. Here is the last message we got from the planet.”

 

Kelona had just returned to the tech board room when Number One played the message. “That’s my elder’s voice,” she said.

 

Magator stepped up. “Kelona, if that is your elder, then the one ‘who was, then wasn’t, is again’ has to be Stareen. She was a runner and then wasn’t. She must have J899’s chip on her.”

 

Mary turned to Arear. “Reprogram J899’s signal back into the air eye and do a scan for her.”

 

Within derons, Arear called back. “We have her and she is headed down planet fast.”

 

“Okay, trackers, go to tech support and have those tracker log guides reprogrammed. All the new trackers can pick up one of our extras. Arear, you have thirty derons before I want the first portals out of here.”

 

“You’ll have them in ten or I’ll have some tech heads.”

 

“Mary, Wartron and Meka get your trackers upgraded first. I want you and your partners with me in the first portal out of here.” Number One turned to Arear “You’re in charge of the Tracker Room till I get back.”

 

***

 

Hardzer opened her eyes. “What hit me? I feel like a people mover ran over my head.” Sitting up, she winced in pain.

 

Anon put his hand out to steady her. “They were waiting for us in camp. An Nretse threw a rock and hit you in the back of the head before I could yell. You broke your arm when you fell across an outcropping of rocks. They had four blasters pointed at us when I turned around. It was either drop my light immobilizer on the ground or a Sinne was going to blast you. I fixed your arm the best I could. Sorry, partner, I never saw it coming.”

 

“Like I did,” Hardzer replied, trying to get up, but her legs gave out from under her and she slid back to the ground.

 

“Take it easy, partner. That rock cut the back of your head open.”

 

Hardzer grinned. “And I thought you gave me a headache. What is this around my neck?”

 

“Some kind of implant blocker. That was the first thing they did before they even tied us up. They tossed one of these things into the people mover. I heard a runner say something like, ‘that will keep anyone from finding it’.”

 

“So, how long have I been out, partner?” Hardzer asked.

 

Anon checked the cut on Hardzer’s head. “You have been out two planet turns now. That was quite a hit you took. Still, I do have one hard-headed, partner. The cut is looking better.”

 

***

 

Stareen watched the location of the super riff from the top of a rock overhang. Checking with the long looking glass she didn’t see any tracks around it. She pulled out the paper to recheck the location when a whisper of dust rose up from the ground and a small portal sat there when the dust cleared.

 

“Who sent that?” Stareen looked around. “By the all powerful, I’m starting to talk to myself. I can’t sit here and only worry about myself. Hardzer or Anon may not have the derons to spare.”

 

Stareen got back into the rocker hopper and lifted off, heading for the portal.

 

After landing, she climbed out and watched as the portal door opened. Inside was a container of power fluid. A note was with it.

 

She picked up the fluid and read the note. It began, “Who was, is again, I see.” The rest of the note she memorized.

 

Stareen filled the rock hopper with the fluid and then placed the container and note back inside the portal. The riff opened and closed so fast, very little dust was raised.

 

Putting her old implant blocker around her neck, she switched it on.

 

As Stareen steered the rock hopper closer to the implant reporting station, she started checking for lookouts along the canyon bottoms.

 

About eight kayrons from where Hardzer’s and Anon’s reporting station should be located, she spotted a lookout station.

 

She could see the runner on watch was resting in the shadows of the cliff.

 

By star down, Stareen had avoided all the lookouts and was parked next to the implant reporting station.

 

She turned her implant blocker off and on twice.

 

***

 

Arear touched the tech on the back of the shoulder. “Send this message on an open channel: ‘Runner J899 spotted using old implant blocker, planet E4039G23 Lainer galaxy’.” Arear looked at the back of the note. “Stareen, I hope you know what you’re doing.” He addressed a tech, “I’ll be in Star Chart Room B if you need me.”

 

After entering Room B, Arear closed the door and pulled out a tracker guide. He pushed the tracker button and spoke: “Bugs everywhere, but not sure all are bad yet.”

 

***

 

Number One put down his tracker guide. “Stareen is at the implant reporting station -” Before he could finish speaking, his tracker guide buzzed again on the secure channel.

 

Number One, Gegone galaxy Tracker Room here. We have two tracker teams at the upper planet riff with two air bubbles. We request a tracker team to assist us in sweeping the down planet side for stray runners.

 

“We have been in this portal for four planet turns now. What else will change?” Number One thought for a minute. “Meka, you have three teams. Take your air bubbles and grab every runner you can. Take them to the closest riff, but be ready if Mary or Wartron need you. I’m sending Ysor and Elaray to assist the Gegone tracker teams. Mary and Wartron, your first, objective, if we find the base, will be Hardzer, Anon and Stareen. Both of you take a team in with you. Get them out safely. Mary, you leave a team to guard the riff. Wartron, I want you to leave a team at tracker base with me. Anything I missed?”

 

Mary shook her head. “Not that I can think of, Number One. Kelona is the best shot I have. I’m going to let her and Rkin guard the riff.”

 

Wartron looked over at Tealayon. “Number One, I’m leaving Tealayon and Cmanr with you. After Laga set that table to flickering heat, I feel we’re going to loose him if he doesn’t start trusting himself. If all underplanet breaks loose back at base, I want Tealayon to be there. I trust your life and Stareen’s offsprings in her tentacles. She has her long, light blaster with the narrow beam. No one will even get close to the dwelling.”

 

“Okay. Pass on to your teams what they’ll be doing. Mary, you tell Ysor and Elaray. Then get some rest. We only have twenty-one tesers until we arrive.”

 

***

 

Stareen looked over the edge of the rock cliff and saw Hardzer and Anon’s people mover. In the controller’s seat she could see an implant blocker collar.

 

Hearing a noise from below, she looked straight down. In the shadows two Nretse were arguing over some intake ground.

 

She whispered to herself, “Well, this is the fifth planet turn. They should be here by now.”

 

Carefully she began a slow descent down the cliff face until she was over the heads of the two Nretse.

 

Pulling out her star blaster, she dropped right in front of them.

 

One of the Nretse screamed.

 

“Would you be quiet? Just give me all your payment and your blasters. Is the key in the people mover? If not, you can hand that to me, too,” Stareen told them.

 

The sound of a blaster powering up came from behind her.

 

“You can keep their payment for being caught off guard, but the people mover stays.”

 

Stareen turned around to see a Lappaul female pointing a blaster at her face. “If you put that down, I’ll give you half of the payment I just got off the Nretses.”

 

“Make it all the payment and the blasters,” the Lappaul said.

 

Stareen handed over the payment and all three blasters.

 

“Call for a people mover,” the Lappaul told the Nretses. “Oh yeah, and I’m keeping your payment.”

 

She turned to Stareen. “Turn your blocker collar off.” Pulling out an old tracker log guide, she took a scan of Stareen. “Wow, an old runner. Okay, turn your collar back on.”

 

“What do you mean ‘old’?” Stareen bristled, reaching up and flipping her collar power switch back on.

 

“Take it easy. We don’t see a lot of runners with just three numbers anymore. I’m Sandron. Here are your blasters back.” She handed the Nretses and Stareen their blasters.

 

A people mover pulled up and Sandron got in. “Come on. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying until we figure what job you’ll be doing.”

 

“Job?” Stareen didn’t move. “I’m after the two trackers that were in the mover. They ended my female elder and sent my male elder to a moon mine.”

 

Sandron put her hand on the star blaster and ordered Stareen to get in the mover. “I can help you find the two you’re looking for.”

 

“Helping me find them is one thing. Letting me end them is another,” Stareen snapped. She rubbed her neck as she got into the people mover. “I hate this collar.”

 

***

 

Later that planet turn Sandron and Stareen entered a narrow canyon that was, about seventy-five sikers wide and three or four hundred long. Each wall was over a hundred sikers high. There were dwellings along both walls, stacked two high. The top of the canyon was crisscrossed with wires.

 

“What’s the wire for? To keep runners from climbing out?” Stareen asked.

 

Sandron laughed. “No, that’s the implant blocker net. It works like the one around your neck. Only that one will block the four number implants also. Plus, it will signal the runners when to turn on their personal blockers. We need to get you a new blocker collar so you’ll know when to turn it on or off. It saves on the collar power packs.”

 

Stareen saw two large cables running from the wire net to a dwelling about halfway way down the canyon as she got out of the people mover. Turning to Sandron she said, “This is all very nice, but I need to find those two trackers.”

 

“We have them locked up.” Sandron told her.

 

“Can I see them to make sure they’re the right ones?”

 

Sandron yelled to a runner to come over. “Take her to see the two trackers, but don’t let her harm them. I still have use for them. Show her where the newcomers dwelling is, then the intake and fluid intake rooms.” Sandron turned to Stareen, “I’ll talk to you after he shown you around Base Three.” Then she walked away.

 

Stareen looked at the runner. “Who is she? The way she talks she’s running the place.”

 

“She was the seller’s right arm person till he was sent to that moon mine. She is the boss now. Okay, trackers first”

 

They walked over to a dwelling with very small view ports and a heavily bolted door. The runner opened it and Stareen stepped inside.

 

Hardzer lay on the ground watching Stareen.

 

Anon turned to face Stareen, but before he could speak Stareen hit him with a right cross and knocked him to the ground.

 

“If I have my way I’ll be taking care of you two before star break.” Stareen turned and walked out of the room. “Bolt it and make sure it’s done right,” she told the runner guide.  “Now, where is that fluid dwelling?”

 

Stareen was still holding her second fluid drink, watching her runner guide who had downed six. “Hey, I’m getting tired. Where is the newcomer’s dwelling?”

 

“It is the last dwelling on the left side of the canyon top,” the runner said, signaling for the fluid server to bring him another one.

 

“I can find it. Tell Sandron I’ll see her sometime next planet turn,” Stareen told him and left the dwelling.

 

She started moving up the canyon. 

 

Stareen’s guide watched her from a view port.

 

“You want this or not?” the server asked him, holding up the fluid drink.

 

The runner took one last look at Stareen then went back and sat down. “Sure,” he said, slapping his payment on the table. In front of the dwelling with the power cables, Stareen stopped and placed a foot on a box by the door and started messing with her foot covering.

 

There were no lights on in the dwelling.

 

She reached over, turned the door knob and the door slid open. Taking one last look down the canyon, she stood up and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

 

Small lights and sounds filled the room she had entered. In one corner were two glass tanks of fluid with leads running in and out. Across the room she saw a big switch with a notice that read, ‘Auto Power Transfer Switch’.

 

Stareen found a piece of metal pipe. She cracked the corner of the glass tank. Fluid ran down and across the ground, filling the room with a gas smell.

 

Taking a fluid container off the desk and filling it with the fluid leaking from the tank, she poured it over the control panel of lights.

 

Stareen walked quickly out the door and closed it.

 

Two runners were walking down the canyon toward her.

 

“What were you doing in the power room?” one of them asked. .

 

“Turning off the lights someone left on,” Stareen answered.

 

As the two runners looked at each other as if they could not believe what she had just said, Stareen hit both of them so hard that they were out before they even hit the ground.

 

Dragging them between two dwellings, she took their blasters and extra power packs.

 

She headed directly for the holding room. Slapping the door she said, “I hope you’re still in there. By star break you’ll wish you weren’t.”

 

Anon’s voice came from the other side of the door, “We wish. We won’t now.”

 

Stareen unbolted the door. Opening it slightly, she handed Anon the two blasters and power packs. “Take off your collars. Any deron now, all underplanet is going to break loose. I hope you two can still climb.”

 

“My arm is broken, but I can climb.” Hardzer said from behind Anon.

 

All the lights in the dwellings flickered as a ball of glowing heat filled the power dwelling. There was a huge roar as the view ports of the dwelling blew out, sending balls of flickering heat across the canyon.

 

Everything went black.

 

Anon and Stareen flanked Hardzer as they made the climb to the rim of the canyon.

 

“We’ll have to find a place to hold up until the trackers can get to us. It’s too far to where our movers are. They’ll cut us down in the open.” Stareen said. She pointed to a rock slide about eight hundred sikers away. “It looked like there was a cave at the top when I came in earlier

 

***

 

Sandron was standing outside the destroyed power dwelling when a runner yelled to her from across the people ribbon, “Boss, the trackers and that Dorfor you sent me to check on are missing.”

 

A runner, covered in black soot, came out of the power dwelling to report to Sandron. “Our power and back-up power is down for good. We don’t have enough collars for everyone and we can’t inform the outpost to turn on their blockers.”

 

“Well, get back in there and fix it.” Sandron pointed at the runner by the holding room. “You go get some people and find those Trackers!” She snarled.

 

“Boss, I remember seeing that Dorfor cleaning a dwelling rental. If I remember right, she has two offspring,” one of the runners said.

 

“Number Two, take some runners there and end everyone you can find. Then set it to flickering heat. What are you waiting for?” Sandron barked. “Go!”

 

***

 

“Number One, we have Hardzer’s, Anon’s and Stareen’s implant signals,” Cmanr yelled, looking up from her tracker.

 

Number One stood up and nodded to Cmanr. “Tell all the teams it’s a go.”

 

Cmanr pushed the button on her tracker guide and said three times: “Mop up! Mop up! Mop up!”





Chapter 21

 Mop up

 

 

Mary’s and Wartron’s air bubbles lifted and sped down planet at full power.

 

“At this speed it will still take us three tesers to get there. I hope the power packs hold up!” Frank yelled to Mary over the high-pitched hum of the air bubble’s engine he was steering.

 

A flurry of light blasts from one of the cliff faces filled the air.

 

Mary called Wartron. “Wartron, did you see where those blasts came from?”

 

“We’ll get a fix on it,” Wartron reported back.

 

“My tracker only shows one runner down there,” Swal told Wartron.

 

“There had to be six or eight with all the blasts. Meka’s bunch can clean that group out. Number One needs to know there is a group of runners this close to them.” Wartron nodded at Swal. “Call and tell them.”

 

***

 

“Sandron,” a runner yelled from the burned out power dwelling. “We have some power back and three outposts have reported air bubbles coming this way.”

 

Sandron pulled her blaster out of its holster and blew a hole in the dwelling wall next to the runner. “What outposts and how many air bubbles you moron?”

 

“The ones on both riffs and the Dorfor’s dwellings. Six air bubbles altogether,” he called back.

 

“Number Two, wait.” Sandron turned and grabbed his arm. “Forget about taking runners to the dwelling. Tell the riff outpost to take and hold the riffs; we’ll need them to make our escape. Send the Dorfor outpost to wipe out that dwelling rental. Tell them if there is one being left alive I’ll have every one of them ended.”

 

A runner hurried up to Sandron. “We have spotted the trackers and that runner on a rock slide up planet from here, boss. What do you want us to do?”

 

“Number Two, do you have those messages sent?”

 

“Yes, boss, they’re heading for the riffs now.”

 

“Good. Get my people mover and ten of your best runners. We have some trackers to end. Tell the rest of the base they’re on their own.”

 

***

 

Kelona came down from the top of a large rocky outcropping. “Rkin, I spotted dust rising out in No One’s Land. It looks like two people movers coming this way fast.”

 

Rkin put down his tracker. “They’re not trackers and we’re not in a good battling position here. I’m calling for backup.”

 

“We have about five derons. No one can get here in time. If they’re runners we have to stop them before they get to the riff. You ready, partner?” Kelona smiled.

 

Both Rkin and Kelona started running straight for the two people movers. They found a narrow gap between two large rocks. Rkin took cover behind one as Kelona got up on top of the other.

 

“Rkin, I can see them. They’re heavily armed. I’m getting a flickering of a runner’s implant. One of their blockers must be losing power. You take the left one; I’ll take the right one.”

 

Rkin stepped out and held up his hand.

 

Blasts of light from both people movers started hitting the rocks and ground all around him.

 

Kelona fired two blasts of white light that took out the tires on one side of a mover. It swerved, hit a rock and ended up on its side. The driver lay there, his foot pinned under the mover. The other two runners got up and ran toward a rocky outcropping.

 

Rkin dove out of the way as the other people mover tried to run him over.

 

The driver realized, at the last ron, that the gap between the rocks was too small for the mover to get through. The sound of tearing metal filled the air. One of the runners managed to get off a blast before he was thrown headfirst through the front viewer shield.

 

Rkin felt the blast of light tear open his side.

 

Kelona saw Rkin get hit. Climbing down to help him, she had just reached the bottom when Rkin fired a blast so close it nicked her in the butt. As Kelona let out a scream, she heard a thump to her left. Spinning around she saw a Sinne lying on the ground with a blaster still powered up. She turned back to Rkin, quickly pointed her light immobilizer, and fired a blue light just over his head.

 

Rkin looked over his shoulder and saw an Elan standing there with a blank look on her face.

 

After limb-locking the four runners that were still alive, Kelona pushed the portal button.

 

When the portal arrived there was a tech on board to take control of the runners. “Be right back with a healer to look at those light burns,” he told Rkin just before the portal door closed.

 

“Right back?” Kelona muttered using her field healer kit on Rkin’s side. “Ten planet turns is not ‘right back’.”

 

“Here, you better let me look at the spot where I hit you,” Rkin said, taking the healer kit.

 

Kelona grabbed the kit. “I can look at it myself. You just get up there and keep a lookout for more runners.”

 

Rkin headed to the top of the rock. “Kelona, one of the Zarta air bubbles is coming this way,” he called down.

 

***

 

Stareen helped Hardzer into the small cave. Looking back at Anon, she saw a dust column rising on the other side of the valley. “It seems they found us faster than I hoped.”

 

“From what you told us, it looks like we have two or three tesers before help can arrive,” Hardzer said, looking around. “Good overhang; our backs are covered. Only problem is, we have no place to run.”

 

***

 

Sandron stopped the people mover behind a rock. “You four climb up and get on top of the ridge. Make sure they don’t get away. Number Two take three men and start up the left side. I want them in a crossfire. You, Osiver take the long blaster, get on top of this rock and blast at anything that moves in the cave. You two come with me. There’s a thirty planet turn payment for the one that ends them.”

 

***

 

Stareen eased up to the cave opening trying to see where the runners were when a light blast hit the top of the cave entrance. “They have a long blaster down there by the people mover. Anon, see if you can get his attention for just a ron.”

 

Setting her blaster on narrow beam, Stareen stood up and flattened herself to the side of the cave wall.

 

Anon, from the other side of the cave, raised his blaster and fired down the rock slide.

 

A blast of light hit within a siker of his hand.

 

Stareen spun, took aim and fired one blast then dropped to the cave bottom. “I think I hit him.”

 

Hardzer poked her head up. “I’ll say you did. He’s lying on top of the rock still smoking from the hole you put in him.”

 

All underplanet broke loose. The cave lit up with blasts.

 

Stareen and Anon started returning blasts as the runners tried to work their way up the rock slide.

 

Stareen stumbled back and grabbed the side of her head before she dropped to the ground. She managed to move behind a rock for cover. Reaching up, she touched the area where her ear used to be. “Well, I guess I didn’t need that one.”

 

Anon was flung back, smoke pouring from his left shoulder.

 

Hardzer quickly took up her partner’s position and started returning blasts.

 

Anon moved his blaster to his right hand and crawled up next to Hardzer. “I always thought we would go out in a blaze of glory.”

 

***

 

Sandron looked around. Number Two and one runner were the only ones left on the rock slide. Just as she tried to signal Number Two, the sound of blasters erupted from the top. An air bubble swung out and turned back, blasts of light coming from both sides of it toward her runners up on the crest of the cliff. Sandron stepped out of sight behind a rock and headed back down.

 

***

 

Wartron’s air bubble popped out over the face of the cliff and dropped down behind the two runners on the rock slide. They threw down their blasters.

 

Harayah jumped out of the air bubble, grabbed the runners, and limb-locked them together. Seeing the blood on the side of Stareen’s head, she grabbed a field healer kit and ran to her. “Nice battle badge,” she told her. “Just a little bleeding. Couldn’t have asked for a better wound.”

 

Swal was putting a wrap on Anon’s shoulder when Hardzer walked up to them and ruffled Anon’s hair. “Good job, partner. I guess we’ll have to wait for another time to go down in flickering glory.”

 

“Swal, Number One wants us to put two trackers at the right planet riff to guard it. You and Magator just volunteered. Grab your things,” Mary yelled. “One of the Gegone air bubbles is coming in to take you there.”

 

Two light blasts hit just to the right of the cave.

 

Stareen looked down and saw the people mover headed out across the valley bottom. She fired three quick blasts before it disappeared into the glare of the star. “That was Sandron, their leader.”

 

“We have runners and wounded to deal with right now. We’ll get her later,” Wartron said.

 

***

 

Meka told Zoeona to send Wartron a message. “Tell him we cleaned out the runners at the cliff face he told us about. They had an auto blaster set up. Report to Number One we have an air bubble down with minor damage. We should be back in the air in a teser or two. Tell him this outpost had enough living quarters for twelve, but all we found were four.”

 

“Meka, we’re going to take the runners to the riff then head down planet. My tracker shows that there about ten runners trying to get away left planet of their base,” Hoffador said.

 

“I just heard the left planet riff is under attack,” Qutine shouted to Hoffador. “We have the runners loaded. Move it, partner.”

 

***

 

“I don’t like the sound of that, Number One. I’m going on top of the fluid tower to take a look around. Cmanr keep an ear stuck to that tracker,” Tealayon said as she left the intake room.

 

“What’s going on? Why is Tealayon climbing the tower?” Waveart asked a few derons later as she entered the room.

 

“Wartron thinks some runners are headed this way. Tealayon’s going up there to take a look around,” Number One replied. “I don’t think –” is all he managed to say before a blast of light tore a hole through the wall. A large chunk of stone hit him in the head, knocking him out.

 

“Get him out of here!” Cmanr yelled to Waveart, pulling out her light immobilizer to fire two quick blasts of blue light through the hole.

 

Waveart picked up Number One and started running for the back room.

 

Amaner was standing in the hallway clutching Dartor and Tedar. “They’re blasting at us!”

 

Waveart shouted to Amaner, “Get the offsprings to the back room!”

 

Amaner ran past Waveart and kicked the door to the back room open.

 

Cmanr reported over her tracker that they were under attack. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a runner racing past the viewport. Quickly changing to white light, she fired through the wall. When the dust cleared, she saw the runner lying ended on the ground.

 

The door flew open and two runners stepped into the room, blasters raised. When they saw her they started blasting away.

 

Cmanr was hit - once in the hip and once in her arm. She got off three blasts as she fell. One hit a runner in the neck; he was ended before he hit the ground. Cmanr’s last two blasts hit the other runner in the upper leg and knee, sending her down screaming. Lying on the ground, the runner tried to reach for her blaster. A beam of light took her hand off.

 

Cmanr looked out the door. Tealayon was looking down at her from the top of the fluid tower.

 

Tealayon turned, fired two more blasts then hurried down the tower.

 

Cmanr started crawling toward the back room. She heard Waveart scream, “look out!” and then four blasts. She tried to open the door, but it was blocked.

 

Tealayon came running down the hall where Cmanr was laying face down.

 

“Cmanr, are you hurt?” Tealayon rolled her over. “Where are the others?”

 

“They’re in there.” Cmanr motioned with her hand. “It’s blocked.”

 

“It’s Tealayon! I’m coming in!” she yelled, kicking the door off its hangers.

 

Planet officers rushed into the intake room with blasters pointing in every direction, yelling for everyone to get down.

 

“We’re Trackers. We need healers in here,” Tealayon shouted from the back room.

 

***

 

Wartron’s air bubble’s power pack was overheating as he topped the last outcropping. He landed next to the dwelling rental.

 

Stareen jumped out, yelling for Dartor and Tedar. They came out of the dwelling, ran up to her and threw their arms around her neck

 

The healers were bringing out a body draped with a cloth.

 

With tears in her eyes Stareen asked. “Is that Waveart?”

 

Tealayon moved up behind Stareen. “No. Waveart and Cmanr have been taken to the healer dwelling already. That’s Amaner. Waveart said she saved their lives. The runner blasted Waveart then turned her blaster on the offsprings. Amaner somehow got Number One’s light immobilizer, set it on white light, and blasted it out with the runner. Waveart said that Amaner’s last words were, ‘I guess I’m not too good at this kind of stuff.’ We found the runner outside the viewport with two holes in her chest.”

 

Laga helped Anon and Hardzer out of the air bubble. “Can we get a healer over here for these two?”

 

Tealayon looked over. “How are they?”

 

“They’ll live if I can keep them from going back out after runners. You would think the older you get the smarter you would be,” Laga said with a laugh.

 

Wartron went over to Tealayon, kissed her and asked, “Where’s Number One?”

 

“The healers are still working on him inside. He’ll have to be taken to the healer dwelling and stay for a couple of planet turns. You or Mary will have to take over here.”

 

“Tealayon, call Mary and report all that’s happened here. I’m going to check on Number One.” Wartron kissed Tealayon again and headed inside.

 

Tealayon stuck her head inside the dwelling a deron later. “Mary said that since you’re here and you need time for your air bubble to cool down, you’re Number One.”

 

***

 

Magator tapped the Gegone tracker on the shoulder. “Drop us three hundred and fifty sikers up planet from the riff. Don’t fly over, there might be runners guarding it. I’m not showing any implant readings on my tracker guide at the riff but there are six runners moving toward it, fast, from down planet.”

 

“Okay, if you want to walk it’s fine with us. If there are any runners at the riff they’ll be trying to get away - not stick around,” one of the Hterus said as the air bubble landed.

 

Swal and Magator powered up their light deflector shields as they got out.

 

The Gegone air bubble lifted off and headed straight for the riff. Before it had gone seventy-five sikers, a stream of light blasts came from the riff and the air bubble exploded into a huge ball of flickering gas.

 

Swal looked down planet and saw an auto blaster spinning toward them. He shoved Magator out of the way and leaped behind a rock. The ground where they had been standing was ripped up by a blast of light.

 

Magator immediately called for back up. “The right planet riff is controlled by runners. The Gegone air bubble exploded in midair. We’re pinned down by an auto blaster. We cannot search for survivors.”

 

Swal picked up a big rock and threw it to his left. As the auto blaster turned the rock into sand, he landed on top of Magator in two leaps. “Mind if I share your rock? It’s a bit bigger than mine was.”

 

“Not for long the way that auto blaster is blasting bit by bit away.”

 

***

 

The Tracker Room was listening to the trackers talking back and forth.

 

“Arear, no one can get to the right riff in time. Swal and Magator have less than twelve derons,” a tech said.

 

Arear pushed the intercom. “I need volunteers with blasters to report to Tracker Room now!”

 

Intake workers, board watchers and techs of all kinds showed up in less than two derons.

 

Arear barked orders. “Ten to a portal! Hurry! Load up! Remember to exit from both ends of the portal when you get there. The first ones out set your blasters on white and go for the auto blasters. Repus and Avui are the portal team leaders. May the Great Power be with you.”

 

The riff opened and swallowed the two portals.

 

Arear pointed to a holding room tech. “Find out if the portal bay has another modified portal ready. If they do, pick eight volunteers and a healer and take them to hold the left planet riff and help transport runners. The rest of you clear everything out at the far end of the portal bay for a holding area. I want a healer area set up for wounded runners. We have five derons before the first set of runners get here from the left riff. Move it, techs.”

 

***

 

Swal moved even closer to Magator. “Not much of this rock left. We have to do something or we’re ended for sure. You’re too slow to make it to the other rock, Magator, so wish me luck.”

 

Picking up a chunk of rock the auto blaster had knocked off, Swal threw it to the right then leaped for the rock he had originally hidden behind. This time the auto blaster was faster and sent Swal spinning in midair. Landing, Swal rolled behind the rock as a blast of light ripped up the ground next to him.

 

“Are you okay?” Magator called out.

 

“They blasted me in the tail. I can’t believe they hit me in my tail,” Swal growled, blasting his light immobilizer wildly at the auto blaster.

 

A ball of flickering heat filled the air down by the riff.

 

Magator tossed a rock out and nothing happened. He tossed another and still nothing. Looking around the rock toward the riff he saw the auto blaster still smoking. “If I knew you could blast like that, I would have blasted your tail five derons ago.”

 

The sound of blasting erupted around the riff.

 

“Who’s doing all that blasting?” Swal peeked around his rock. “Magator! Two portals showed up and all the runners are dropping their blasters. It’s techs from Tracker Room.”

 

“Come on, Swal. Let’s get down there. Do I need to carry you?” Magator snickered.

 

“They hit me in the tail - not the legs! And stop laughing. It hurts!” Swal started laughing, too.

 

***

 

Nine planet turns later, Number One sat up and looked around the healer room at the trackers gathered there. “Listen up, everyone. Mary will be Number One till the healers let me out of here. Meka, Zoeona, Hoffador and Qutine will be with us for about thirty planet turns or until the healers release enough of us to go back out after runners. Hold it down. Mary has something to say.”

 

“I have a break down of what took place in the last nine planet turns. One hundred forty-three runners were taken alive; thanks to the eighty-four Ysor and Elaray found waiting at Base Three to surrender to the first trackers that came in. Twenty-six runners were ended in battle. Eight runners were found ended.

 

“One of the eight found ended was I8512, better known as Sandron. When her implant blocker power ran down Planet Officers located her at the bottom of a ravine pinned under a people mover. They said there were signs she was alive for four or five planet turns until the star light ended her.

 

“Over five hundred fake portal buttons were taken out of Base Three, along with six hundred and twenty-seven implant blockers and two hundred blasters. Eighteen of those were auto blasters.

 

“We lost two Gegone trackers, a planet officer and Amaner. Amaner was given the honorary title of ‘Tracker’. A full share of the payment was given to her mate and three offspring. Her name was placed on our fallen comrade board, not only in our Tracker Room, but also at Tracker League.”

 

“I have something to say.” Kelona stepped forward. “Stareen sends her thanks to everyone for chipping in for her new ear. She took her one percent and bought Waveart’s half of the dwelling rental. It seems my elder is going to become the mate of the Dorfor that builds rock hoppers. They have offered Tracker League the next fifty built at rock bottom prices. The newer models will be as fast as our air bubbles. Lainer Galaxy will get two free.”

 

Mary took out a sheet of paper and began to read. “Frank was wounded in the right knee. Wartron, Tealayon, Kelona and Magator have light burns. Kelona, do you want to show us where you were hit?”

 

“No, thank you,” Kelona replied.

 

“Rkin and Cmanr were hit in the abdomen. Cmanr was also hit in the leg. Number One has a concussion. Hardzer ended up with a light concussion and a broken left arm. Anon took a blast in the left shoulder. Swal was hit in the -”

 

“That’s okay. You don’t have to tell the planets,” Swal snapped.

 

The room erupted in laughter.

 

“Hold it down. Wartron, you and Tealayon are still paired up. Sayron, you and Laga will team up till your partners are healed. Harayah, you team with Kelona. Ysor and Elaray are still partners. Of course, the tracker teams from Zarta Galaxy will stay the same.

 

“That’s it. Arear, please show the new trackers around. Everyone go get some intake and rest. We still have runners to catch.”


Chapter 22

 Tri Power

 

 

Meka nodded at Zoeona as a Sinne left the fluid dwelling. Pulling her light immobilizer out of its holster under her cloak, she started following K7721 up the mover line.

 

Zoeona put down his intake fluid, tossed the payment to the server, and started across the mover line to get in front of one of the biggest Sinne he’d ever seen.

 

“Hey, Sinne,” Meka yelled at K7721 “You owe me payment and I want it now.”

 

K7721 looked back to see who was yelling. He saw a pair of Shadaton’s legs sticking out from under a Sinne cloak. The tip of a light immobilizer was showing. Quickly he closed his eyes and turned to escape across the mover line when something hit him between his eyes.

 

Zoeona stepped back, his hand throbbing in pain. “What on planet is their head made of?” he asked, shaking his paw.

 

As K7721 opened his eyes to see what had hit him, Meka blasted him with a beam of yellow light. K7721 grabbed his middle and doubled over, sick and fell to the ground.

 

“Good thing you were there, partner. This Sinne cloak was too small to cover my shadow form.”

 

“We still got him. I hope you have an extra big set of limb-locks, partner. Mine won’t fit around his arms,” Zoeona said, looking at one of his claws. “Look at this! I broke a tip off! Do you know how long it’s going to take me to sharpen this?”

 

“Well, save it for when we get back to Tracker Room. Now go and get the people mover and let’s get him to the portal. I think Number One is going to send us back to Zarta galaxy after this. Most of the trackers are out of the healing tanks.”

 

“I’m not too sure, partner. Their Number One is still out and they’re short two tracker teams. Cmanr, Anon, and Rkin won’t be released for another fourteen planet turns. Where did you hear all this?”

 

“Haytore sent me a message while we were waiting for K7721 to come out of the fluid dwelling. She said she has good news for us when we get back.”

 

“Is that all she said?”

 

“I had to cut her off. K7721 came out and started up the mover line just then.”

 

“I’ll be right back with the people mover. Blast him again for me if he gives you any trouble. My paw still hurts.”

 

“You hit him remember,” Meka said as Zoeona was leaving.

 

Zoeona brought the people mover over and helped Meka load K7721 into the back.

 

“With the new portals at least it won’t be a two planet turn trip back to tracker room. Don’t Sinnes ever clean up?” Meka complained.

 

***

 

Haytore and Idenp were waiting when the portal door opened.

 

“Here, give K7721 to the tech.” Haytore pushed the holding room tech toward the limb-locked Sinne. “Number One wants us in her office now. We have a lead on X3950.”

 

Idenp stepped between Haytore and Meka. “Remember that Alappon, W8845, we went after a few planet turns before you left? Well, it seems he had his pinchers into a lot of things and blaster grade stones were one of them.”

 

“Blaster grade stones? What colors?” Meka asked.

 

“Reds and clears; top grade ones from what he said.”

 

Haytore motioned for the others to follow her. “Number One is waiting; she said right away.”

 

***

 

“Okay, now that you’re all here,” Arear said, “we can get started.”

 

He passed around views of the light blaster J739 used and of the light beam that had ended the seller. “It seems Zarta Tracker Room has been after X3950 for some time now.

 

“Thanks to W8845 trying to make a deal, we found out that he sold some weapon grade stones to this seller. The seller told W8845 a Shadaton blaster designer was going to buy all the stones for top payment. We ran all this through Tracker League and X3950’s number came up.

 

“We did an air eye scan on all planets within a riff’s planet turn of the ended seller’s planet. Our air eye located X3950 in a large dwelling group near the lower end of Sinne planet just before a blast of light was fired into the vapors and it stopped working. We were lucky enough to get a moving view and here's one view that clearly shows they're the same tri-light pattern.

 

“Your portal leaves first thing at star break. I’ll have your trackers guides and two of the new star blasters ready for you. By the way, Idenp and Meka, I have new cloaks for you. Your Shadaton forms should fit them. Good Luck.”

 

Number One shook her head. “Look. We know X3950 will end you if given a chance. I would normally send one of your teams and one of mine, but you four know this runner better than any of us. He can take out an air eye from the planet through vapors. We know he has some kind of tracking device. We’re sending you all to the healer to have your tracker locaters removed. Like Arear said, ‘Good luck’ and watch each other’s backs.”

 

After the four left Number One’s office, Meka started for the intake room. “We have a couple of tesers till we have to be in the healer room and I’m hungry. Let’s have our meeting while I intake something.”

 

“You know, X3950 builds blasters for your battling groups that would not only back- track a signal, but send a light blast to where the signal was coming from. I’ll be back in thirty derons. I’m going to see the tracker guide tech,” Haytore said.

 

Over a teser later Haytore sat down at the intake table.

 

“What took you so long, partner?” Idenp asked. “I thought I was going to have to send a tracker team after you.”

 

“This.” Haytore took a small box out of her covering and placed it on the table.

 

“Okay, Haytore,” Zoeona said picking it up and taking a closer look. “What is it and what does it do?”

 

“You know X3950 builds tracking blasters. They think he’s the one that shot down the air eye. Our trackers send out the same signals, right? This is a tracker scanner relay. The tech is installing a short range directional beam into two of our trackers.”

 

Zoeona brushed back the orange and black fur from his forehead. “You three females were given brains. I was given looks. So tell me again what this thing does.”

 

Idenp sighed. “You put this on the ground and get back so many sikers then you point your tracker at it and take a reading. If X3950 sends a light beam down your tracker’s signal, he hits the box and not you.”

 

“What if you’re in the wrong place when he blasts the box?” Meka asked.

 

All three looked at Haytore.

 

Smiling, Haytore pulled another controller out and pushed a button. The box Zoeona was holding slipped from his hand and floated to the top of the intake room. “It’ll be about forty sikers off the ground. Unless he is right under you, you should be safe.”

 

Meka stood up. “Okay, we better get to the Healer Room. We still have to check our equipment and get some rest. We have a long planet turn ahead.”

 

“Meka, take a look at this.” Idenp handed Meka a tracker. “Our Number One has put you in for a second half-moon.”

 

“Great! That’s all I need - a Shadaton partner so puffed up I won’t get any star light on my fur,” Zoeona said with a dramatic sigh.

 

Meka took a swing at Zoeona’s arm, but he managed to jump out of the way and took off running down the mover way. She was right behind him.

 

“I don’t think those two will ever grow up.”

 

“Them?” Haytore asked, smacking Idenp on the arm before running after the other two.

 

Frank and Number One watched as the four trackers from Zarta Galaxy ran away, trying to hit each other.

 

“So, Mary, how much longer do you think you’ll be Number One?”

 

“I don’t know. The healers said another seven planet turns. I’ll be glad when I’m just Mary again, partner.

 

***

 

As the portal opened a blast of frozen air hit them.

 

“I hate frozen fluid plants. There’s nowhere to get away from the star light.” Idenp turned on her Sinne cloak. “Wow, Meka, get a load of this cloak. It’s filtering out most of the star light.”

 

“If you would have downloaded your tracker guide first, you would have known Arear had the filter installed for us.”

 

Haytore had just set a box up, and was taking a reading, when it exploded into a shower of sparks.

 

“Did anyone see where that came from?” Zoeona asked, standing up and brushing the frozen fluid off his fur.

 

“From somewhere up planet judging by the way the flickering sparks flowed,” Haytore replied. “I was able to lock the reading in before it blew up. X3950 is over nineteen hundred kayrons down planet from here. Time to break out the rock hopper.”

 

“I’m not getting in to that thing till I know that light blaster’s not going to turn it into star dust. Did Arear send a remote control with it, too?”

 

Haytore pulled a controller box out of the rocker hopper seat. “That’s one of the reasons I took so long last star down. I was in the tracker hanger learning to control it.”

 

She powered the mover up and guided it out of the portal. With a little bumping of the hatchway, Haytore eased the rock hopper down.

 

“Now, Haytore, send it straight at the light blaster then toward the location X3950’s signal was last at,” Idenp said.

 

They watched the rock hopper disappear over the horizon then zoom past them going down planet just sikers off the frozen fluid.

 

“Okay, but you steer Haytore,” Zoeona said, getting in the back

 

By star down Haytore was shivering so hard she couldn’t keep the rocker hopper level.

 

“I’m going to have to stop for the darkness and set up camp before my thorns freeze. Look over there. That group of rocks or frozen fluid slabs will help block the moving air off our resting chambers.”

 

“Partner, I’m going up to the top of these rocks to have a look around.” Zoeona started up the rock face.

 

“Wait a ron, Zoeona. Here, take one of these boxes with you and see if that light blaster can still reach here. I need to send a message back to tracker room.”

 

After Zoeona reached the top he guided the transmitter up another forty sikers and sent a message to Meka. ‘How many of these boxes do we have?’

 

Meka found a spot between to large rocks and slipped in. ‘We have five. Why?

 

“I want to try another scan. Tell the other two.’

 

‘Okay, give me a deron.’

 

Zoeona watched Meka talking to the other two. Turning the tracker to scan, he pointed it at the hovering box and pushed the lock button and started scanning. In less than two rons the darkness was filled with tiny bits of flickering heat.

 

“Are you okay, partner?” Meka yelled up to Zoeona.

 

“Yes. I’ll talk to you when I get down.”

 

When Zoeona was on the ground he turned off his tracker. “Every time I do anything I reach for this tracker to take a scan. We’re going to have to take out that auto blaster. What happens if another tracker team shows up on this planet looking for a different runner?”

 

“You’re right. I’ll add that in my report to Tracker Room. We don’t know if it can blast something over five hundred kayrons away or if there’s more than one auto blaster out there.”

 

***

 

“That’s two,” a plump Sinne said as he stood in the middle of X3950’s work room. “You were right about them always using their trackers to find runners, Toradot.”

 

“Send out some of your Sinne officers to see if they can find if there’s anything left of them. And get out of my work room. Can’t you see I’m trying to get the last of these stones polished?”

 

Eggra left, closing the dwelling door behind him.

 

“First thing at star break you two get an air bubble and head to the riff and clean up anything you find,” he ordered two officers waiting for him outside.

 

“What are we looking for, boss?”

 

“Anything you find! Anything! Is that clear enough?”

 

The two Sinnes hunkered down.

 

“Sure, boss. First thing star break.’

 

***

 

The following star break Zoeona found both Shadatons and the Osiver resting chambers as close to his chamber as they could get.

 

“I guess it got cold last darkness, did it?” Zoeona said, laughing as he pushed them back so he could get up.

 

“While you’re up, break out and warm some intake for us, partner.” Meka pulled her resting chamber back over her head.

 

After some intake and a hot cup of fluid, Meka stored all their gear back in the rock hopper.

 

“We should be outside the dwellings by star down,” Haytore said, guiding the rock hopper out from between the rocks.

 

“Next time, partner, get an air bubble. We could have been there last star down,” Idenp said from the back.

 

“I can just hear it now,” Haytore said. “What do you think Lainer Galaxy would have said if we’d turned one of their air bubbles into flickering heat? It was hard enough for me to learn how to control this thing in a teser. Wait till you find out what those relay boxes are going to cost each of us in payments.”

 

Haytore powered up the rock hopper and headed down planet.

 

***

 

A teser before star high a light started flashing on the hopper’s panel.

 

“What’s that, partner?” Idenp asked.

 

“I think it’s an air bubble heading this way from the dwellings. As fast as its going, I’d say we might want to find some cover in case they’re not friendly.”

 

Zoeona reached over and poked Meka’s arm. “If we can read their signal why isn’t that auto blaster blasting us?”

 

“They’re different wave lengths.” Haytore answered. “Still, if we can see them they can see us. Meka, I’m going to steer this thing left planet and see what happens.”

 

“Okay, Haytore. Idenp, Zoeona get out those star blasters Arear sent and get a few test blasts in before we have to use them. See those rocks over there? Try to hit the far left one.”

 

They both missed with their first try.

 

Meka pulled out her light immobilizer and took a chip off the next rock pile.

 

“Idenp, this star blaster is heavier then our light immobilizers. Try holding it with both hands,” Zoeona said.

 

Meka pointed out another rock. Both trackers fired and all they saw was a small pile of rubble as they passed over it.

 

“Now that’s what I call a blaster.” Idenp grinned.

 

“The air bubble has turned and is trying to head us off. Look for some cover.” Haytore lowered the rock hopper closer to the ground.

 

“See if you can get this thing to set down in the middle of that pile of rocks.” Meka pointed off to the right.

 

She looked into the back of the hopper and Idenp and Zoeona were gone. “Where in the underplanet did they go?”

 

“Air cloaks, partner.” Zoeona’s voice came from the back. “Whoever it is, they don’t have to know there are four of us.”

 

As the air bubble came in close Meka saw a dwelling group officer’s emblem on the side and two Sinnes inside.

 

The air bubble swung around and landed. Both officers got out.

 

One pulled out a strange type of blaster that resembled the one in the view Arear had showed them back at Tracker Room.

 

“Get out and stand over here,” he said. “I don’t want to get any blue fluid on that mover.”

 

“What are you going to do?” the other asked as Haytore and Meka climbed out of the rock hopper.

 

“The boss said clean up anything we find. We’re going to clean everything up.” The Sinne lifted his blaster and pointed it at Haytore. A flash of light filled the air. The Sinne blinked and looked down at his blaster falling to the ground with his hand still on the handle. He looked at the end of his arm where his hand used to be and screamed in pain.

 

The other Sinne pulled out his blaster and got a blast off in the direction of the mover.

 

A second flash of light filled the air and blew a hole the size of Zoeona’s paw through the officer’s chest. He crumpled to the ground.

 

“Idenp’s hit!” Zoeona yelled.

 

Haytore spun around. “How bad?”

 

“I’ll live, but that ends me chasing after runners for a few planet turns.”

 

Zoeona had already gotten out the field healers kit and was putting a covering over the light burn.

 

“We’ll take their air bubble, partner, and get you and this Sinne back to tracker room. He needs treatment, too.” Haytore watch as Zoeona finished covering the wound.

 

Before they left, Zoeona blasted the tops of the rocks with his light immobilizer until the frozen fluid covered both the rock hopper and the ended Sinne.

 

“Next time, X3950, I’ll come back to this planet in force. Not only will I get you, I’ll sweep this planet of auto blasters, too.” Haytore forced the air bubble to go full power all the way back to the riff.

 

***

 

“I have good news, everyone,” Arear said as he walked into Star Chart Room B. “Idenp will be fine. She had a blaster burn through her right arm. Thirty planet turns in the healing tank and you’ll never know she was hit.

 

“Now, for X3950. The Sinne you brought back was willing to talk if we replaced his hand. It seems a Sinne named Eggra is planning on overthrowing the planet’s ruling body. We have the Sinne Planet Officer Corps sending thirty officers to help take the dwelling group. They asked us to take out the auto blasters. Our techs are working on scanner relay boxes now. Everyone get some rest. Tomorrow I want all the trackers at the blasting range. You’ll have to get used to the star blasters you’ll be taking.”

 

“I told you I’d be going back,” Haytore said to Meka and Zoeona then turned and went toward the tech repair room.

 

“Meka, where’s she going?”

 

“I don’t know, partner, I don’t know.”



Chapter 23

 Rebellion

 

 

The moving target rocked back and forth.

 

“That’s six clean misses, Meka.” Zoeona stepped up with a new power pack in his star blaster. “You only have this planet turn to familiarize yourself with it.”

 

Meka handed her star blaster back to the tech. “How do you expect me to aim these blasted things as heavy as they are? You only get six blasts per power pack anyway! What did Idenp do different?”

 

“She used the back of my seat to steady it,” Haytore said nicking her moving target with her fourth blast.

 

A blast of light zipped past Zoeona and tore the middle out of his target out.

 

“Now this is what I call a blaster.” Meka looked over one of the tri blasters they had taken off the two Sinnes. “They still don’t know what kind of power pack it uses. They blasted this one all darkness and they say it’s still fully charged.”

 

“Well, if that’s the case, Meka, take it with you when you go after X3950. Tracker League gave the go ahead. They said something about the cost of power packs for the star blasters you three were testing.” Number One handed her a holster.

 

“Really?” Meka turned and in two blasts cut the top off of Zoeona’s moving target.

 

A tech set the other two tri blasters and new holsters on the table.

 

Haytore took one of the tri blasters and blasted two tiny holes in her moving target. “I wondered what this lever setting was for. That was the lowest setting.”

 

Zoeona set his tri blaster on eight and pointed it at the last moving shield. In a blink of an eye the shield was a shower of flickering heat. “Now I know what the one guarding the riff is set on.”

 

“What’s that sound?” Haytore asked, walking over and taking Zoeona’s blaster away from him.

 

She pointed it at a piece of shield on the ground and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Within a few rons the sound stopped.

 

Haytore tried to blast the broken shield again. This time it ripped a large hole in the ground and the sound started again.

 

“Quick, Number One, turn out the overhead brightness!” Haytore yelled.

 

When the room was dark the sound stopped.

 

Haytore lit a heat stick and there was a slight hum.

 

“Okay, Number One, turn the brightness back on.”

 

The sound grew louder.

 

Haytore smiled. “They’re star powered or star charged.”

 

Number One looked at the targets down range. “It looks like you three don’t need any more blasting practice. Remember that those are on loan. They’ll come out of your payment if anything happens to them.”

 

***

 

Seven planet turns later, Number One sent for Meka, Harayah, Sayron and Haytore’s teams.

 

After they were all in Star Chart Room B Arear closed the door.

 

“Haytore, you know Frank,” Arear said, gesturing toward Frank who was sitting at the end of the table.

 

“Yes. We worked some together during the mop up operation.”

 

“Good. He’ll be your partner during this one. You’re the team leader.

 

“It’s not like you all don’t know what we’re up against. Harayah, you’re the squad leader. Yours and Sayron’s job will be to take out the auto tri blasters Eggra has set up around his dwelling group. We’re not sure how many there are or what they’ll be tracking. You’ll have remote control implant locaters and communicators. All tracker implants will be removed before this star down. The Sinne Planet Officers have used air bubbles on that part of the planet so ours should be safe.

 

“Meka, your team will go in with the planet officers. I know you want X3950, but it’s more important to get those tri blasters. Oh, Number One has something to say to you.”

 

“This came in late last darkness. I asked Zoeona to help me with them.” Number One pulled out a set of double half-moon pins.

 

Meka’s shadow started shivering.

 

“Now don’t starting leaking fluid. You’ll get my paws wet and you know Dartaders don’t like fluid on their fur, partner,” Zoeona said as he pinned on Meka’s new twin moons.

 

He handed Meka’s old single half-moon pins to Number One.

 

“Zoeona, what do you think I’m going to do with these?” Number One handed the pins back to Meka. “If I read that message from your Number One right, Meka should be pinning those on you right about now.”

 

Zoeona let out a deafening roar as he looked at his single half moon pins.

 

“Okay, everyone, your portals leave two tesers after star break. We’re still trackers and there are still runners out there. Good hunting.”

 

***

 

Harayah pointed to the edge of a group of tall hard plants. “Set up your recorder over there Kelona. I’ll set up about two hundred sikers left planet. Laga remember to get the relay boxes as high as you can before signaling.”

 

Laga put down a communication relay box, marked off twenty sikers and placed an implant relay box on the ground. Moving back, he pushed the button and watched the two boxes rise. “H this is L… the zacker is moving… no smell bugs in sight.”

 

“L this is H… locate the smell bugs.”

 

Laga switched over to implant locater and pressed the button. Within rons a shower of sparks filled the air.

 

“K good….”

 

“H good… sending back readings.”

 

Sayron swung the air bubble right planet then made a wide circle back to the tall hard plants up planet of the portal.

 

Two blasts of lights came from the air bubble. The top of a tall hard plant burst into flickering heat.

 

“Smell bug is on glowing heat… ready for the next one.”

 

Laga watched as the second locater relay rose up. “Looking for smell bug in one deron…. stay clear.”

 

This time Laga got a clear signal on X3950’s implant and no shower of sparks. “All smell bugs clear.”

 

Kelona came over to help Laga get the other air bubble out of the portal. “That’s one blaster down, Laga; we only have eighteen more to go.”

 

“You would think that Sinne would have told us where each of the auto blasters were. All he said was, ‘We set them up about every half teser.’ I would have known where I put a bunch of auto tri blasters, especially if I had to go out every now and then and check on them.”

 

“Yes, Laga, but that’s why you’re a tracker and they’re not.” Kelona got out a chart of the planet.

 

Sayron landed the air bubble. He came over to where the other three were looking over the chart. “You were right, Harayah. That tri blaster was in the top of the tall hard plant. X3950 is trying to cover as much planet as he can.”

 

“If there’s three around the dwelling group that leaves fifteen out here somewhere. Kelona found fourteen high points on the planet charts between us and the dwellings. If we maintain a hundred and twenty kayrons a teser in the air bubble that makes them about a half teser apart.”

 

“Good job Kelona.” Sayron patted her on the arm.

 

“It wasn’t me. Laga pointed it out to me. I was looking for a way to get down planet without being seen.”

 

“Wow, partner. You and Magator can move numbers through your heads faster than I can shake hands.” Sayron held out all four hands to shake.

 

“No one’s that fast,” Harayah said, laughing as she went over to close the portal and send it back.

 

***

 

Meka went up to the planet officer in charge. “The trackers have taken out three tri blasters. It’s time for you to get everyone to the down planet riff. We’ll stay at least one hundred kayrons behind our disposal team.”

 

“Alright, Sinnes, load up and save your battling for the dwelling group. Remember, if you see marks in the frozen fluid don’t blast at them. There’s four trackers out there somewhere with air cloaks on.”

 

Frank was leaning up against one of the portals. “Haytore, I would trade every one of them for four more trackers. There are three Sinne officers in hand-to-hand battle in the back of the portal right now over who sits where.”

 

“I know Frank. When I saw this bunch I had a bad thorn feeling.”

 

“Good thing we have our own air bubble. Can you see it; we’re up fifteen hundred sikers and the steerer and someone in the back gets into a fist battle.”

 

Meka came over and plopped down in an air bubble. “At the rate these Sinnes are loading and unloading Harayah’s team will be waiting for us at the dwelling group.”

 

“You have to say one thing for them - they love to battle.” Zoeona smiled as the other three gave him a “you don't say” look. He snickered. “I think I'll go check the other air bubble's cloak.”

 

***

 

“Toradot, what’s going on?” Eggra yelled entering X3950’s work room.

 

“How would I know?” Toradot asked, looking up from a tri blaster he was putting the finishing touches on. “It would help if you’d tell me something first. I’ve been working non stop for two planet turns trying to get your blasters finished. How am I supposed to know what’s been going on out there?”

 

“Six of our auto blasters have blasted at something. You said they’ll only blast at a tracker implant locater signal. Do you think we’ve ended six trackers?”

 

“I think the two officers that didn’t come back were probably taken by trackers and they’ve come up with some kind of new light deflector shields.”

 

A Sinne rushed into the room. “Boss, that’s seven now.”

 

Eggra grabbed the Sinne by the arm. “Get everyone in here that doesn’t have a new blaster and give them one. Now is as good a time as any to start our planet battle.”

 

X3950 strapped a blaster onto his side. “Eggra, I made eighty of the hundred you asked for. Give me sixty percent of the payment and I’ll call it even. This isn’t my battle.”

 

Eggra pulled out a sack and counted out sixty percent of Toradot’s payment.

 

Toradot put the payment inside of his covering. “I owe you twenty blasters. If you’re still around I’ll send them to you for fifty percent of what you still owe me. Now, if you’ll pardon me, I have an air bubble to catch.”

 

“We need all the air bubbles for the battle. If you want to leave you’ll have to take a people mover.” Eggra looked down and saw Toradot’s blaster pointed at his middle.

 

All the Sinne officers backed up when they saw what Toradot was doing.

 

X3950 got in an air bubble and kept his blaster pointed at Eggra. As the air bubble lifted he called down, “Nice doing business with you.” He spun the air bubble around and was gone before they could pull their blasters.

 

“Quick! To the remote control blasters! I want that Shadaton turned into dust!” Eggra yelled.

 

Before Eggra could get back to his office Toradot’s air bubble was out of sight.

 

***

 

The implant relay sparks fell down around Laga. “It’s a good thing I have plates on the top of my head, too.” Laga watched as Sayron blasted the top of a rock ridge then sent up another implant locater box and took a reading. “Everyone, X3950’s reading is only a few kayrons down planet. Watch out, Sayron, he’s coming your way fast and low.” Laga pulled out his light immobilizer and fell to one knee.

 

Sayron had just rons to swing his air bubble around when a blast of light tore through the viewscreen.

 

X3950 never even slowed down. He got a blast off at Harayah’s air bubble, missing it by kers.

 

A blast from Laga’s immobilizer ripped a hole across the right side of X3950’s air bubble. A vapour trickled out, leaving a thin gray ribbon as X3950’s air bubble disappeared over the horizon.

 

“Sayron, are you okay?” Harayah yelled over the tracker. She could see his air bubble on the ground.

 

I’m fine. Just a few cuts when he blew a hole through the side and front view screens.”

 

“You want me to take out the auto blaster or are you going to be able to?” Harayah was already lifting off, headed down plant.

 

“I’ve got it. Laga did you check for a second auto blaster?”

 

“Bugs clear,” Laga reported to the others. “That leaves the three around the dwelling group. I’ve sent a message to Frank that X3950 is headed his way.”

 

Kelona, when Sayron picks you up make sure the air bubble’s cloak is working. I’m picking up Laga now.” Harayah landed beside Laga.

 

“The air cloak is working well… he almost landed on me.” Kelona said.

 

“We’re leaving for the dwelling group.  See you there.” Harayah powered up and headed down planet.

 

***

 

Frank hurried over to Meka. “X3950 is headed this way in a damaged air bubble. Laga said vapor was coming from it.”

 

Haytore pulled out her tracker and took a reading for X3950’s implant. “He’s trying to swing around us through the ridges. We could play zacker and muser or go straight to the place he’s heading.”

 

“Frank,” said Meka, “see if Harayah can destroy the auto blasters around the dwelling group in less than a teser. I want to send in the Sinnes and go back to the riff.”

 

“She said they’ve found two of the blasters already and they’re looking for the third one. Sayron just reported finding it and is setting the last gas ball now.”

 

Meka told the Sinne Officer in Charge that the dwelling group was all theirs.

 

“I have bad news,” Zoeona told Meka. “Sayron reported that the air was full of tri blaster lights after the gas ball blew. All the blasters X3950 made must have been passed out already.”

 

“Tell them to get out of there. The Sinne planet officers are on their way and don’t fly over or even close to them,” Meka ordered. “We’ll meet them at the riff. Now, let’s see if we can get to the riff before X3950.”

 

Haytore had already set her air bubble down next to Frank. “Need a lift, partner?”

 

***

 

Six and a half tesers later Zoeona took another implant reading. “He’s still down and left planet of us, but not by much. His air bubble is faster than ours. At this speed we should all get to the riff about the same deron.”

 

“Tell Haytore to come up even with us, but to stay about two hundred sikers off to the right. Tell her to have Frank steer so she can use that tri blaster.”

 

Within a kayron of the riff Toradot saw two tracker air bubbles off to his right. Quickly, he swung in behind one of them and got off three quick blasts.

 

Meka felt the air bubble shake then drop toward the frozen ground. “Zoeona, brace yourself. We’re going down.”

 

“Keep it as steady as you can. I’m not going down without a fight.” Zoeona hung out the doorway and returned several blasts.

 

Stinging pain filled Toradot’s shadowed form as the viewscreen of his air bubble shattered. He aimed his light blaster, but before he could get another blast off beams of light flew past him from the back and right.

 

“Closer, Frank! Closer!” Haytore yelled as she leaned out of the air bubble, trying to get off a second set of blasts.

 

X3950 pulled back on the controller and went straight up as Haytore’s blast ripped a long gash along the bottom of his air bubble.

 

Before the Sinnes could change course they passed right under X3950.

 

Toradot quickly changed his blaster to the highest power level and blasted a hole so big through the Sinne’s air bubble that it exploded like a gas ball.

 

X3950 pushed his portal control button and dove straight for the riff which was now a swirling mist of frozen vapors.

 

Frank headed for the riff, giving his air bubble all the power he could.

 

Haytore sent so many light blasts at X3950’s air bubble that a vapor of hot gas covered the portal. As the vapor cleared the portal and X3950 were gone.

 

“Quick, Frank! Let’s go back and check on Meka and Zoeona.”

 

Frank landed and heard a loud crack. The air bubble leaned over on its side.

 

“Did you get him?” Meka asked.

 

“No. He got away. I’ve reported to Number One that he’s in the riff somewhere.”

 

Zoeona was looking under Frank’s air bubble. “He hit one of your landing legs. If you give me a hand we can take one from our air bubble. The power pack in ours has a hole in it and our stabilizer is back there on a rock Meka slid across when she was landing it.”

 

***

 

“Okay, quiet,” Number One said. “The bad news is that from all the Shadaton fluids and parts we found at the riff, and in the air bubble and portal we found several galaxies away, we believe X3950 is still alive.

 

We lost two air bubbles, a rock hopper, twenty hovering implant relay stations, and some assorted personal gear and only thirty-eight tri blasters found their way to Tracker League.”

 

“What do you mean a rock hopper?” Zoeona asked.

 

“It seemed the frozen fluid someone blasted off the tops of the rocks caused a large chunk of rock to fall onto the rock hopper.

 

“The good news is that other than Idenp no one was hurt badly enough to spend more then one darkness in the healer room. The Sinne Controlling Body will replace both the air bubbles we lost in the battle and cover the payment for the eight trackers that helped them. Eggra is on a rock mining moon somewhere in the Sinne star system. That’s it unless anyone has anything else.” Number One looked around the room. “Meka, I want to see you in my room.” She got up and left the room.

 

Number One closed the door behind Meka and went over and sat down behind her desk. “I told you the tri blasters were more important than X3950, but you called Harayah and Sayron teams out of the battle when you found out the tri blasters had already been passed out. If you have ever seen two Sinne groups do battle you’d know they don’t care who they blast. The reason you were given the two moons was because you could both follow orders and make them. In my report back to Tracker League I’m backing your decision. You probably saved all four of my tracker’s lives. Good job. Now get out of here.”



Chapter 24

 Away From Home

 

 

Elaray finished off a container of steamed muser Arear had sent and looked over at Ysor. “I don’t see how you can intake zacker like that.”

 

“What’s wrong with freshly ended zacker slowly heated over flickering heat out under the stars?” Ysor said turning his intake a little more, trying not to burn it.

 

“The intake room sent plenty for you in your supplies. You have no idea what zackers intake on this planet. It could be smell bugs or slimmers for all you know.”

 

Ysor pinched a small piece of meat off one of the zackers middle legs, held it up to his nose and then tasted it. “Well, it doesn’t smell like a smell bug and slimmers are good to intake. Wartron and Tealayon intake them all the time.”

 

“I don’t want you to get sick on me, partner. The way these crystal rocks bounce our tracker signals around, I’m not sure I could find my way back to the riff with you and P2291. I’d have to leave one of you behind.”

 

“You’re saying you’d leave me out here all alone, and sick, just to make sure you get the payment for P2291?”

 

“Stop it. You know who I’d pick.”

 

Ysor looked up and smiled. “And who would that be?”

 

Elaray throw his empty muser container at Ysor’s head.

 

Ysor ducked and the container hit a crystal rock behind him. The rock started humming and then another and another. Ysor grabbed the rock and held on as Elaray quickly grabbed the next closest humming rock; soon everything was quiet again.

 

“If that happens from just being hit what will happen if one of us blasted it with our light immobilizers?” Elaray asked, straightening out his feathers.

 

“I’m not sure I want to know.” Ysor reached over to turn the zacker.

 

A flash of light shot from his fingertips, striking the zacker and blew it into several pieces.

 

Ysor and Elaray sat staring at the flickering pieces of zacker on the ground.

 

“That takes care of that. Elaray, toss me one of those containers of intake would you?”

 

“Not until you touch the ground, I won’t.” Elaray watched as Ysor slid off the crystal rock and sat on the ground.

 

“Partner, why do you think they send us over into the Gegone galaxy system after a Maydona? You’d think they would send one of their own trackers after her.” Ysor opened the container and poked some intake into his mouth.

 

“I heard Number One talking to Arear about how they were shorthanded. They did lose two trackers from that auto blaster during operation mop-up.”

 

Ysor swallowed his intake. “I know, but Swal and Magator told them not to go straight into the riff like that. Speaking of riffs, I heard that our techs have to go to the other tracker rooms and update their portals for them. Why can’t they just send the plans?”

 

“I don’t know why our techs have to go do the installation. As for why the two Hterus trackers flew straight into that auto blaster after being told not to, I can only say we Hterus can be hardheaded sometimes.”

 

“Sometimes?!” Ysor started laughing so hard he almost choked on his next bite of intake.

 

“It’s not funny. Look, let’s take one more reading. I want to get some rest this darkness.”

 

Ysor put down his intake. “Do you want me to go out there or do you want to?”

 

“I’ll do it. You grab a few more bites. Besides, I want to try a light blaster on one of the crystal rocks and there’s no reason for both of us to get blasted if something goes wrong.”

 

Ysor watched Elaray walk out about a hundred sikers.

 

When Elaray waved Ysor took an implant reading for P2291. She was still fifty Kayrons left planet .

 

As Ysor waited, Elaray removed his light immobilizer, did something to it then crouched behind a rock. He blasted a small crystal.

 

The light beam hit the crystal and split into two rays of light which then hit other crystals. The light beams split again and again.

 

After they faded away Elaray got up and came back over to Ysor.

 

“Did you see that? One of the light beams came back and hit me.” Elaray showed Ysor one of his feathers. It had a small burn spot on it. “The more it splits, the weaker it gets. My tracker said P2291 was a little up planet and left.”

 

“Mine showed she was a little down planet and to the left. Are we going to split the differences, partner? We could miss her by a Kayron or two.”

 

“It’s the best we have and put out that flickering heat. From over there it looked like a large dwelling group.”

 

***

 

P2291 watched the red lights from a blaster weaving in and out of the crystals. “Whoever you are, you haven’t been on a crystal planet before.”

 

“Who are you talking to, Moondon?” a young Maydona asked from below.

 

“I don’t know who they are. Remember that humming? They hit one of the crystals with something, and they just blasted a red light into one of them. I can tell you one thing - whoever it is, they’re not from this galaxy.”

 

“Fadora, are you in trouble again?

 

“Yes. I’m sorry I brought you along with me.”

 

“Who do you think it is?”

 

“Trackers. I think we have a couple of trackers following us.”

 

“Can we sneak past them and back to the riff?”

 

P2291 smiled at her mdora. “No. They know right where I am. I’d have to outrun them, end them or let them catch me.”

 

“Why are they after you?”

 

“I took all the payment from the payment room where I worked. I was caught and given five star turns in a moon mine, but I got away when the mover we were in was hit by another mover and all the planet officers were unconscious.”

 

“So what are we going to do?”

 

“First, I’m going to get some rest. Then I’ll head down planet at star break. If they change direction toward us I’ll try and lead them away so you can get back to the riff and go back to our dwelling group. You just wait there till I show up. Hartaya, if I get you back safely, I promise to never get in trouble again.”

 

“I’ve heard that before, Moondon, but this time you’d better mean it. See you at star break.”

 

When Hartaya woke up he found a note from Moondon: ‘Hide till next star break. If I’m not back by then I want you to go straight back to our dwelling planet. I left everything you’ll need in my pack.’

 

Hartaya found a rock overhang and slid in between two rocks into a small cave.

 

It wasn’t long before a people mover appeared, stopped and two males got out.

 

***

 

Ysor bent down and looked closely at the tracks on the ground. “What do you think, partner? These are Maydona tracks. I thought P2291 was by herself, but it looks like a young Maydona is with her.”

 

“I don’t think so,” Elaray said following the tracks to a spot between two large crystals. “She went up planet during the darkness. I think she knows we’re after her.”

 

“You’re right. The young one is headed down planet. At what age do Maydonas reach full size?”

 

Elaray thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Twenty star turns, I guess. Why?”

 

Ysor shook his head. “This one can’t be more then twelve star turns then. If she’s trying to throw us off she’ll be back for her offspring.”

 

Elaray came back over and looked at the tracks leading down planet. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking, partner?”

 

“I’m thinking it’s an eleven planet turn trip back to the riff and farther than that to the next dwelling group on foot. I don’t know about you, but I’m not leaving a young one out here alone and for that long.”

 

Elaray pulled out his light immobilizer and made sure it was set to blue. “Okay, let’s go get the offspring. He’s only a few derons ahead of us.”

 

Around one of the rock crystals Ysor spotted the overhang and what looked like a cave under it. “Look. The tracks lead right for that hole under the overhang.”

 

The trackers snuck up on both sides of the cave and Elaray stepped over to look inside.

 

A big rock flew out of the cave and just missed Elaray as he jumped back.

 

“Rocks! It threw a rock at me.”

 

Ysor tried to get a look when another rock flew out and just missed him.

 

Ysor laughed. “I’m not going to get ended by a rock.” He held up three fingers. When the third finger dropped he and Elaray filled the cave with blue light. “Do you have your yellow and green eye shields on?”

 

“Yes. Why?”

 

“I’m going to yellow. You do green just in case blue doesn’t work on Maydonas.”

 

Elaray counted to three and then they both rushed into the cave.

 

Inside stood a young Maydona, eyes fixed on the cave entrance holding rocks in both hands.

 

Tesers later Hartaya realized he was limb-locked to the outside of a people mover. All of his and Moondon’s things were in the back.

 

“Let me go!” he yelled. “I haven’t done anything.”

 

Elaray looked up from his container of steamed musers. “Other than traveling with a known runner. That alone can get you a star turn in a moon mine. You did try to hurt two trackers with some mighty big rocks. What do you say, partner? Another star turn for each rock?”

 

Ysor never looked up. He had his back to Hartaya and was grinning. “I think they changed that to two star turns a rock, partner.”

 

“We went through your things and set some intake and fluid out for you. They’re on the back seat of the people mover. It looks like your elder left you plenty before she left,” Elaray said.

 

“She’s not my Elder. She’s my fadora.”

 

“Hey, offspring, how many star turns are you?” Ysor asked.

 

“I’m ten star turns, but I can still beat you in a battle.”

 

Elaray started laughing. “It looks like you need to go back to tracker school, Ysor.”

 

“What? I only missed it by two star turns.” Ysor moved over to the people mover and made sure Hartaya’s limb-locks would allow him to sit in the people mover out of the star brightness.

 

The young Maydona curled his lower lip.

 

“Offspring, if you bite me, you’ll sit out in the brightness without a drop of fluid or intake.”

 

Hartaya ducked his head and just stood there.

 

When Ysor was finished he tossed the keys up by the steering controls so Hartaya couldn’t reach them. “Now get some intake down. We’re going sit here until your fadora comes back for you.”

 

***

 

Just before star break Elaray rolled over next to Ysor and threw his arm over him.

 

Ysor pulled out his light immobilizer and felt for the setting.

 

Elaray tapped on Ysor’s arm before running his finger up and tapping again. Making a grumbling noise, Elaray rolled back over and pulled his resting chamber up over his head.

 

Ysor peeked over at the people mover and saw a tall, female Maydona looking their way. She turned and started trying to unlock the limb-locks on the offspring.

 

P2291 heard the jingling of keys and someone behind her said, “These keys work better on those limb-locks.”

 

She spun around with a blaster in her hand, but the resting chambers were empty. The two trackers had moved and were crouching down behind some rocks.

 

“Your mdora is behind you. If you have to blast it out with us move away from him so he won’t get hurt,” Elaray yelled. “If not, put that blaster on the ground and I believe you’ll find another set of limb-locks under the back set. You’ll be kind enough to lock yourself to the back of the mover.”

 

P2291 set the blaster down and found the limb-locks and did as she was told.

 

Ysor went over and picked up the blaster. “Elaray, this thing doesn’t have a power pack in it.” He got out another set of limb-locks, checked the limb-locks on P2291’s arms and put some on her legs.

 

Elaray climbed back inside his resting chamber. “That’s good to know. See you at star break.” He was snoring before Ysor could even get back to his resting chamber.

 

“Okay, partner. See you at star break.”

 

***

 

“Well, you two,” Number One said looking at Ysor and Elaray across her desk. “You took that offspring all the way back to his dwelling planet and, if I read this report right, right up to his dwelling before you brought P2291 back to tracker holding room. Next you went and told her Elder you’d see about getting P2291 a job in the moon mines office. It’s a good thing she stopped to bandage the two officers after the wreck or they’d have been ended. So let me see. Five star turns for stealing the payment, five for running after the wreck and seven off for saving the officers. Plus an office job because of two trackers. If I ever become a runner, remind me to have you two bring me in. Now get out of here and take a couple of planet turns off.”



Chapter 25

 They’re All Back

 

 

A knock rang out on Number One’s door.

 

“Come in,” Mary said from behind her desk.

 

The door swung open and a tall Morea walked in. He looked around the room checking everything out.

 

“Number One,” Mary said as she stood up. “How are you feeling?”

 

Ytono laughed “You know there is only one Number One in a tracker room. I have been reading all your reports and I’m not to sure Tracker League will want me back.”

 

“Well we do, Ytono. How soon do you think you’ll take over?”

 

Ytono handed Number One a set of papers. “If these papers are in order, as soon as you turn Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room over to me.”

 

Mary quickly looked over the papers and signed on the lines marked with an “x”. “Number One, Sir, as my last act as Number One I give you Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room.”

 

“It’s not that easy, Number One,” Ytono said. “You have to do it in front of over half of the trackers assigned to your Tracker Room.”

 

Ytono walked over and opened the door. There stood all the trackers except for Idenp.

 

Mary looked surprised. “What’s going on here? Don’t some of you have runners you’re supposed to be chasing?”

 

“Mary, my first act as Number One is to tell you to take off my star cluster pins. My second is to see if you’ll pin them back on me where they belong.”

 

As Mary was pinning Number One’s star clusters pin on him, he whispered, “Reach into the left side of my covering and get out that pin box. Then get Wartron up here.”

 

Wartron stepped up beside Mary.

 

Number One turned to look over at Tealayon. “Tealayon, would you mind coming here and helping me pin a set of single stars on your mate, please.”

 

Mary tried to hand the pin box to Tealayon.

 

“I think those are for Frank. Number One gave me these before we got here.” Tealayon winked at Mary as she held up another pin box in her tentacle.

 

“Frank, could you please come over here.” Number One grinned.

 

Frank came and stood in front of Mary.

 

Mary opened the pin box to reveal another set of star pins. She just stood there staring at them.

 

“If you let me have them, I’ll pin them on you,” Frank said, smiling. “You seem to be the only one here with out some kind rank on your covering.”

 

Mary was leaking fluid from her eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

 

Wartron smiled and whacked Mary on the arm. “You might try, ‘What took them so long?’.”

 

“Okay, everyone,” Number One announced as he pulled a paper from his covering, “we have one more rank to give out and this will be the first in Tracker League History.

 

“Arear, front and center. I have something to read to you and everyone here.

 

“To all that hear this, let it be known that on this Galaxy turn, 4398, Tech Arear Tononadie is given the rank and payment of Tracker Grade Single Half-moon.”

 

Number One reached in and pulled a box from his upper covering. “These were my first half-moon pins, Arear. I’d consider it a great honor if you would wear them.”

 

It was all Arear could do to keep his legs from buckling as Number One pinned them on. “It’s a great honor for me to wear them. Thank you, Number One.”

 

Number One shook Arear’s hand. “Is there anything you want to say?”

 

“Yes, Sir.” Arear turned around and lifted up the papers he was holding. “Meka, Zoeona, Haytore and Idenp get packed up. You’re being reassigned back to Zarta Galaxy Tracker Room. Your portal leaves at star down this planet turn. A healer will go with you to watch after Idenp.

 

“Hoffador and Qutine, your runner was spotted on a Grlaner planet. We’ll have your trackers and supplies ready in a teser. Lainer and Zarta tracker rooms said you can stay here till you get this runner or return with the rest of Zarta trackers. It’s up to you. “The rest of you, unless you’re after a runner now, will be reassigned to your regular partners.”

 

“So,” Sayron said, picking Arear up and standing him on a chair. “Now that we’re the same rank you’re going to have to start introducing us to some of these females you’re always running around with.”

 

Magator shook Arear’s hand. “I think you’re going to have to put out some payment at the fluid dwelling, seeing how rich you are now.”

 

Arear put his hands on his hips. “I’ll have you know that I’ve always put out most of the payment for you two. Now things are going to be different.”

 

Kelona tapped Sayron on one of his wings. “Which female is it that you’re trying to meet?”

 

Magator smiled, picked Arear up and headed out the door. “You’re on your own, partner.”

 

***

 

Hoffador took a tracker reading. “Yep, Z8538 is here and not far away - sixteen kayrons up planet.”

 

“Sixteen or sixteen hundred, what difference is it going to make in all this plant life? I’m not sure the people mover is going to be able to push through it,” Qutine said, trying to get the mover out of the portal and over some plants.

 

Hoffador started putting their gear in the back. “Look at all the tall hard plants overhead. I don’t think an air bubble would have worked either.”

 

By star down Qutine and Hoffador had only gone nine and a half kayrons.

 

Qutine climbed from the mover and got down to check underneath.

 

He stood up and shook his head again. “Vines again. This time they’ve wrapped themselves around the rear wheels.”

 

“It’s almost star down. Let’s see if we can move it over there where it’s drier,” Hoffador said.

 

It was dark before they got the last of the vines cut away.

 

Qutine threw his resting chamber down in front of the mover next to Hoffador and climbed in.

 

In the darkness the tall hard plants started glowing in shades of reds, blues, yellows, purples, and the vines glowed from a frozen fluid white to shine silver.

 

 

“Look at that, partner,” Hoffador said, pointing up at the tops of a tall hard plant. “See the light it seems like they’re dancing with the air flow.”

 

Qutine watched the lights swirl, flicker and change colours. Off in the distance he could hear Hoffador calling his name.

 

Qutine jerked awake and sat up. It was past star break. He didn’t remember closing his eyes much less falling into such a deep rest.

 

Again he heard Hoffador calling his name.

 

“Qutine, come here and look at this.”

 

Qutine got up and followed the sound of Qutine’s voice. He busted through the plants with his light immobilizer in hand. “What, is it?!”

 

He stopped beside Hoffador who was looking at a tunnel someone had cut through the plants.

 

“How big is this Alappon we’re after?” Hoffador asked, starting to move up the tunnel-like people ribbon.

 

“I’d say about the size of this tunnel.” Qutine held up a piece of vine. “These have been crushed, not cut. I think Z8538 is making himself one underplanet of a people ribbon.”

 

Hoffador held up a large limb that had been cut off of a tall hard plant. “Look at the size of this limb. I can’t even get my claws around it and he just crushed it. If he comes at me with one of those claws, partner, I’m just going to blast him.”

 

Qutine held both arms out and looked at the sides of the tunnel. “We can follow him in the people mover down this ribbon. It’ll be tight, but quicker than trying to push through the plants.”

 

Hoffador put down his tracker. “He’s still about ten kayrons ahead of us. I think we can have him by star high. I checked the log guide and there are no dwelling groups for kayrons around.”

 

“I’ll go get the mover and see how well it will fit in this tunnel,” Qutine said, pushing his way back through the plants and disappearing.

 

Derons later Hoffador heard the people mover crashing through the plants.

 

He moved back down the tunnel not sure where Qutine would come out. He saw a few plants shake and fall over as the people mover eased onto the ribbon facing him.

 

“I think you need to turn it around and go the other way,” Hoffador said, laughing.

 

Qutine backed the people mover up off the ribbon and then back on again and again until he got the machine turned around.

 

“If I knew it was going to take you so long I’d have got my resting chamber out and set up camp for the darkness,” Hoffador joked as he climbed into the mover.

 

Qutine switched off his controls. “Your turn to steer. Oh, and clean off any vines you might get tangled up in. I’m going to get a little more rest.” He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

 

“Hey, partner,” Hoffador said, poking Qutine after only moving a few hundred sikers. “See if you can find something to check how deep this fluid is.”

 

Qutine opened his eyes to see a large body of fluid. “This isn’t a skimmer. We’ll have to go around.”

 

Hoffador got out and stood up on the front of the mover so he could have a better looked across the fluid to where Z8538 had cut another tunnel into the plants on the other side. “I don’t think so. Come and take a look. There’s something a few kers under the fluid. Cut off one of those plants and hand it to me.”

 

Hoffador stuck the plant into the fluid. The end of it started shaking.

 

He pulled the plant out of the fluid as a husser with long teeth tried to tear a piece of the plant off.

 

“How in the underplanet did Z8538 cross without being intaken alive?” Hoffador wondered.

 

“So what did you want the plant for?” Qutine asked.

 

“I can see something just under the surface. It looks like a moving line.”

 

Qutine turned and started back down the tunnel checking the plants that were cut away.

 

“Hoffador, some of these cuts are old and some are new. It doesn’t look like X8538 made this people ribbon all by himself.”

 

He went back over to Hoffador who was poking the plant limb into the fluid again and again. Each time the hussers tried to rip pieces off.

 

“Qutine, cut three or four long plants. I’ll sit on the front of the mover and make sure the fluid isn’t deep and that there’s a hard bottom. I think someone built a mover lane just under the surface.”

 

They started across the fluid which churned beneath the people mover as hundreds of hussers swam underneath.

 

When they were on dry ground, Hoffador got down and looked under the mover.

 

“Partner, there’s not a single plant stuck to the bottom of the mover. I don’t see anything wrong with the people mover either. I think those Hussers only intake plants.”

 

“Well, we’d better hurry,” Qutine said, picking his tracker up and taking a quick reading. “X8538 has gained half a kayron on us.”

 

At darkness Hoffador stopped the people mover.

 

He watched Qutine take another implant reading. “How far ahead of us is he now?”

 

“He’s less than six thousand sikers straight up the people ribbon from us, partner and it looks like he’s stopped for the darkness. I say wait till the star is up so we’ll have a better chance of seeing where he gets off the people ribbon when he hears us coming.

 

“I’ve been thinking about it and I think I know a way to have X8358 come to us. Here.” Qutine tossed an intake container to Hoffador. “Let’s get some intake and I’ll tell you later.”

 

***

 

X8358 heard a people mover coming up behind them and quickly slipped off the people ribbon into the cover the thick plants.

 

He watched as a mover went by. The two Alappons in it were talking about the lack of fluid fall the planet had the last few star turns.

 

“I should have blasted them and took their people mover,” a voice behind X8358 said.

 

“No you shouldn’t. With these rock crystals we’re carrying, I don’t want to bring any more attention to us then we need to. Toradot would end both of us.”

 

“Only if he’s not ended already. I don’t see how he could still be alive with all the holes that tracker put in him,” the voice said.

 

“I’ll tell him how concerned you are when we see him, but right now, let’s just get these to him and get our payment.”

 

The Hterus eased out onto the people ribbon with a tri-blaster in her hand.

 

Quickly she checked up and down the people ribbon. Not seeing anyone, she holstered her blaster. “The next people mover that comes along we either take it or you carry me the rest of the way.” She drew her blaster so fast that X385 didn’t even see it until it was pointing between his elongated eyes. “Do you understand me?”

 

“Yes, yes! Now put that thing away and take it off eight. Why do you always have to blast such a big hole through everything?”

 

“Because I can,” Neewit said.

 

A teser later X8358 and Neewit heard someone talking farther up the people ribbon.

 

“Just do as you’re told,” Neewit told X8358 as she started easing up closer to whoever was talking.

 

“It’s not my fault; you were controlling the people mover,” she heard an Alappon say. “Look, the new tire is on now and we’re late. Could you please hurry?”

 

Neewit pulled her tri blaster out, stepped forward and pointed it at the Alappon who was putting a tire back into the people mover. “I won’t worry about being late,” she said. “I’d just worry about staying alive. Where’s the other one?”

 

“She’s out there doing something. All she said was that she’d be right back.” Qutine nodded to the left of the people ribbon.

 

Neewit looked left, but the sound of plants moving off to the right made her swing right and blast a hole the size of her head through the plants.

 

Before Qutine could get his light immobilizer out, the Hterus’ blaster was pointed at his chest.

 

A loud hum and click was all he heard.

 

His finger went to the selector and a blast of white light from his immobilizer struck the Hterus between her eyes. A second blast went in her right ear at the same ron.

 

X8358 dropped to the ground. He put both claws up in the air. “You win! You win! Don’t blast me!”

 

“Partner, are you okay?” Qutine yelled.

 

“Fine, but that was way too close for me. I think she blasted some scales off the side of my face. What did you say to get her so mad?” Hoffador said stepping onto the people ribbon holding the side of his face.

 

“I don’t know but keep a watch on him while I take a look at your face.”

 

“I’ll be okay. Lets get him limb-locked and loaded them up first.”

 

***

 

Hoffador was standing by one of the portals, leaning up against the wall telling a female tech how he got blasted pulling his unconscious partner out of the thick of battle.

 

“There we were in the middle with five Alappon’s blasting away at us and my light immobilizer was out of power. All I could do was rush in there, pick him up and run for the people mover. You can ask Qutine over there, but, after that female Hterus sucker punched him, I don’t think he’ll ever remember what really happened that planet turn.”

 

Qutine shook his head and put the last of his gear in the portal. “Partner she’s one of the recorder keepers. She’s probably already read our report.”

 

The female tech started giggling. “I have things to do but it was a good story.” She turned and left.

 

Arear came over to them. “We sent X8358 on to Zarta Galaxy Tracker Room with two guards from our holding room. The rock crystals you found on him were the same grade X3950 was using in his tri blasters. All we got out of X8358 was, ‘I’ll live longer if I don’t say anything.’

 

“The Hterus’s tri blaster you recovered was an older model. We’re thinking it might be one of the first few X3950 made. The Hterus was wanted for questioning on several endings. They have no proof, but everyone seems to think she did them.

 

“Thanks for all your help. We hope to return the favor some planet turn.”

 

Qutine smiled. “With these faster portals your techs came up with, I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around.”

 

Hoffador and Qutine stepped into the portal.

 

Arear watched as the hatchway closed and the portal disappeared into the riff.



Chapter 26

 Forming a Plan

 

 

Mary, Frank and Rkin sat in the darkness in a third floor dwelling rental room watching a party across the mover lane in another dwelling. Lights came through their open viewport and danced around the room.

 

“You think he can see us?” Rkin asked, shifting around so a set of people mover’s brightness wouldn’t hit him as it passed by on the mover lane below.

 

“I think he’s too busy with the females to worry about someone watching him,” Frank said, putting down his tracker guide. “Why are we even after this guy? The deron we put a set of limb-locks on him the Galaxy Chemical Task Force will take him away from us.”

 

“This chair is ending my back.” Mary straightened up in her seat. “Rkin, hand me that head rest, please. Number One told us to bring him in so we bring him in. Besides, we’re getting double the payment.”

 

As star break slowly brightened the room Rkin woke up and saw that Mary and Frank were still watching the party. “Is it dropping fluid?”

 

“Yes, it just started,” Frank said, getting up and switching on his Osiver cloak before going over to the viewport to close it before fluid blew inside.

 

“Frank, leave the viewport and coverings open about a ker. Rkin, it’s your watch.” Mary handed Rkin the long looking glass and went over to lie down on the resting table.

 

Frank looked over at Mary. “I think she was out before her eyes closed.”

 

He checked to make sure the door was locked before lying down on the resting table. “Wake me around star high.”

 

The air ruffled the coverings around the slightly open viewport.

 

Rkin sat and watched A0221’s dwelling viewport for any sign of him. His eyes were almost closed when he heard a people mover pull up outside.

 

Turning on his cloak, he eased up to the viewport and looked down at the longest people mover he’d ever seen.

 

A0221 and three females were getting in.

 

Rkin went over and tapped Mary and Frank on their feet. “He’s leaving and three of the females are going with him.”

 

Mary sat up. “Does he have any holding bags with him?’

 

“No. I didn’t see any kind of holding bags. The long people mover had a sign that said, ‘Rental by The Planet Turn’.”

 

“How much longer before you wake me up for my watch?” Frank asked.

 

“About another two tesers. Why?”

 

“Make it three now that you woke me up early.” Frank rolled over and Mary lay back down.

 

***

 

The next darkness the party started up again.

 

The trackers sat and watched people coming and going.

 

“Okay, someone think of something. How are we going to get him out of the dwelling and to the portal without his people trying to end us?” Mary huffed.

 

“Well, we can’t burst into his dwelling and blue light him. There’s too many of them.” Frank rubbed behind his ear.

 

“It’s a shame we don’t know when he’s going to rent the next long people mover. We could grab him when he’s shopping.”

 

“Rkin, that’s it!” Frank set up.

 

“What’s ‘it’? Go into a sellers dwelling and poke a light immobilizer in his back and say come with us? We’d never make it to the portal.” Rkin shook his head.

 

“No. He’ll come along on his own free will.” Frank was laughing.

 

Mary looked at Frank like he had lost his mind. “He’s just going to let us stick him in the portal?”

 

“No, but he’ll let us open the door of a long people mover for him. We’ll smile and he’ll get right in.”

 

Mary started readjusting her cloak.

 

“What are you doing?” Rkin asked.

 

“I’m going to see if there’s a place to keep people movers in the back of his dwelling. That’ll tell us if he rents long ones a lot or not. Change to an air cloak if you want to go with me.”

 

Mary went over and stood in front of the view reflector. “Nope, can’t see a thing. Hurry up if you’re going. Frank, you want to go too?”

 

“No. I’ll just sit here like a good male and watch his viewport.”

 

Mary crouched behind Frank and looked across the mover lane into A0221’s dwelling. Just then two scantily covered females strolled past his viewport.

 

“You just better be careful about what you’re watching,” Mary said as she popped Frank on the back of his head lightly with her open hand.

 

“What? Did I miss something?” Frank snickered.

 

Rkin started to bend down to look out the viewport, but Mary grabbed his arm. “You’re too young. Besides, it’s time to go.”

 

“I never have any fun,” Rkin said, checking his cloak one more time in the view reflector. He followed Mary out the door.

 

Frank was watching A0221 through the long looking glass when he saw a tall Jaka come up beside A0221, say something then nod toward the viewport.

 

He quickly turned on the planet viewer and opened the viewport coverings a few more kers.

 

***

 

“Boss, the guy from the dwelling rental said three Osivers rented the room on the third level right across from here and he hasn’t seem them for two planet turns.”

 

A0221 looked over at the darkened viewport across the mover lane and saw lights flickering around the coverings. He nodded to the Jaka to take a look. “If they were spying on me do you think they’d be watching the planet viewer with their coverings open? Still, keep an eye on them and let me know if anything unusual happens.”

 

The Jaka went over to a couple of Osivers, said something and nodded toward the viewport again. The Osivers nodded their heads and left the room.

 

A few derons later the two Osivers snuck up to the door of the tracker’s room and one knelt down to slide something under it.

 

“I don’t care if the planet viewer is on, there’s no one in there. Here, take a look for yourself,” he whispered holding a small viewer up so the other Osiver could see.

 

“Good. Just put the hearing device in there and let’s get back to the party. It’s my darkness off.”

 

Frank, in his air cloak, stood quietly behind the two Osivers with his light immobilizer set on green.

 

One of the Osivers took out a key, unlocked the door and went inside. In less than a deron he was back out and locked the door.

 

The two Osivers went down the mover way and Frank followed them down to the dwelling rental desk.

 

One gave the Osiver behind the desk some payment and the key.

 

Frank went back up to his room and placed a payment bill over the door handle. Before he could even step back, the payment bill disappeared under an air cloak.

 

Checking the mover way Frank switched to his Osiver cloak.

 

Mary and Rkin did the same.

 

Frank motioned them to follow him to the other end of the mover way.

 

“What’s going on, partner?” Mary asked.

 

“They put a listening device in the room. I think the desk clerk turned us in. Two Osivers slipped him some payment for our key.”

 

“We saw that, but I was too far away to hear what they were saying.”

 

“I heard it,” Rkin said. “The Osivers told him we weren’t in and the clerk said we had to be because we checked in and never left.”

 

“It looks like we’ll have to go outside in our air cloaks and come in as Osivers now that the desk clerk knows we’re not in our dwelling rental. We need to check out at star break, go back to tracker room and work on the long people mover plan now that they’re watching us.”

 

“Okay by me, partner. What about you, Rkin?” Mary asked, switching back to her air cloak.

 

“Sounds good to me, too. I could use a plate of fresh sliced zacker.”

 

As they came back into the dwelling rental, Mary went up to the desk and told the clerk, “We’re leaving at star high. Have our bill ready.”

 

“Yes, ma’am. First thing. Have a good rest.” He smiled as he watched them head for the people treads. He muttered under his breath, “I don’t trust them. Good riddance.”

 

***

 

“Boss, those three Osivers paid their bill and riffed off the planet at star high.”

 

“Good. Give that clerk a little extra payment and call the long people mover bunch. I have to be in a meeting in two tesers.”

 

“Okay, boss, right away.”

 

***

 

Rkin was starting on his second plate of sliced zackers when Mary and Frank sat down at the intake table with him.

 

“I just talked to Number One and he won’t put out the payment for a long people mover,” Mary said as she tried to get the intake server’s attention.

 

“Why?” Rkin murmured with a mouthful of zacker.

 

“We don’t know. He just said to keep it low key and don’t go through Tracker League for anything. Arear did find out from A0221’s call records that he sends for a long people mover every planet turn around three tesers after star break. Now all we have to do is get our hands on one,” Frank said, looking over the intake list.

 

“We could probably make one before that intake server waits on us,” Mary snapped.

 

Rkin swallowed his intake. “What about Kelona’s elder? Her mate builds rock hoppers and works on people movers. He might know where we can find one.”

 

“That’s right,” Frank said. “Kelona’s on her dwelling planet helping Stareen fix the dwelling rental after our battle there. I’ll message her and ask if Waveart’s mate can help us.”

 

A server stopped to find out why Mary was waving.

 

“I’ll message Kelona, Frank, and you make this server understand I want my red sauce on a separate plate and not on top of my Rambe roots.”

 

Frank ordered for Mary and himself in his Jaka langrage.

 

Rkin washed down the last of his zackers and put his fluid intake container down as Mary turned off her tracker. “What did Kelona say? Can Waveart’s mate help us out?”

 

“She was resting. She’ll check with her elder after star break which will be in about two tesers and message us back.”

 

“Two tesers? That’s good. Cmanr and Laga are at the fluid intake dwelling. I’m going to go talk to them.”

 

“Okay.” Mary watched her intake being placed on the table in front of her. “If nothing happens, Frank and I will stop in when we’re finished here. If that’s okay with you, partner?

 

Frank watched the arga beetle he ordered try to crawl off his plate. “Sure, partner, that would be fine.”

 

He picked up his plate and handed it back to the server. “Take this back and put it over the flickering heat until it’s at least ended and put some more sauce on it.”

 

***

 

Mary sat down in Star Chart Room B between Rkin and Frank.

 

They were holding the sides of their heads and their eyes looked glassy.

 

“You two didn’t try and out fluid intake Cmanr again? What did it cost you this go around?”

 

“I bought all the rounds so it only cost me a planet turn’s payment. Frank went double or nothing. I looked around for Frank, but someone told me he was under the table. The last thing I can remember is Cmanr picking up all the payment and buying Laga and herself another round.”

 

“Great. Here I have two partners and neither one can stand up.”

 

“We’ll be okay.” Frank tried to sit up straight. “What do you have?”

 

“Kelona messaged me back. Her elder’s mate has two long people movers. She said the insides looks great, but they’ll need paint and body work.”

 

“How much payment does he want for us to use one for a couple of planet turns?” Rkin never took his head off the table top. He just looked at Mary with big sad Morea offsprings eyes.”

 

Arear opened the door and entered the chart room. He tossed a bundle of payment notes on the table. “If you need more let me know.” He left and closed the door.

 

“What was that all about?” Rkin sat up and looked at the stack of payment.

 

Frank pulled out a slip of paper and read it aloud: “ ‘I’ll tell you everything after you bring the runner in. Don’t talk about this outside this group.’ It’s not signed.”

 

“First, Frank, you and Rkin go get packed up. We’re going to take some planet turns off and try catching some hussers out of the fluid hole at Trackers Inn.”

 

Frank gave Mary a questioning look.

 

Mary picked up the stack of payment and folded it. She held it up so Frank and Rkin could see it. “We can stop by and see if Kelona would like to go with us.”

 

Frank grinned. “I’ve wanted to have a try at catching those hussers every since Elaray lost a bunch of feathers to them.”

 

Rkin laid his head back down. “If the fluid is cold I’m just going to stick my head in it.”

 

***

 

Small rocks danced around in a flurry as the portal pushed through and came to a stop.

 

The portal door slid back and Mary stepped out.

 

Stareen was waiting in a rock hopper.

 

Mary went over and hugged her. “How are you and the offsprings doing?”

 

Stareen looked around Mary, but there was nobody else. The portal door closed and rocks and dust swirled as it was sucked back into the riff.

 

“I thought the others were coming.” Stareen helped Mary load her gear into the rock hopper.

 

“They’re checking out a place to try and catch a very big husser. Can we go to your elder’s dwelling first? There are some questions I need to ask her mate about the skimmers he has.”

 

“The skimmer he’s fixing up? Oh, sure, sorry I wasn’t thinking. I hope you can tell me about this big husser after you catch it.”

 

Mary laughed. “We’ll tell you all about it, but right now how about getting me over to Waveart’s dwelling. The males are waiting.”

 

***

 

Frank and Rkin were standing outside the long people mover dwelling rental on A0221’s dwelling planet.

 

Rkin put down his tracker and whispered to Frank, “The seller wants us to get as many still views of the mover as we can, inside and out. He wants to make sure it matches.”

 

“I got all four sides and the top on my view maker, but all the viewports are darkened. One of us is going to have to get inside.”

 

Rkin went around and opened the back door, slipped inside and took several still views before the mover’s controller yelled at him to get out.

 

Rkin climbed out and hid his view maker under his cloak. “How much payment would it take to rent this for a planet turn?”

 

The long people mover’s controller reached over and slammed the door closed. “More than you two Nretse make in a star turn. Now get out of here before I call the planet officers.”

 

Frank came out from behind the mover. “I was thinking of renting it, but not with your attitude. It probably rides like a rock mover anyway.”

 

Rkin leaned in close to Frank. “Let’s get out of here before we make him really mad. We’ve got everything we came for.”



Chapter 27

 Team Work

 

 

Wartron pressed J299 to the ground as he placed a set of limb-locks on her. “Is the offspring going to be okay?”

 

“I think so. I’ve got the wound sealed and his life fluid has stopped leaking out as badly. How could she use her own offspring to shield herself from a blast?”

 

“I don’t know,” Wartron said, squeezing the limb-locks a little tighter around J2299’s legs. “Lappaul females are normally great elders. Once they get hooked on chemicals there’s no telling what they’ll do.”

 

Tealayon tossed a set of metal foot bands to Wartron. “I don’t want her to build up a charge when we’re not looking. Where in the underplanet is that healer mover?” Tealayon put one of her tentacles under the little Lappaul’s head as she cuddled him.

 

The offspring reached over and placed his hand on her tentacle, smiled up at her and closed his eyes.

 

Wartron saw fluid leaking from Tealayon’s eyes. “Is he…?”

 

“No, he’s resting.” Tealayon could hear the healer mover’s high pitched alarm getting closer.

 

Wartron placed a tentacle across the offspring’s middle. “I feel a good strong beat. You have to admit he’s one tough little male.”

 

Tealayon looked over at the planet officer lying nearby with a hole through his chest. “She pulled her blaster out from behind the offspring. He drew his, but it was too late. His blaster went off after he was hit.”

 

“I know. We’ll give a full report to the planet officers when they get here.”

 

Wartron picked J2299 up and tossed her in the back of the mover. His tracker started humming. He finished locking J2299 to the metal frame of the people mover and picked up his tracker. “We have a message from Mary.”

 

“What did she say?” Tealayon asked.

 

“They’re going to try and catch a big husser. They want us to meet them at Persamp and Elda’s place for a couple of planet turns.”

 

“Tell her we’d love to. We’ll meet them there.”

 

Tealayon watch as two healers jumped out of their mover as it screeched to a halt.

 

They came directly over to Tealayon and took the offspring from her and laid him gently on the ground.

 

As one checked the offspring, the other healer went to the downed officer. Within rons he was back kneeling beside his partner.

 

She looked around him at the officer, but he shook his head and kept helping her.

 

Wartron went over to the planet officers who had just arrived while Tealayon continued to watch the healers working on the offspring.

 

One of the planet officers came over and asked Tealayon to join them at the mover.

 

When they got there Wartron was putting away his paper work.

 

“It’s okay, partner,” said the officer who was with Wartron. “Their paper work is in order. This is Tracker Wartron and Tracker Tealayon. They were after the runner for a couple of payment dwelling robberies. Officer Jargemon showed up just as they were confronting her. I’ll need your story, Tracker Tealayon.”

 

Tealayon wiped some fluid from her eyes. “The runner had one hand on the offspring’s shoulder and the other behind him. The officer came around the corner of that dwelling. He stopped, started pulling out his blaster and tried to say something. She picked up the offspring and spun toward him. That’s when I saw the blaster she was holding in her other hand. My partner and I drew our light immobilizers and blasted her with blue light, but it was too late. Both the officer and offspring were hit by light blasts. We checked both of them, but the officer was already ended. I grabbed our field healer kit and started bandaging up the offspring. Tracker Wartron had the seller over there call 733. We waited here and kept everyone out of the area.”

 

“You’ll have to fill out a report and send it to our Officer Corps. Right now, though, we’ll have to ask you for your limb-lock keys, Tracker Wartron. J2299 will have to face our Planet Board for ending an officer.”

 

Wartron pulled out his tracker, scanned the officer and asked him to push in his code number. “This confirms that you took J2299 into custody and that your planet will cover all payment if she gets away.”

 

“We have an ending penalty on this planet, Tracker Wartron. I don’t think you’ll be getting her back.”

 

“Well, if she doesn’t get the ending penalty she’ll still have to face the Galaxy Board for the two payment dwelling thefts. Those alone will get her eighty star turns in a moon mine.

 

“Fair enough,” the officer said.

 

He went over to unlock J2299 from Wartron’s mover and put her inside his. “Give me a deron and you can have your limb-locks and the metal foot bands back.”

 

Wartron watched the officer secure J2299 to the planet officer mover.

 

***

 

Number One was waiting for Tealayon and Wartron as they stepped out of the portal back at tracker room.

 

“I received a message from the Lappaul Plant Officer Corps about what happened. Are you two okay? Do you need some planet turns off?

 

“We’re okay, Number One,” Tealayon said. “Mary already asked us to take a few planet turns off and meet her at Trackers Inn.”

 

“Before you make up your mind about Trackers Inn, I need to have a talk with you in my room.”

 

Wartron and Tealayon looked at each other and shrugged.

 

“Sure, Number One. Right now?” Wartron asked.

 

“Yes, now.” Number signaled a nearby tech. “Go find Arear and tell him to come to my room.”

 

“Yes, Sir.” The tech hurried away.

 

Mary and Wartron followed Number One to his room. He closed the door behind them. “Have a seat.”

 

He went and sat down at his desk. “After what just happened to you two this planet turn, I’m not sure you’re ready to help Mary and Frank with their runner.”

 

“Who are they after?” Tealayon asked.

 

“All I can tell you is that they’re after a chemical dealer that’s been free for way too long. They have a plan and asked if they could bring you in to help. What I need to know from you two right now is if you think you’re ready to go back out again.”

 

“A chemical dealer, is that all?” Wartron sat back in his chair. “I thought that was the Galaxy Chemical Task Force’s job.”

 

“That’s all I can say unless you’re in.”

 

“After what I saw that elder do to her offspring, I’m in. The more chemical dealers we put on moon mines the better off we’ll all be. Try and keep me out,” Tealayon said.

 

“You’re not going anywhere without me. I’m in,” Wartron added. He patted Tealayon’s tentacle.

 

There was a knock at the door.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“Arear, Number One.”

 

“Come in.”

 

Arear came in and closed the door.

 

“Wartron and Tealayon are meeting Mary and Frank at Trackers Inn. Make sure they have everything they need for the trip.”

 

“Yes, Number One, right away.” Arear left the room.

 

“Remember that if anyone asks you’re taking a few planet turns off to try and catch some hussers. Mary and Frank will fill you in on their plans. Your portal leaves in two tesers. Good luck.”

 

Wartron looked confused. “That’s it?”

 

“That’s it.” Number One picked up some papers and started reading.

 

***

 

Wartron met Arear at the portal and looked inside. “What kind of people movers are we using now to catch hussers? Isn’t that a Lappaul female handler mover?”

 

“It is. There are cloaks are in the front seat, two star blasters and extra power packs. I installed an outlet so you can plug the star blasters in. Your portal’s programmed.” Arear looked around. “Where’s Tealayon?”

 

“She’s checking on the Lappaul offspring.”

 

Tealayon showed up with two holding bags and fluid leaking from her eyes.

 

Wartron took the holding bags and put them inside the people mover. “These are heavy. What did you pack in them?”

 

“We’re going to Persamp’s for four or five planet turns. What did you think I was going to wear? One set of coverings? Males! I brought your nicer coverings, too. Elda fixes great intake, but I heard about an authentic little Alappon intake dwelling on their planet that I’ve wanted to try and you’re taking me.”

 

After the portal door closed, Tealayon went and sat on the bench alongside of the Lappaul female handler mover. “Who does this mover belong to?”

 

“Arear said it’s ours. I can’t wait to hear what Mary and Frank have up their sleeves. You never told me how the offspring’s doing.”

 

“They don’t know yet. The blast hole was so big they’re not sure even the healing tank will help. And, by the way, I hope you don’t expect me to go anywhere in that thing!”

 

Wartron was about to answer, but the portal shivered, stopped and the door opened.

 

Rkin was standing there looking in. “Here, let me take some of those bags.”

 

He helped Wartron and Tealayon transfer their things over to his rock hopper.

 

“What about that?” Wartron pointed back at the mover still in the portal.

 

“We’re sending it on to Trackers Inn. Persamp’s going to put it in his tool dwelling for us.”

 

“Sending it on to Trackers Inn? Where are we now?” Tealayon looked around.

 

“We’re on Kelona’s dwelling planet. We have a rental at Stareen’s place for you. No one’s told you anything yet, have they?”

 

“No, not yet,” Tealayon said as she got into the rocker hopper’s front seat.

 

“I’m sure Mary and Frank will tell you later. Right now, I’m to get you to your rental.”

 

Rkin pushed the portal button and watched the door close. Small rocks spun and danced around trying to follow the portal back into the riff.

 

“If everyone is ready, we’ll be at Stareen’s in a couple of tesers.” Rkin climbed into the front seat beside Tealayon and reached for the power switch, but she flipped it on.

 

“I’ve always wanted to steer one of these things,” Tealayon said.

 

The rocker hopper shot straight up and then blasted forward.

 

Wartron grabbed his tie down strap and quickly fastened it. “Slow down a bit! You’re not going to a covering mark down.”

 

“Wartron, dear, speaking of a mark downs, I think I’m going to have to visit a few seller dwellings. I have nothing to wear for a Dorfor planet.” Tealayon increased the speed as she zipped over a protruding rock.

 

“Sure, sure, love, anything you want. I’ll even take you if you want me to.”

 

“No, that’s alright. It’s not any fun if you know how much payment I plan on spending.”

 

After he watched another huge rock fly under them and just miss the rocker hopper by kers, Wartron closed his eyes.

 

“Could you take it up another ten sikers, please?” Rkin watched Tealayon squeeze the rock hopper between two columns.

 

“Oh, don’t be such an offspring! We’ll get there faster this way,” Tealayon said, grinning as she increased the speed again.

 

Stareen stepped out of the dwelling as the rock hopper landed and went over to it. “Tealayon! Wartron! How are you?”

 

“We’re great, Stareen, and how are you doing?” Tealayon answered.

 

“Well, with everything that’s been going on around here, not bad, I guess.”

 

“I love what you doing to the place. I don’t want to be rude, but I must run and get some new coverings. No one told me we were coming here and I packed for a colder planet.”

 

“I understand. Kelona’s the only one here right now. Mary and Frank are over at Waveart’s dwelling. They’re all coming back here for intake in about four tesers.”

 

Stareen took a closer look at Wartron and Rkin. “You two are looking a little pale. You should get out in the brightness more. Rkin, I don’t remember you being that pale when you left this star break. Wartron, I’ll show you to your dwelling so you can freshen up. I’ll have one of the workers bring you a container of cold fluid.”

 

Rkin never said a word; he just sat clutching his tie down strap. He hadn’t even   unsnapped it yet.

 

“Good,” said Tealayon. “That will give me a few tesers to spend some payment.”

 

As Wartron got out she reminded him not to unpack her holding bags.

 

Kelona came out from the back of the dwelling. “Did someone mention going after new coverings? If you give me a deron or two, I’ll clean up and go with you. I could use some new ones myself.”

 

“I’d love to have you join me. What about you, Stareen?” Tealayon turned the hopper off and hopped out.

 

“I’d love to, but some builders are coming over to give me a payment cost on a small outside intake dwelling area.”

 

***

 

At the intake table that darkness, Wartron couldn’t take his eyes off Tealayon.

 

Her silky green covering flowed like fluid around her. One moment it clung to her body like a lover’s tentacle then slid across her skin to caress another part showing that even at her age she was still a ravishing looking Aggaray female.

 

Tealayon knew her mate was watching. She moved a little this way then that to make her covering flow as she talked to different people around the table.  She smiled when she saw the sparkle in his eyes as he watched her.

 

She reached over and stroked the side of Wartron’s face. “So, who’s the husser?” she asked Mary.

 

“A0221, the biggest chemical manufacturer and distributor in this galaxy.”

 

Wartron quickly shifted his gaze from Tealayon to Mary. “A0221? We’re going after A0221? I hope you have a battle group to back us up. Do you know how many Osivers on that planet carry blasters? And they all work for him. Come to think about it, everyone on that planet works for him. The Planet Board said that as long as he’s on that planet no one can forcibly remove him. If we do get him off there they’ll just take him away from us and set him free."

 

“The Planet Board left a loophole in their wording,” Rkin said. ‘He can’t be arrested on his dwelling planet and forced to leave, but it doesn’t say anywhere in there that he can’t leave his dwelling planet of his own free will and then be arrested somewhere else in the galaxy. Another thing we found out is that as long as he’s on that planet the Galaxy Chemical Task Force is banned from it. Just think what they could do if he wasn’t on it.”

 

“Are you in?” Mary looked at Wartron.

 

“Why do I get myself into these things?”

 

“Why? Because of that little Lappaul offspring out there battling for his life! Why? Because of our twelve offspring!” Tealayon snapped. “If they see what we go through to stop people like A0221 maybe they’ll never start using chemicals in the first place.”

 

“I didn’t say I wasn’t in, I said, ‘Why do I get myself into these things?’ As long as we’re following the law, I’m all for it.”

 

Tealayon took Wartron’s tentacle in hers and held it. “Okay, Mary, what do you want us to do?”

 

Mary talked for almost a teser as she filled Wartron and Tealayon in on how they planned to get A0221 off his planet. “We have two or three more planet turns till our people mover is ready. Why don’t you two go on over to Trackers Inn and take a few planet turns off. Stareen still has builders working and a big tour group showing up around star high.”

 

Wartron looked up and down Tealayon’s new silky green covering. “That’s a good idea. I just happen to know where there’s an authentic little Alappon intake dwelling.”

 

“Remember to take a standard portal from Persamp’s place. A0221’s bunch checks all incoming portals to see what planet they’re coming from. They would spot you as trackers if your portal only took two derons to make the trip instead of the normal three planet turns,” Frank reminded Wartron.

 

“Let me see. Tealayon and me at Trackers Inn for three or four planet turns then three more in a portal all alone…hmmm… I’m starting to like this idea.” Wartron leaned over and kissed Tealayon’s cheek.



Chapter 28

 Deception

 

 

Wartron stepped between the server and Tealayon and pulled the chair out for her.

 

Tealayon looked around the intake dwelling as she sat down. “One thing you can say for these Alappons, they know how to impress customers. I wish we could have talked Elda and Persamp into joining us.”

 

Two Alappons came to their table and started singing the song that Wartron and Tealayon had arranged to have sung at their union.

 

Tealayon leaned over and kissed Wartron’s cheek. “Oh, sweetheart, you remembered! I haven’t thought of that song for star turns.”

 

Wartron signaled for the server.

 

He brought a container of osser fluid and two crystal fluid holders.

 

“Osser fluid? We didn’t have this at our union because the payment for it was too high.” Tealayon gave Wartron a questioning look.

 

“Well, we can afford it now. I’ve always felt bad about not being able to get you a container of it back then.”

 

“We were fresh out of tracker training and could barely afford a dwelling. It took us a star turn to make the payment on our union.” Tealayon took a sip of the sparkling bubbly fluid. “Wow! I wonder what the payment is for the whole container?”

 

Wartron laughed and told the server to refill Tealayon’s crystal. “Its part of the deal I made for this darkness intake, love.” He held his container up to the server.

 

***

 

A couple of tesers later Wartron opened the door of the people mover he had rented so Tealayon could get out.

 

Persamp came out of Trackers Inn and handed Wartron a message. “It looks like you two had fun. Let me take the mover and return it. I have a friend in the dwelling group that’ll bring me back.”

 

“Thank you,” Tealayon said. “You and Elda and have been so kind to us the last three planet turns.”

 

Persamp looked around at the ten new dwelling rentals he had built. “No, I should thank you. We can now hire help so Elda and I aren’t always working so hard. Funny, four star turns ago I couldn’t find work, now I have to hire help to get all the work done. You two have a good rest.”

 

Wartron and Tealayon watched as Persamp got into the rented mover and headed toward the dwelling group.

 

Tealayon took the message from Wartron and read it. “Mary says all her business is done and she’s heading back to tracker room.”

 

“Let’s tell Elda we’re leaving at star break.” Wartron took Tealayon’s tentacle and opened the door for her.

 

They found Elda doing paper work.

 

“We need to find out what our payment is,” Wartron said. “We’re leaving at star break.”

 

“You don’t owe us anything and if you don’t come back sooner and stay longer, I’m going to be mad at you.” Elda smiled up at them.

 

“Number One said if you don’t take payment this time he’s not going to let any trackers stay here again.” Wartron pulled out a stack of payment notes.

 

Elda reached over and picked up a heavy intake warmer. She stood up and shook it at Wartron. “You tell Number One when he comes here and changes the coverings on the resting tables and fixes the intake for our renters then I might let him tell me who I take payment from and who I don’t. Now put that away before I use this on you.”

 

Tealayon was laughing so hard she had to lean against the wall. “Dear, I think you’ve met your match.”

 

Wartron put the payment notes away. “Okay, then tell Persamp we’ll see him at star break to say good bye.”

 

Tealayon gave Elda a hug “Thank you so much for everything.”

 

“I meant what I said. You two better come back soon and stay longer.”

 

Wartron and Tealayon went to their rental dwelling.

 

Once they were inside Tealayon locked the door. “I know our part in this scam. Now let’s see what kind of cloak Arear set up for me.”

 

Tealayon got the cloaks out and put hers on. “A controller! I’m your controller. At least I don’t have to be one of your females.”

 

Wartron was looking at himself in the view reflector. “So this is how a female handler looks. I wish we could have taken the Lappaul mover out for some blasting practice.” He turned off his cloak and removed it. “We have to get up a couple of tesers before star break. I’m going to get some rest.”

 

Tealayon took off all her coverings and crawled onto the middle of the resting table. “If you think you’re going to just rest after what you spent on that intake this darkness, I have news for you. I have plans of my own.” She patted the resting table beside her.

 

Wartron smiled and turned off the overhead brightness.

 

***

 

Persamp was waiting beside the Lappaul female handler mover when Wartron and Tealayon came out of their rental. “Here, let me help you with those bags. You know, I’ve been wondering what’s going on ever since I saw this mover in the portal. I noticed the heavy duty light blaster shield installed around the front and sides. I want you to know I’m going to ask the Great Power to keep you safe. Enough said. Your portal leaves in six derons so you’d better be going.”

 

Tealayon hugged Persamp. “Thank you so much for everything.” She got into the mover and switched on the power. “Okay, let’s see how fast this thing will go.”

 

Wartron snapped his tie down strap. “It’s less than half a kayron to the riff, dear.”

 

Tealayon winked at Persamp. Smiling at Wartron she said, “Don’t be such an offspring!” The mover shot forward.

 

***

 

Mary watched as a Lappaul female handler mover eased out of the portal and was stopped by an Osiver. “I wonder why they put that guard on the riff.”

 

“It looks like they’re looking for someone,” Rkin murmured. “This will put a kink in the plan.”

 

Frank put down the long view glass. “I don’t think so. This might be just what we need to pull this plan off. Let’s get back to our rental and I’ll tell you what I have in mind.”

 

Mary powered up the long, black people mover and waited for Tealayon to pass them before she pulled out onto the moving line.

 

Wartron watched the long black people mover pull around them, speed up and then turn into a dwelling rental. Three Osivers got out and went into a dwelling. “Dwelling number twenty-seven. How far is the riff from here?”

 

“About three kayrons. We’ll have about fifteen derons before all underplanet breaks loose around here. I hope it’s enough.” Tealayon pulled into a mover fluid dwelling.

 

Stepping out of the mover and leaning across the top, Tealayon asked the Osiver worker who was putting fluid into another mover where would be the best place to get a good darkness rest.

 

“You passed the best rental in this dwelling group. They have clean rooms for fair payment. I stay there myself when my mate throws me out of our dwelling for a planet turn or two.” He pointed back down the moving line to the rental Mary and Frank and Rkin had pulled into.

 

“Oh, by the way, do you know where Jubyea Frostine lives?” Tealayon asked.

 

“Sorry, never heard of him.”

 

“Thanks,” she said, getting back into the mover and closing the door.

 

“Okay, time to put out more line and see if this husser will take the bait.” Wartron watched as Tealayon steered out onto the moving line and headed back toward the dwelling rental.

 

Inside the dwelling Wartron tossed a stack of payment notes on the counter. “I want the finest dwelling you have.”

 

“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s being held for a couple showing up this darkness.” The clerk pushed the payment back at the Lappaul.

 

Tealayon tapped the counter with her star blaster and pushed the notes back with the tip. “My boss said he wanted the best dwelling you have. We’re only going to be here this darkness. Tell this couple they’ll have to wait.”

 

The clerk reached over and took the payment notes before tossing Wartron a key. “Dwelling thirty; out the door to your left, bottom level.”

 

Tealayon unlocked the dwelling and opened the door. Quickly, she scanned the room. “No viewers or listening devices.” She turned on the brightness. “Oh, by the Great Power, this room is bigger than our whole dwelling.”

 

“Let’s change our cloaks and pay a visit to Mary and Frank.” Wartron switched his cloak setting.

 

***

 

Rkin heard someone outside in the mover way and reached over to pick up his light immobilizer. He looked at Mary and Frank and nodded toward the door.

 

They grabbed their immobilizers just as three knocks were heard, followed by two short ones.

 

Frank unlocked the door and slowly opened it. He didn’t see anyone standing there. He opened it wider and waited a few rons before he closed and locked it.

 

Tealayon and Wartron turned their air cloaks off.

 

“What are we going to do about the guard at the riff?” Tealayon asked.

 

Frank laughed. “We have that worked out. I think it’s going to help us pull this thing off. Have a seat and I’ll tell you all about it. This is going to be a long planet turn.”

 

***

 

An Osiver knocked on A0221’s open door.

 

“Come in.”

 

“Boss, the guard you put on the riff said a Lappaul female handler and his controller came through the riff at about star high. Shortly after that the mover fluid dwelling worker called in that a Lappaul was asking if they knew where you lived.”

 

“Where I live?”

 

“That’s what he said. I remember seeing something on the galaxy viewer about a bunch of Lappaul moving line females getting ended by a bad batch of chemicals. Their portal came from that planet. They’re staying at the Star Down Dwelling Rental out on moving line eighty-five. The clerk said that when he told them the best rental was being held for someone, one of them pulled out the biggest blaster he ever saw and pointed it at him.”

 

“Where are they now?”

 

“They’re at the rental. He took the payment and gave them the key.”

 

“Leave the guard on the riff for one more planet turn to see if those three Osivers show back up and have the dwelling rental clerk get the Lappaul’s mover number and find out what you can about them.”

 

“Yes, boss, right away.”

 

***

 

Rkin woke Mary and Frank. “The clerk took down Wartron’s mover number last darkness.”

 

“So far, so good. Message Wartron. Did you get your cloak fixed?” Frank asked.

 

“Yes, everything’s ready.”

 

“You better get moving, you and Mary have to be there before that mover rental clerk leaves for work.”

 

“I’m ready,” Mary said doing a final check on her tracker and cloak.

 

Wartron and Tealayon were standing by their mover when Mary and Rkin came out and got into the small mover rental. Wartron rubbed and patted his tummy when Mary looked his way.

 

“They’re going to get some intake. We can stop at one of those fast intake dwellings and get something,” Mary said, switching the power over to Rkin’s side of the mover.

 

“I hope A0221 doesn’t take all planet turn to call for a rental. I want to be out of here before star high.” Rkin powered up and headed up the moving line toward an all darkness fast intake dwelling he’d spotted the planet turn before.

 

Mary finished the last of a beetle wrap and looked up as brightness came on inside the dwelling they had stopped out front of. “Good, she’s up. I hope she doesn’t have an over-darkness guest.”

 

Mary and Rkin went and knocked on the dwelling door.

 

A young female Osiver opened the door. Green and blue light filled her eyes.

 

Rkin picked her up and carried her over to a corner.

 

Mary closed the door, found the planet communicator line, dialed, spoke briefly and hung up. “Okay, I left a message at the mover rental that someone was replacing her this planet turn.”

 

Rkin programmed his cloak to look like the female Osiver standing in the corner. “Mary, I found her people mover keys. Now let’s get you to work.”

 

A neighbor, looking out her viewport, saw Gardoner and another Osiver female get into her mover and leave.

 

Mary entered the Rental by The Planet Turn office. “I’m here to replace Miss Gardoner; I’m from the Planet Turn Rent a Worker Group.”

 

“Your desk is over there. Someone will be with you in a deron to help you get started.”

 

Two tesers later Gardoner started to move. Rkin filled her eyes with another blast of blue light. “A0221 had better hurry up. I can only blast her two more times.”

 

***

 

Frank was sitting at an intake dwelling table drinking a container of cold fluid when his tracker started vibrating. He read the screen: ‘The husser is waiting.’

 

He stood up, handed the worker some payment and went outside. Getting in the long, black people mover he powered up and left.

 

Derons later he pulled into a mover washer, slipped in a payment card and entered the swirling mats and spraying fluid. As he left the mover washer he controlled a long, white people mover with Rental by The Planet Turn printed on the side.

 

“Those wash-off paints worked great. Now let’s see if A0221 will buy it.”

 

He sent a message to Rkin, Wartron and Tealayon: ‘Going after husser… will meet for intake.’

 

***

 

Tealayon and Wartron watched A0221 get into the long people mover.

 

Frank closed the door, went around and got into the controller’s seat and quickly pulled away.

 

Wartron saw an Osiver run c out of the dwelling trying to stop them. The Osiver pulled out a communicator and started pushing buttons.

 

“Something’s wrong,” Wartron told Tealayon. “Get me within blasting range.”

 

As the Lappaul mover passed by the Osiver, Wartron filled the Osiver’s face with green light.

 

“Nice blasting, sweetheart. Now hold on.” Tealayon turned the corner and fell in behind Frank’s mover.

 

Frank saw A0221’s eyes get bigger and reached over to push a button on his tracker.

 

A0221 put his communicator down and looked out the back viewport. “Give me your communicator. Mine’s ended. I need to get a hold of my people. My guard told me those Lappauls are here to end me. I think that’s them back there and they’re getting closer.  Get me back to my dwelling.”

 

“Those Lappauls have things that scramble communicators. I can’t lose him in the dwelling group, but I can outrun him if I can get on an open moving line,” Frank told A0221 as he turned onto moving line eighty-five.

 

“They’re making a run for it, dear,” Tealayon said as she followed Frank onto moving line 85 and picked up speed. “I hope you don’t hit them with that star blaster.”

 

Wartron leaned out the viewport and sent three blasts past A0221’s side of the mover.

 

“They’re trying to end me!” A0221 yelled. “Get me the underplanet out of here!” He saw a mover go past them on the other side of the moving line. “Those are my men. Slow down!”

 

“Sure, whatever you say. I’m only the controller. They’re not after me.” Frank grinned.

 

Tealayon looked into the rearview reflector. “A mover’s turning around back there and is heading this way fast. I have a feeling it’s some of his males.”

 

Wartron blasted out the back viewport then, with a second blast, blew away the left front tire of the Osiver people mover.

 

“I hope A0221 didn’t see how good a blaster you really are. You could have taken a couple more blasts before knocking their mover out of service,” Tealayon said, laughing.

 

A0221 watched the mover full of his people slide off the moving line. “Get me to the riff! I have a guard there.”

 

“But it’s out in the open. They’ll blast us like slimmers in a holding container. Wait, I have a riff button somewhere in the mover. If I can get a portal we can hide behind it as your guard blasts them.” Frank turned down the moving line to the riff.

 

A0221 saw a portal with the door wide open.

 

The guard was blasting away at someone hiding behind a mover. Two Osivers were on the ground smoldering.

 

“Those Osivers were in on the plot to end me. Get me the underplanet out of here,” A2201 ordered.

 

The riff guard looked in at A0221 in the back seat of the long people mover. He started to say something just as a flash of light jumped from his middle. He fell back onto the ground, vapors rising from his body.

 

“I’m getting the underplanet off this planet!” Frank yelled. He opened his door, jumped out and ran for the portal.

 

“Take me with you!” A0221 screamed, following close behind Frank.

 

The door slammed shut and the portal slipped into the riff just as Wartron and Tealayon pulled up.

 

Wartron jumped from the mover. “Rkin, are you okay?”

 

“That hurt.” The guard got up and brushed the remaining smoldering embers off of his cloak. “Yes, I’m fine.”


Another portal pushed its way to the surface. The door opened.

 

Wartron guided Tealayon as she steered the Lappaul mover into the portal. He bent over and kissed her. “I’ll see you back at tracker room.”

 

Mary powered up the long people mover and turned it toward the riff as the third portal arrived. After she and Wartron got the mover inside, Rkin quickly closed the door and punched in the settings for tracker room.

 

***

 

“So the Galaxy Board listened as A0221 tried to tell them he was tricked into leaving the planet. But, after seeing the moving view and hearing the voice recording of him yelling ‘take me with you’, they said he left on his own free will and he could think about it in a moon mine for the rest of his life. Great job, everyone,” Arear said.

 

Rkin spoke up. “I still want to know why we went after him now and not a long time ago.”

 

Number One stepped into the room. “I can answer that. One of the Lappaul females ended by that bad batch of chemicals was the fadora of a Galaxy Board member. When the mdora tried to stop the chemicals from coming onto his planet, A0221 sent some people to gas ball the mdora’s people mover. All they found were bits and pieces of him. I won’t tell you who put up the payment to go after A022l, but they told me they feel the board member and his fadora can rest in peace now. Payment talks until you step on the wrong feet. Like Arear said, good job, everyone.”

 


Chapter 29

 All Things Heal

 

 

Swal looked up and down the moving line. “You know, Harayah, this isn’t a bad little dwelling group. After I retire, I just might move here. Underplanet, it’s not too far from my dwelling planet, the air is dry and their yellow star feels good on my scales. Which reminds me - did I ever tell you about the time my oldest mdora and I were out planet hopping and came across that little planet out in the tri blue star system that never had a darkness cycle?”

 

“Yes, about forty times! Do you think for once you could sit there and be quiet so I can think?” Harayah set her container of fluid back on the table and stood up. “Ever since we’ve portaled onto this planet you’ve been talking. My listening ports are worn out.”

 

“Sorry, I’ll try not to say anything if that’s what you want.” Swal’s big round eyes looked down at the table.

 

Harayah sat back down, shook her head and started to leak fluid from her eyes. “It’s not you fault. I should have told you before we left tracker room. I thought I could handle it, but it seems the healer was right. I think we should go back and you find another partner till I get over what’s happening to me.”

 

Swal sat up straight. “What’s the matter, partner? What’s wrong?”

 

Harayah started laughing. “That’s the problem. One deron I’m happy and the next I’m leaking fluid. I thought I was too young for this to happen, but the healer told me some Spytaen females go through this star turns earlier than others.”

 

Swal mouth was slightly open as he tried to figure out what Harayah was leading up to.

 

Harayah looked over and saw the silly look on Swal’s face. “Close your mouth. It looks like you’re trying to catch some intake. First, I’m not dying so don’t even go there. Okay, I’ll tell you everything. For a change just sit there and listen.

 

“At some time in a Spytaen female’s life they will seek out a Spytaen male and produce a cocoon of offspring. Unlike other races we don’t raise our offspring and most of the time we’ll only have one cocoon in our life cycle.

 

“Normally this will only take about twenty planet turns. I’ve been blasted and beat up so many times, I can’t make a cocoon. The healer told me it might take a star turn before I stop this cycle of my life. In the meantime, I’ll either try to rip your head off or hug you. They’re only guessing. None of them really know how long it’ll take.”

 

“How long has this been going on?” Swal asked.

 

“About two hundred planet turns.”

 

“Two hundred planet turns! You kept this to yourself for almost a full star turn?

 

Harayah squinted and glared at Swal. “What makes you think I have to tell you anything about my personal life?”

 

“Because we’re partners. For almost a star turn I’ve been thinking you wanted to trade me for someone else. You don’t want another partner do you?”

 

“NO! I don’t want another partner. That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever asked.”

 

Swal slid down a little bit in his chair. “Well good. Did I ever tell you about the time my three fadoras and I got in a wet ground ball fight with our five mdoras?”

 

Harayah closed her eyes and let out a low pitched scream. When she opened them all she saw was the tip of Swal’s tail disappearing around the corner of the intake dwelling. She could hear him laughing. She grabbed a fluid container and threw it at the corner of the dwelling. Fluid and pieces of clear container went everywhere. She started smiling. “No, partner, I wouldn’t trade you for anything.”

 

***

 

Swal stood in the shadows of their rental looking out the viewport. “Harayah, there’s a couple of Elans across the moving line watching our dwelling rental.”

 

Harayah moved up behind Swal and put on her eye shields. “Well, well, it’s a small universe we live in. Put on your eye shields, partner.”

 

Swal slipped on his glasses and looked over at the Elans. There sat Meka and Zoeona. “What in the planets are they doing here?”

 

“Let me get my Elan cloak on and we’ll go ask them.”

 

Swal took a quick scan of the area with his tracker looking for another runner. “The only runner I see is TT4328 and he is still sitting on the side of that mountain where he’s been for six planet turns now. You don’t think they’re after the same runner do you?”

 

“Let’s go find out,” Harayah said, opening the door.

 

Swal looked at Harayah and saw an Elan female with a short tail and light brown scales. “Wow, if I wasn’t spoken for I could get used to that cloak.”

 

“You’re not spoken for if I remember right,” Harayah snapped.

 

“That’s right. Sorry I forgot.” Swal laughed.

 

As Swal and Harayah started across the moving line the Elans at the table slipped on some glasses and quickly pulled them off. Meka told the intake server to bring two more fluid containers.

 

“What brings you two to this planet?” Harayah and Zoeona said almost at the same ron.

 

“You tell us first,” Meka said, gesturing for Swal and Harayah to join them.

 

“Not all healers are honest and some can see a long way.” Swal nodded toward the mountains.

 

Meka wrote an implant number in the dust on the table top. “It seems our friend is in need of a not so honest healer.”

 

Swal and Harayah looked at what Meka wrote. “Is he up there too?”

 

“Yes. It seems we blasted him up really bad. He’s been trying to find a healer to restore the movement to either his left arm or leg. We haven’t found out which one yet. He doesn’t leave any of the healers alive after he’s seen them for us to talk to.”

 

“Why didn’t I pick him up on my scan? And does he have one of his long range blasters set up?” Swal asked.

 

“I thought he didn’t have an implant after the battle on the Sinne planet?” Harayah added.

 

“You’re right. Someone blasted it. We lucked out and one of the healers he visited installed a special high frequency implant when she worked on him. Unfortunately, that was the last thing she did for us.”

 

“The reason you didn’t see his implant is that we don’t want some tracker team locking in on it and maybe getting blown away. We’re using a remote scanner and he hasn’t blasted it yet.” Zoeona pointed up to a black box hovering out over the middle of the moving line.

 

Swal tapped the number, X3950, Meka had written on the table. “What’s his implant number now?”

 

Zoeona pushed his tracker across the table to Swal.

 

Harayah and Swal looked at the tracker. It read ENDNOW.

 

“Does that mean what I think it does? It’s not our job to go out and end runners,” Harayah said.

 

Zoeona pulled his tracker back. “Yes, it means just what it says. He is responsible for the ending of over a hundred and fifty beings; forty-four of those he ended himself. Tracker League sent out the word to our tracker room eighty planet turns ago that he’s not to be brought in alive. All of our trackers are hunting him.”

 

“Where are the rest of the Zarta trackers?” Harayah asked.

 

“We don’t have our portals changed over to your new super fast ones yet, so it will be a few planet turns before they get here. Our Number One told us to guard the riff and wait.”

 

“How do you think your tracker room is going to get him off that mountain side?” Harayah asked Meka. “He blasted his way through six of us on that Sinne planet.”

 

“We’re bringing in air bubbles to gas ball the whole side of that mountain. Then we’ll look for his body parts.”

 

“Well, TT4328 is up there and we don’t get any payment for ended runners,” Swal said, sneering at Meka.

 

Meka turned on Swal. “Your petty payment is nothing over the number of beings he’s ended.”

 

Zoeona looked around the table. “Why don’t we all go inside and get some intake? It’s almost star high and I want to get out of this brightness.”

 

“That’s a good idea. Come on, Swal, I want to try that beetle intake you had last darkness. It looked good.” Harayah had to pull Swal up from the table where he and Meka were still glaring at each other.

 

***

 

“How long is this going to take?” ENDNOW yelled at TT4328.

 

“I have no idea. You have to heal up some more before I can start cutting again. You’re lucky to even be able to walk. If you’d listened to me you’d be up and moving around by now.”

 

“What would I have done after you cut my arm and my leg off? Get a moving chair and retire somewhere deep within a moon mine?”

 

“If you don’t lie still, I might have to cut that leg off anyway.”

 

“That’ll be the last thing you ever cut off mdora.” ENDNOW waved his tri blaster back and forth.

 

“I don’t know what race of healers you went to, but you know better than to use anyone other than a Shadaton healer.”

 

“Well, mdora, one of your Shadaton healers slipped an implant back into me when she was cutting on that rotting leg of mine. I haven’t found its frequency yet, but I will. Anyway, she’ll never turn on another one of her own kind again. Maybe I should have brought her along so you could put her insides back together.”

 

“Get some rest. We’ll start again at star break. It’s going to take me at least forty planet turns to fix everything that’s wrong with you and a star turn for you to heal.”

 

“I don’t have a star turn or even a few planet turns. Trackers are after me. Fix what you can so I can keep moving. I’m leaving shortly.” ENDNOW passed out and fell back on the resting table.

 

TT4328 picked up the tri blaster and put it on the table beside him. “And we only have enough intake for eight more planet turns anyway, mdora. I’m going to have to go into the dwelling group soon. Funny, I guess our male elder was right. All things heal. I never thought I would forgive you for ending his life, but look at me. Here I’m trying to save your worthless ota.”

 

***

 

Swal was pacing inside the dwelling rental. “One more planet turn is all we have before they turn that mountain into a pile of gray rock. Even if we had an air bubble and air cloaks on the dust is going to kick up around us and he’d see us coming.”

 

Harayah was looking out the viewport. “You’re right. Even that pile of rocks over there is kicking up a dust storm.”

 

“Did you just say what I thought you said?” Swal come over and looked at the pile of rocks.

 

“Yes, I did. I’ll send a message to Arear and have him ship the air bubble in one of the super fast portals. You get to work on those cloaks.”

 

“I’m already on it, partner, and have Arear send a control for the air bubble.”

 

By star break Swal had two piles of rocks at the foot of the resting table.

 

Harayah moved around them. “Those look good. I can’t tell them from the real ones even up close.” Her tracker buzzed. She picked it up and read the message. “It’s Magator; he’s outside wanting to know which dwelling we’re in. Turn off those cloaks. I don’t want anyone moving by to see rocks in our dwelling rental. We have all star bright to get our plan worked out. I want to start at mid darkness.”

 

“But Zarta Galaxy trackers will be here in one star break. I don’t want to be anywhere close to that mountain when they start gas balling it,” Swal said, shaking his head.

 

“I’ve asked Number One to try and get Tracker League to stop Zarta Galaxy till we can make sure ENDNOW is the only one up there.”

 

They heard a rap on the door. Swal opened it to see Magator standing there with a big grin on his face.

 

“Your air bubble awaits you.”

 

“Get in here, you big lug. You could’ve put on an Elan cloak. What if someone saw you?” Harayah snapped.

 

Magator gave Swal a questioning look. “I heard she’s been touchy lately.”

 

“You heard? Did everyone know, but me? Why didn’t someone tell me? I’m her partner. Of course, I thought she was acting normal.”

 

Harayah crossed the dwelling before Swal could run and hit him on the shoulder.

 

Magator jumped inside the dwelling rental just as Harayah grabbed the door to slam it shut.

 

“Can we come in too?”

 

Harayah looked back and saw Meka and Zoeona. “Sure, come on in. We need to talk.”

 


Chapter 30

 Too Many Questions

 

 

Meka opened the door to her dwelling and turned the brightness on. “What do you think, Zoeona? Could this plan of Harayah’s work? Can they get TT4328 out of there without getting themselves ended?”

 

Zoeona entered behind Meka and quickly looked around the dwelling. He lowered his paw from the light immobilizer he had hidden under his cloak. “I don’t know. Everything we’ve tried so far, ENDNOW has slipped out of and left more ended beings behind. I think those two have a point. It’s not our duty to go around deliberately ending runners. I think we should give them a chance. If it fails we can still turn the side of that rock face into a pile of rubble.”

 

“How many more will he end because I didn’t stop him back on the Sinne planet? Every darkness, as I try and rest, I hear those ended healers begging me to avenge them.” Meka tuned off her cloak and lowered herself into a chair. The deep black of her shadow was losing its luster.

 

Zoeona dropped into the chair beside her. “Look, partner, I know you outrank me, but even if you didn’t I’ll still follow you across the galaxy. You have more planet smarts than any other tracker I know. You think ENDNOW beat you back on the Sinne planet. Even Number One said you did the right thing.”

 

Meka turned and faced Zoeona “You never answered. Do you think her plan will work?”

 

“I don’t know. I think it’s as good as any I’ve heard. Why?”

 

“We have our orders from Tracker League and Zarta Galaxy, but that don’t mean we can’t give Harayah and Swal some extra time. Here’s what I want you to do.”

 

***

 

Magator sat looking at Harayah and Swal and shook his head. “Even after all Meka told you and that report I brought you, you still want to try and get TT4328 off that rock face alive?”

 

Harayah stood and moved over to the viewport. “Yes. I still want to get TT4328 out of there alive before they gas ball everything in a square kayron of that dwelling. It would’ve been nice if Tracker League had told us that they were mdoras. I think they know ENDNOW would try to find a healer he could trust and they thought we’d find TT4328 first. Well, it didn’t happen so we have to work with what we have.”

 

Magator got up and headed for the door. “I’m going out to turn off the air cloak on the air bubble. There’s so much dust blowing around I’m just wasting power.”

 

After Magator left, Swal moved up behind Harayah and placed a claw on her shoulder. “Partner, I know you almost as well as you know yourself. You want to get ENDNOW off the mountain alive, too, don’t you?”

 

“When I stood before Tracker League taking my pledge, I don’t remember anything about being an executioner. I swore to uphold the law and that’s what I’m going to do. You can back out of this, partner, if you want to. I’ll understand.”

 

Swal laughed. “What and miss all the fun?”

 

Magator came into the dwelling carrying a large gray metal box. “This is heavy. I hope Arear was right.”

 

“Right about what?” Swal went over and started to open the box.

 

Magator quickly placed his hand on the lid to stop Swal from looking inside. “Arear said to open it outside beside the riff. You remember the rocks Artxe used at Strong Hold to keep the riffs from working?”

 

“Yes. Why?” Harayah asked, looking at the box.

 

“That’s one of those rocks in this box.” Magator latched the box lid back. “Arear said it might keep X3950 from slipping away again.”

 

“It’s just a rock. Why can’t I look at it? And there are two other riffs on this planet,” Swal said with a grunt.

 

“Well, this is the only riff within a thousand kayrons. You want to know why you can’t look at the rock in the box? Because one of the techs was ended working with it. His body had burns over most of it. Arear said to leave it in the box until we need it.” Magator reached over and ruffled the scales on top of Swal’s head. “Besides, I like you too much to see you all heated up like a zacker in a glowing pit.”

 

Harayah slipped her cloak on. “We better get ready. It’s going to be star down soon and we don’t know how long it will take us to get over the mountain.”

 

“I wonder how Number One is doing.” Swal threw the last of his gear into his holding bag.

 

“I don’t know, but if you’d seen how mad he was when he found out what Zarta Galaxy was going to do you’d be as glad as I was to get out of there.” Magator picked up the box of hovering tracker relays. “I hope these relay s work.”

 

“Let’s test them.” Harayah picked one up and went outside.

 

Within rons she had two readings on her tracker screen.

 

“ENDNOW must be behind the dwelling. He’s about two hundred sikers farther away than TT4328.”

 

“Is he leaving?” Swal hurried over to look at Harayah’s tracker screen.

 

“I don’t think so. And look at this.” Harayah pointed to a small number in the lower corner. “They’re at the same height and around two hundred sikers apart.”

 

“I’ve studied that mountain and there’s no flat spot two hundred sikers long up there by the dwelling. Do you think the tracker is wrong?” Swal asked.

 

“I don’t know. I’ll tell you when we get up there, but at least we know they’re still there.” Harayah plucked the hovering tracker relay out of the air and put it back in the box.

 

***

 

The two Number Ones faced off across the table.

 

“Look, Ytono, Tracker League gave me an order. I could get in a lot of trouble for not carrying it out.”

 

“Underplanet, Omata! When haven’t we gone up a tall hand plant for something we know was right? I have two trackers on that planet right now trying to get a runner that wouldn’t be ended for the laws he’s broken. If you carry out your orders, you could end not only TT4328, but Harayah and Swal. Think about it. Tracker League sent them after a runner that they knew ENDNOW was going to meet up with, they might as well have signed my trackers’ ending slips. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t do what you were ordered to do. I’m just asking you for some time. Two planet turns! Give me two planet turns. If not for me then for those two trackers you’re fixing to turn into dust.”

 

“If you can come up with a way to slow me down, that’s not my fault. Gas balling will start just after star down.”

 

Arear, who had been standing in the doorway, smiled and quickly left the room.

 

“Now I have to go. I’ve four portals of trackers and equipment about to get to the planet in a few of tesers and now I won’t get there until star high thanks to this little meeting of yours.”

 

“This little meeting of mine might have saved your ota,” Number One said

 

“And it might have cost you, yours,” Zarta Galaxy’s Number One replied as the door to his portal closed.

 

“Ota!” Number One turned around to find Arear behind him.

 

“Number One, Magator has dropped off Harayah and Swal. He’s heading back to the dwelling group as fast as the air bubble will go to plant a rock. He should be there within the teser.”

 

“A rock? What are you talking about?”

 

“One of the rocks we brought back from the strong hold planet, sir. I sent one with Magator.”

 

“They still have two more riffs on that planet. What good is one rock going to do?” Number One snapped.

 

“I checked all the riffs on and off the planet. They’ll have to turn back when the riff doesn’t open. It will take them almost a planet turn to get to the next closest riff to the mountain dwelling group. We’ll have a thousand kayron trip over the planet I figure it will take almost two planet turns before they can drop the first gas ball. Other then blowing up a riff that was the best I could do.”

 

“If you’re ever try to quit and get another job, remind me to blast you. Get a message to Harayah and tell her what’s happened.” Number One smiled.

 

“I’ve already done that, sir.”

 

“No one needs me anymore.” Number One shook his head, went into his office and closed the door.

 

***

 

“Haytore, come here and sit down,” Zarta Galaxy Number One said.

 

Haytore moved up to the front of the portal. “What is it, Number One?”

 

“What do you think about this mission we’re on?”

 

“I think it smells worse than an ended husser full of slimmers under a hot star. But you know I’ll do as I’m told, Number One,” Haytore said quietly.

 

“I know you hang out with a bunch of the higher ups in the Galaxy League when you’re not after a runner. I’m way over my head here. I need you to find out everything you can about this ending order. First find out who pushed it through Tracker League and then find out why. I’m sorry to put you on the spot like this, but I need to know. You only have about fifteen tesers till we drop the first gas ball.”

 

“Yes, sir, right away.” Haytore hurried back to her seat and started sending out messages.

 

Idenp came and sat beside Number One. “Qutine and Maktine are reporting that their portals aren’t opening at the riff.”

 

“What do you mean they’re not opening?” Number One snapped.

 

“Sir, they’re locked in the riff and can’t get out on the planet. Tracker Room said there’s nothing wrong with the riff and Their portals check out. They’re just non functional.”

 

Number started to scream at Idenp to get him some answers then stopped and started laughing. “How long will it take us to go to the next riff and across the planet to that dwelling group?”

 

“I’m figuring about two planet turns,” Idenp replied.

 

“Tell them to head to the next riff and wait there for us. Send a message to Tracker League and Lainer Galaxy to tell them we’ll be delayed on our mission for two planet turns due to riff malfunction.” He added, under his breath, “You old, gray haired Morea! Some planet turn I’m going to have to ask you how you pulled this off.”

 

Haytore came and sat down beside Number One and whispered, “The first part was easy. It was Taymar. He’s the only Sinne on the Tracker League Board. He turned in the order for approval the star break Meka’s tracker teams got on the Sinne’s planet.”

 

“He would have had to have written it at least the planet turn before,” Number One said. “I want to see the wording on that request.”

 

“I was told by one of my friends that we don’t want to ask too many questions about this order. Oh yeah, Number One, the word is that Taymar pulled in some big markers to get this order passed. As for the why he went to all this trouble, I’m still working on that.”

 

“Good. It seems someone up there likes us. We have two planet turns to get some answers.”

 

***

 

Harayah scanned the dwelling from the rock face above with a set of looking glasses. “I don’t see any tri-blasters anywhere. I’m going to use one of the hovering relays to get a better reading of TYT4328 and ENDNOW.”

 

Swal watched Harayah send the small black box down the slope and out in front of the dwelling. As he was taking a tracker reading, the door of the dwelling opened and a short Shadaton came outside with a long looking glass and a box in his hands.

 

TT4328 pointed the box in the direction of their hovering relay as if he was taking a reading. Putting down the box, he lifted the long looking glass and scanned the stars.

 

Harayah rushed the hovering relay back to herself to turn it off as TT4328 continued scanning the sky through his long looking glass.

 

TT4328 turned his attention to the rocks behind his dwelling. A couple of times Swal knew TT4328 was looking right at him. Swal held his breath as the Shadaton backed up into the shadows of a rock overhang.

 

It was almost ten derons before Harayah and Swal saw the outline of TT4328’s form on a rock one hundred sikers farther down the mountain, scanning the open area between them and the dwelling group.

 

Thirty derons later TT4328 was back standing in front of his dwelling. He took one more look at the mountainside behind the dwelling before going inside and closing the door.

 

Harayah moved closer to Swal. “What kind of reading did you get on your tracker, partner?”

 

“It looks like yours does. I think your tracker was reading right back at the dwelling rental. There’s some kind of cave behind TT4328’s dwelling. ENDNOW was almost a hundred and fifty sikers below me inside this mountain. That’s not all. Did you get that strange power reading also?” Swap pointed to a brightness on his tracker that was barely glowing.

 

“I did. It’s like there’s a low power riff opening somewhere back in the cave.” Harayah pushed some buttons on her tracker. “Look at this, Swal. I plotted the riff opening and it’s been a non-working riff for the last three thousand star turns.” She held up her tracker. “Swal? Where are you?”

 

Harayah pulled out her light immobilizer and spun around to see two swirling columns of dust.

 

“Hold your blast. It’s us,” Meka said

 

Zoeona heard a light immobilizer powering down off to his left. “Partner, I told you these air cloaks weren’t worth a thing in this dust.”

 

“Meka, get down behind Harayah quickly and turn your trackers off.” Swal stepped between Zoeona and the dwelling as the door swung open and TT4328 stepped out with a blaster and a pair of looking glasses.

 

TT4328 stepped into the shadows, but they knew where he was because star brightness would flicker now and then off the ends of the looking glass as TT4328 scanned back and forth across the mountain face looking for something out of place.

 

Over a teser passed before the Shadaton went back inside and turned off the brightness.

 

“Swal set up the decoy piles of rock and let’s get out of here. Zoeona stick with Swal and keep watch on that dwelling for any movement,” Harayah ordered.

 

***

 

Magator’s tracker beeped one time. He powered up the air bubble and flipped on his darkness blasting sights. Aiming his sight at the people ribbon that came over the top of the mountain, he lightly touched the blaster trigger.

 

In the darkness, a pile of rocks and two columns of dust crested the top and started down toward him. Magator took a tracker reading then powered off his blasters and landed the air bubble on a large rock.

 

“Magator, get back to the dwelling group as fast as you can. We have a lot to do and little time to do it,” Harayah said, turning off her cloak and climbing into the back of the air bubble followed by Meka, and Zoeona.

 

“Where’s Swal? Magator asked.

 

“What?” Harayah spun around. “Zoeona, where’s Swal?”

 

“He’s coming. He was about four hundred sikers behind me. He went down to the dwelling. He said he wanted to take a look at something.”

 

An Elan crested the mountaintop and came running down toward the air bubble. Magator lifted off as Swal grabbed the door and swung in.

 

“Why the underplanet did you go down to the dwelling?” Harayah yelled at Swal.

 

“I’ll tell you back at the dwelling and you’re not going to believe it.”

 

Harayah touched Meka on the shoulder. “ENDNOW and TT4328 are in a cave almost two hundred siker underground. No amount of gas balling is going to touch them. Plus there’s an old riff in the back of the cave. You have to stop Number One and his gas ball attack. Swal get a hold of Arear and find out about that riff.”

 

“No!” Meka yelled. “No one messages anyone till we get back to the dwelling group.”



Chapter 31

 Loyalty

 

 

Magator set the air bubble down as close to the dwelling rental as he could get it.

 

“Meka,” Harayah said, holding the back door of the dwelling open so the others could enter. “I hope you have a good reason to stop me from reporting what Swal and I found back there.”

 

Zoeona stood in the middle of the room shaking the dust out of his fur. “We came up there to tell you not to use your tracker for any messages on or off the planet. Number One thinks someone at Tracker League is leaking information to ENDNOW.”

 

Swal stopped brushing the ground off his scales. “Tracker League? What kind of proof does he have? If we can’t use the trackers, how did he get the message to you?”

 

“He said ‘thinks’, partner. Their Number One doesn’t have any proof. Isn’t that right Meka? What I want to know is what makes him think that.” Harayah sat on the side of the resting table.

 

Meka went over to the viewport, pushed the coverings aside and looked out. “Swal, do you remember that blue wave transmitter and receiver a tech was using to warn a runner your trackers were after? We got our hands on it.” She pulled a small box out from under her covering. “Haytore worked out a code so that if messages were intercepted it would be indecipherable.

 

“What we do know is that someone on the Tracker League Board pumped a huge amount of payment to have something built on this planet. At least one board member is going out of his way to make sure ENDNOW is ended.  A coded message was sent to the Sinne planet derons before we portaled in there. Where do you think the orders to gas ball the whole side of the mountain came from?”

 

“Tracker League.” Harayah stood up.

 

“Well, that explains it,” Swal murmured as he brushed more dust off the scales of his tail.

 

“Explains what?” Everyone asked simultaneously.

 

“The blast doors in the back of the dwelling up there.”

 

“What blast doors?” Harayah asked.

 

“You asked me why I went down to the dwelling remember? I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.”

 

“We’re all listening now,” Magator said. “Like Harayah said, what blast doors?”

 

“The first time TT4328 came out of the dwelling I felt a vibration coming up through the rocks. After that, every time he went in or out I felt vibrations.. I had to find out where it was coming from so I went and took a look through the viewport. About fifteen to twenty sikers back inside a tunnel, I saw the heaviest set of blast doors I’ve seen in a long time. I bet they were a siker thick. Oh, and the dwelling was less than a half a star turn old.”

 

“How do you know that?” Zoeona asked. “It was dark.”

 

“The dwelling rocks still had sharp edges. The blowing dust hadn’t smoothed them off yet.”

 

Harayah shook her head. “ENDNOW and TT4328 are in a cave almost two hundred sikers underground with a set of blast doors and a riff no one knew about. No amount of gas balling is going to touch them. Will that blue wave transmitter work both ways?”

 

“No, only one way. Anyway, Number One is on his way. We can stop him from gas balling anything when he gets here.”

 

“It’s not your Number One I want to stop. In fact, I want him to gas ball that dwelling into a pile of dust.”

 

“You want them to cover our runner up in that cave?” Swal hissed at Harayah.

 

“Yes, that’s precisely what I want them to do. Magator take our portal back to tracker room. Here’s what I want you to do.” Harayah followed Magator over to the door and whispered something to him. Magator smiled then hurried out.

 

***

 

TT4328 pointed his star viewer at the dwelling group and watched the big swirl of dust behind the dwelling rental. He quickly scanned the riff down planet of the dwellings. He packed the viewer back into its bag and climbed off the top of his dwelling.

 

ENDNOW heard the blast doors open and close as he set up. He looked around for his tri blaster.

 

TT4238 handed it to him. “Here, I thought I might need it. I think there are trackers in the dwelling group. They have an air bubble hidden behind the dwelling rental and someone left in a portal. We may have to leave early.”

 

“That figures. You’d think trackers would be on time. They were supposed to be here last darkness.” ENDNOW tried to stand up, but fell back to the ground. He pointed his tri blaster at TT4328. “Get those three holding bags of tri blaster parts into the portal. Put enough intake and fluid in there for seven planet turns. I’ll let you pick out the healing supplies we’ll need.”

 

TT4328 picked up two of the tri blaster holding bags. “Mdora, we only have enough intake for six planet turns.”

 

ENDNOW laughed. “I guess you’ll go hungry for two planet turns then. Did you set up the two auto blasters like I told you?”

 

“Yes, and it doesn’t make sense to adjust them like that.”

 

A blast of tri color light tore through a healing supply holding box on the wall. “Just do what you’re told and I might get you out of here alive. If not, I’ll end you myself.” ENDNOW pulled himself back up onto the healer’s table, reached into his covering and pulled out a box with a button in the middle. With a click, a red brightness showed to the left of the button. The two auto blasters on either side of the dwelling started to hum as they ran through a self-check.

 

TT4328 moved past ENDNOW to get more intake supplies when two blasts of tri light zipped past so close that they almost turned his covering into flickering heat.

 

“What in the underplanet are you doing? You almost ended me!”

 

ENDNOW just grinned and lay back down.

 

TT4328 looked over at the blast doors. A molting mass of red metal had fused the two doors together. One of the lower support rollers was also melted. “I hope the portal works. If not, you’ve just ended us.”

 

“Quit whining like an offspring. It works. How do you think I got up here? By asking the nice people mover handler to please take me up to my secret hideout in the mountains? You’re just like our male elder. No wonder I blasted him.”

 

TT4328 lunged at ENDNOW, grabbed the tri blaster away from him then shoved it into ENDNOW’S chest. “Stop it! If you want to blast me that’s fine, but never again bring up our elder. He was good to both of us. You had no reason to end him. And if you ever say anything bad about him again, it’ll be the last thing you ever say!!”

 

TT4328 stepped back, pulled the power pack out of the tri blaster and threw the blaster at ENDNOW. “You won’t need this till we get to the other end of the riff.” He slipped the power pack inside his covering.

 

“Well, well. I might have someone worthy enough to be called my mdora after all.” ENDNOW closed his eyes.

 

***

 

“That’s all you have, Magator, and you want me to risk everything I’ve worked for? First it was techs and now board members. What happened to the old tracker code? Arear, where is that information I asked you for?!” Number One yelled.

 

The door flew open and Arear ran in. “Harayah was right. That riff is so weak a programmable portal wouldn’t work in it. Ysor, Elaray, Sayron, and two holding room techs are taking a large brown rock to the other opening now.”

 

“What makes you think I’d go along with this harebrained scheme of Harayah’s? Get out of my office and you’d better keep me in the dark. Is that understood?” Number One hollered.

 

Magator was the first one out of the room. “This is the first time Number One hasn’t backed us up on one of our plans.”

 

Arear grinned. “If he wasn’t backing us, Elaray’s portal would be heading back this way already.”

 

“I have to get back and tell Harayah everything will be ready when she is. By the way, did you put in extra power packs for the star blasters?”

 

“If what you told me is right, the air bubble wouldn’t lift off carrying that many. I gave you two power cables instead.”

 

***

 

Zarta Galaxy’s Number One entered Swal and Harayah’s dwelling rental along with Hoffador, Qutine, Meka, Zoeona, Idenp, and Haytore.

 

“Have a seat, Number One.” Harayah pointed at the chair across from her at the table.

 

Number One sat down. “Meka filled me in on your plan. You know, if anything goes wrong you and Number One will take full blame. If this works I might catch two hussers on one line.”

 

“Three,” Swal said. “TT4328 is ours. I don’t care what you do with ENDNOW and your Tracker League Board Member. You keep your payment; we’ll keep ours.”

 

“If I were you, I’d lift the ban about messaging on and off the planet,” Harayah said, picking up her tracker. “If things are too quiet, they’ll think we’re up to something. In fact, it might be best to let them know what we’re up to.” She messaged Arear at Tracker Room for a box of gas balls.

 

Within derons Swal’s tracker buzzed.

 

“They want to know if I agree with you and why we need so many.” Swal laughed. “I’ll let them know we’re going to help Zarta Galaxy gas ball the mountain face to get it to collapse on top of ENDNOW’s dwelling.”

 

A few derons later Magator came in and closed the door. “On my way back from tracker room I got a coded message from Arear. He told me right after he received Swal’s message a high frequency coded message was sent to this planet.”

 

“How did he spot the coded message so fast?” Haytore asked Magator.

 

“Arear’s monitoring sub riff signals.”  Magator looked around for a place to sit.

 

“Did he see where the message was sent from?” Number One asked.

 

“I don’t know, but, before I left, Cmanr and Mary’s teams were getting into a portal headed for Tracker League, something about new tracker trainees. Sayron, Elaray, Ysor and two holding room techs with three auto blasters and blast shields, were already on their way to the other end of that riff ENDNOW’s planning on using.”

 

“It looks like Lainer Tracker Room has that end covered. It’s almost star down, trackers, and we have a mountain to crumble.” Number One got up. “You coming, Harayah?”

 

***

 

The containers on the tables started moving around. “It’s about time. Well, mdora, that sound means you’re going to be a free Shadaton shortly. Give me a hand.” ENDNOW sat up and reached for TT4328’s arm.

 

“What good does all this do if our implants give us away?” TT4328 helped his mdora to his feet.

 

 ENDNOW pushed a small metal box up against TT4328’s arm.

 

TT4328 screamed as something was ripped out from under his skin. “What the underplanet did you do?”

 

ENDNOW held up the box and pointed to a small black dot in the center of a white plate.

 

“What the underplanet is that?” TT4328 asked as he rubbed his arm.

 

“That, mdora, is your implant. I’ve known for star turns where your implant was located.” Pulling a small container out of his covering he threw both the container and the box at the blast doors.

 

“I take it that was your implant in the container?” Supporting ENDNOW, TT4328 started for the portal.

 

“Those stupid trackers thought that healer put that implant in me. I knew what she was up to before I even stepped into her dwelling.”

 

“So why hold onto it? Every tracker in the galaxy would know where you were at.”

 

“That’s the point, mdora - to bring them here. Think about it. Blast doors, buried riffs, a dwelling almost under a cliff and a whole tracker room told to end me by gas balling the face of this mountain.

 

“I bet you have no idea what those three bags of tri blaster parts are worth. I’ll tell you - nothing.  There not worth even one payment without me to install the stones correctly. Do you know what kind of payment a person could make selling thousands of tri blasters to battling chemical groups or to a couple of battling planets?”

 

“That Sinne planet you were on was just a test run, wasn’t it? You almost got ended over a test.” TT4328 laid ENDNOW down in the portal.

 

“If it hadn’t been for those new fast portals the trackers are using, I’d have been off that planet long before they got there.”

 

The sound of the two auto blasters could be heard through the blast doors. Within derons the blast doors bowed in from a gas ball explosion followed by a roar as huge rocks slid down the mountain and banged up against the doors.

 

“Time to go, mdora,” ENDNOW said as the old portal rumbled and slipped into the riff.

 

***

 

Magator put down his tracker. “Arear said he’s sending more gas balls and they’re on their way. They’ll be here in about six planet turns.”

 

Harayah looked at the rock slide that covered the dwelling. “We have eleven planet turns to get inside of that tunnel. Hook up the power cables and let’s get started.”

 

Hoffador and Number One came over. “We still have some gas balls left over,” Number One said. “Let’s use them to clear away some of these loose rocks and blast a hole out first. It might save a planet turn or two.”

 

“Good idea. Hey, where’s Swal?” Harayah looked around.

 

“I sent him with two of my tracker teams to help Sayron and Ysor. We have ENDNOW trapped in a riff and I don’t plan on him getting away this time. Swal told me to tell you he’d be right back. Hoffador, you’ll find a couple of gas balls in my air bubble.”

 

***

 

Six planet turns later, Sayron and the others watched from behind a blast shield as the waving plants started twisting and turning.

 

Sayron placed his finger on the auto blaster’s button. “Give them a chance to give up, but don’t let them out of the portal unless they do.”

 

Eight light immobilizers and three auto blasters were pointed at the portal as it started out of the ground amongst the short twisting plants. As the door opened, ENDNOW stood there with a tri blaster in each hand.

 

Before Idenp could tell ENDNOW to throw down his tri blasters, ENDNOW got off four quick blasts that cut through the blast shield like it wasn’t there and hit a holding room tech and one of the auto blasters.

 

Sayron pushed the button he was holding. The remaining two auto blasters let out a stream of white light blasts as the other trackers blasted away at ENDNOW.

 

TT4328 rushed forward and closed the portal door. The tall hard plant almost exploded as the portal lunged back into the riff.

 

Ysor opened the box holding the brown rock and threw it over next to the vanishing riff.

 

Haytore, leaning over the tech, shook her head. “He’s ended.”

 

“To underplanet with Tracker League! Message Harayah and tell her they’re on the way back,” Sayron said.

 

“I think we should gas ball both ends of the riff,” another tech said as he picked his friend up and carried him over to a waiting air bubble.

 

“No. We need him alive so we can find out who he’s working for,” Haytore said. “Don’t message anyone! We’ll tell them what happened when we get there.”

 

***

 

All the trackers on the mountainside watched the portal slip out of the cave wall on the view screen from the remote viewer strapped to one of the auto star blaster’s legs. When the portal came to a rest, Swal yanked on a cord and a box lid flew open causing a brown rock to roll between the portal and the riff.

 

TT4328 stepped out of the portal and looked straight at the blasters.

 

“Drop your blaster and put your hands up,” Number One said over a speaker system. “Tell Harakey to come out with his hands up, too.”

 

“My mdora is ended. Your trackers cut him in half on the other planet.”

 

“Drop your blaster, put your hands up and move away from the portal,” Number One repeated.

 

“Harakey may have been bad, but he was a Shadaton and he was my mdora. The one thing you’ll never understand about Shadatons is that we’re loyal.” TT4328 raised his blaster, but the auto star blasters roared first.

 

A hovering viewer dropped through the hole Harayah had cut into the rocks with the star blasters and floated over to the portal. Inside were bits and pieces of ENDNOW. On one of the resting tables was his upper half; his legs were on the ground next to it.

 

“I don’t care if it looks like him- take all the parts back to the lab and prove it,” Number One told Meka.

 

“What about TT4328?” Swal asked. “There’s not enough left of him to turn in for our payment.”

 

“Two went in, two came out. I’ll sign for your payment slip, Swal,” Number One said. “Now let’s get everything picked up and get back to our tracker rooms. This isn’t over yet.”

 


Chapter 32

 Elimination

 

 

Cmanr sat down on the long seat next to Laga in front of the covering dwelling and watched Gordons moving up and down the main mover line. “You’d think there would be a story on their view box about TT4328 and his mdora. They act like this is the only planet in the galaxy.”

 

Laga looked up from his tracker and watched everyone rushing by. “Look, there’s a Morea, Osiver, three Lappauls, a family of Baywas and two Jakas. I’m a Hidea. I don’t think they’re wrapped up only in this planet. I think we’re all just wrapped up in ourselves. If Z88441 doesn’t hurry up and come out of that fluid dwelling, I’m going in after him. My plates are getting sore sitting here.”

 

“Well, get up and move around. I can watch the tracker.” Cmanr reached over and took it out of Laga’s hands. “He’s still sitting in the same spot. If that was me, I’d have fallen off that high seat by now.”

 

Laga laughed and stood up. “I’d put my payment on you any planet turn when it comes to hard fluid. By the way, when we get back we need to set up a little friendly wager with those new trackers you and Mary brought back from Tracker League.”

 

“Who? Affacar and Odeon? I want nothing to do with those two. Don’t you think it’s funny that right after ENDNOW and TT4328 are ended the Zarta and Lainer Tracker Rooms get trackers we don’t need? I know that the Gegone, Tarford and Idor Tracker Rooms are short at least three tracker teams. I’m telling you - something isn’t right.” Cmanr glanced down at the tracker again.

 

“They do seem a bit standoffish,” agreed Laga. “I tried to get them to come over to my table in the intake room and they looked at me like I was sticking my intake cutter in them. They won’t last long if they don’t lighten up.”

 

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you, partner. I don’t think they’re trackers. I think they’re from some elite dark battling group. When we were coming back with them to tracker room, Mary tried to talk to them. They wouldn’t speak, just sat there like they were on a mission.”

 

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say that the long people mover that just pulled up doesn’t belong in this part of the dwelling group.” Laga looked over at his tracker.

 

Cmanr handed it to him. “Z88441’s on the move. In fact, there he is at the door now. Bet you two percent of the payment he’s going over to talk to the male in the back seat of that long people mover.”

 

“I’ll go one better. That male is moving over so Z88441 can get in.” Laga sat down right beside Cmanr and put his arm around her.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Whoever that is in the back seat looked out the back viewport at us and that was the only thing I could think of doing in case he got suspicious.”

 

“They’re leaving now so you can get your arm off my neck. It’s heavier than I am! Did you happen to get a good look at the back of the mover? There was a paste sticker on it.”

 

“No. What did it say?”

 

“T.B.M.”

 

“Tracker Board Member?”

 

“Yes! What is it doing here picking up a mediocre, illegal blaster selling Gordon? I think we’d better follow them.” Cmanr jumped up and ran for their people mover.

 

Laga hurried to catch up with her. “He’s staying just up the mover line. We can wait there for him.”

 

“Hurry!” Cmanr snapped as she climbed into the mover and powered it up. “I don’t think he’s going to be allowed to come back.”

 

Laga had barely gotten his restrainer latched when Cmanr shoved the speed lever forward and the mover sped out of the dwelling group. “We lost about ten derons back there. Get me a reading, partner. There’s a Y in the moving lane in about seven derons. I need to know which way they went.”

 

“I can’t find T44881’s signal. Something’s wrong with my tracker. Where’s yours?”

 

Cmanr gestured over her shoulder. “Back seat; under my holding bag, I think.”

 

He leaned over the seat, grabbed her holding bag, found the tracker and started punching buttons. “Nothing! It’s not showing a signal either.”

 

“I thought Arear had our trackers fixed so runner’s signals couldn’t be blocked.”

 

 Cmanr nearly jumped out of the mover when Laga yelled, “Wait a ron! Your tracker has arrows! It’s not showing his number or how far, but it’s showing which way. Turn around! He’s behind us to our left.”

 

Cmanr did a quick U-turn and sped back the way they had just come. “I don’t remember seeing any mover line crossings back this way.”

 

“Slow down. Go right planet the first chance you get. We’ve passed him again.”

 

Turning onto a narrow, ground covered mover line, Cmanr had to slow down. “Why would anyone take a long people mover down a rough mover line like this?”

 

“We’re fixing to find out.” Laga pointed toward an abandoned dwelling with the back half of a people mover sticking out.

 

Cmanr stopped the mover. As they got out, both pulled their light immobilizers out of their holsters.

 

“They know we’re here, partner,” Cmanr said as they started for the back of the dwelling. “Be careful.”

 

“I think we’re too late. Look at the two holes in the back of the mover and that tall hard plant is still smoldering.” Laga glanced into one of the dwelling viewports to make sure no one was hiding in there.

 

“There’s another set of mover tracks here. You stay on the ground. I’ll cover you from the top of the dwelling,” Cmanr said.

 

Laga nodded. “Whistle when you’re in position.”

 

A few rons later Laga heard a low whistle. He stepped around the corner of the dwelling with his immobilizer pointed at the mover. The left side was full of holes. An ended Sinne lay on the ground with a light blaster close by. The ended controller was on the ground by the dwelling, his blaster still in his hand. Z88441 was crumpled up in the back of the mover, a blaster on the seat beside him.

 

Laga went over to examine the blaster holes in the side of the mover. As Cmanr jumped down from the top of the dwelling, he said, “Look at the size of these blast holes. They’re small.”

 

Cmanr went around to the back of the mover and kneeled down. She looked closely at the two holes in the back of the mover. Turning around she lined them up with the two holes in the tall hard plant that was still smoldering. “They weren’t using normal light blasters. Go get the view maker and get as many still views as you can. I’m going to call this into the Planet Officer Corp. You know who that Sinne is, don’t you?”

 

Laga tapped the paste sticker on the back of the mover. “I’d say he’s the Sinne on the Tracker League Board that put out all the payment to build ENDNOW’S get away dwelling in the mountains.”

 

“That’s what I like about you, partner. We think alike.”

 

***

 

The instant Cmanr’s and Laga’s portal door opened at Tracker room, Elaray and Ysor stepped in.

 

Ysor handed Laga a view maker. “Give me your view maker and hurry! We don’t have much time. Do you have any more view film?”

 

“No. We just had the one.”

 

“When they ask for yours, give them this one. Now go,” Elaray said as he and Ysor moved around them to the back of the portal.

 

Cmanr and Laga had no sooner gotten out of the portal then the door closed and it slipped back into the riff.

 

Number One’s door opened and he came out followed by three Lappauls. “Cmanr, Laga. These three are from Tracker League Security. They’re here to get your view maker and all the still views you took of the Board Member’s ending.”

“We want to look at the still views first to try and see if we can figure out what happened,” Cmanr hissed. “It’s our runner that was ended. We were the first ones on the scene.”

 

Laga stepped in front of Cmanr. “It’s no big deal, partner. We’ll give them a copy when we get them out of the view maker.”

 

“Are you dumber than a rock?” asked one of the Lappauls. “Hand us the view maker, all the rolls of view film you took, your holding bags, all your equipment and your light immobilizers.”

 

“Now, just a deron. What in the underplanet is this all about?” Laga placed his hand on his light immobilizer.

 

“Laga!!!” Number One yelled. “Do as you’re told.”

 

After going through all Cmanr’s and Laga’s things, the three Lappauls took their trackers, the view maker, both their light immobilizers and put them into a holding bag.

 

“Where is the rest of the view film?” asked one of the Lappauls, picking up the holding bag.

 

“That was all the view film we had. You want to look through our coverings too? Maybe do a body search?” Cmanr glared at them. “And what are we going to do with out our light immobilizers?”

 

“We’ll issue you new ones.” Number One put his paw on Cmanr’s shoulder.

 

The three Lappauls crossed Tracker Room without saying a word, got into a portal and left.

 

Number One looked around the room then signaled for Arear, Cmanr and Laga to follow him. He led them over to one of the storage bays. He unlocked it, gesturing them to follow him inside. Once everyone was inside he locked the door and leaned up against an air bubble. “Okay, Arear, tell them what you’ve found since they’ve been gone.”

 

“Ever since that tracker room tech was caught helping a runner, Number One and I thought it was best to scan for any unauthorized signals. I had just scanned the planet turn before you and Mary got back from Tracker League. Three planet turns later, I found four listening devices: one in the male and female resting rooms, one in the intake room and one in Number One’s room. Don’t talk about anything you don’t want Tracker League to know about outside of this storage room. Get the key from Number One or me. Until Number One or I tell you differently, don’t tell anyone, except Elaray and Ysor, about this storage room.”

 

“How did Tracker League know I was bringing in still views of the Sinne’s ending?” Cmanr asked.

 

“Everyone told them,” Number One said. “You did when you told the tech over your tracker. The tech did when he told me in my room. Everyone was talking about it over intake.”

 

“When they look at the still views they’ll know we switched view makers. Every one of our heads will roll,” Laga said.

 

“Arear fixed that view maker so that all the still views will come out ruined. They’ll think you used a broken view maker.”

 

“Arear is going to be gone for a while and Elaray is filling in for him. I hope you find something in those still views, Cmanr. Like Laga said, our heads will roll if I’m wrong about what’s going on around here.” Number One unlocked the door.

 

“Where are the new guys now?” Laga asked.

 

“Affacar is in the healing tank and Odeon said he had to go back to his home planet for a few planet turns. Why?” Arear asked.

 

Cmanr spoke up before Laga could answer. “What happened to Affacar?

 

“They blasted it out with a runner and Affacar was hit in the left arm. The healers pulled some melted viewport pane out of him and placed him in the healing tank. I’m sure you can go see him, but he’s still resting,” Arear added.

 

“When did they get back?”

 

“They portaled into tracker room about five tesers ago.”

 

“Come on, Laga. I want to check up on our friend Affacar.” Cmanr tugged on Laga’s arm.

 

“Our friend?” Laga said, surprised, but he saw Cmanr’s quick head shake. “Oh, right. I think we’d better go make sure he’s okay.”

 

After Cmanr and Laga left Number One closed the door.  “What do you think about those two?”

 

“I have no idea anymore, sir, but I can tell you this. My gut feeling is we could trust our lives with them. Still, with the depth of deception we’re finding in the Tracker Rooms and Tracker League, I just don’t know.”

 

“Well, good luck. Wartron and Tealayon messaged that more people are involved in this plot than we originally thought.”

 

I wonder what they found out. They’re still meeting me as we planned?” Arear reached behind the air bubble and pulled out his holding bag.

 

“Yes, they should be there in seven planet turns. Oh, Ysor will give you a set of the still views then too.” Number One patted Arear on the shoulder. “You’d better get going. Your portal leaves shortly. And be careful.”

 

***

 

Cmanr placed her hand on Laga’s arm and started tapping out a coded message: ‘Number One and Arear don’t trust us. I saw it in Number One’s eyes when Arear was talking.”

 

Laga put his hand on Cmanr’s back. As he talked, he tapped: ‘I’ll go and get a view maker. You want to get still views of the hole in Affacar’s arm, don’t you?’ I want to change my coverings. I’ll meet you by Affacar’s healing tank.”

 

‘Yes. I want to see if it is the same size as the one in the front passenger door. That’s if Elaray brings the still views back.’ That’s a good idea. I think I’ll change, too.” Cmanr gave Laga a slap on his arm plating and headed off to the female resting room.

 

***

 

Elaray and Ysor came out of the small dwelling to find Waveart standing there.

 

“Wow,” she said. “You already have those still views done?”

 

“Yes and thanks for the use of your equipment. You know, these are Ysor’s personal still views and we’re supposed to be after a runner. We’d really get in a lot of trouble if you told anyone,” Elaray said.

 

“I wasn’t hatched last planet turn. You made sure you didn’t leave any trace you were here?”

 

“Everything is cleaner than when we got here,” Ysor said with a smile.

 

“Watch it. That room was cleaner than a battling group resting room. Now get out of here before someone sees you.” Waveart winked and went back into her dwelling.

 

“Sayron can pick them, can’t he, partner,” Ysor said.

 

“If I remember the story right, it was Magator that did the picking.” Elaray took a copy of the still views. “I’ll get these to Cmanr. Everyone will meet you at Persamp’s in about seven planet turns. Be careful, partner. This isn’t a game.”

 

“That’s why I’m taking a slow portal around the galaxy. Besides, seven planet turns of peace and quiet will do me good.”

 

***

 

Laga had just put the view maker away after taking views of Affacar’s arm when a healing tech came into the room.

 

“How is he?” Cmanr asked.

 

“He’ll be okay. All he had was a blast hole through his arm plus a face and chest full of melted viewport pane. He’ll be resting for the next couple of planet turns. Come back then and you can talk to him.” The tech adjusted some settings on the tank then left.

 

Cmanr placed her hand on top of Laga’s. “He’ll be fine, partner. We’ll catch the runner that did this. ‘Now, how are we going to get these still views out of the view maker?”

 

“I hate to see fellow trackers blasted. That could be you or me, partner. Let’s go and see if Elaray has heard anything. Maybe he’ll have another runner for us.” Laga took Cmanr’s hand. “Doesn’t Kelona’s elder have a dwelling full of view maker equipment?”

 

Cmanr patted Laga’s hand “If not, maybe we can get a couple of planet turns off.”

 

“Maybe you two can do both,” someone said from behind them.

 

Laga and Cmanr’s hands reached for their light immobilizers as they spun around.

 

Elaray smiled. “Easy, it’s just me! We’re shorthanded so you two have Tracker Room duty for the next six planet turns. After that you can take a few planet turns off. Get back with me and tell me if you want to go after this runner.” Elaray handed a package to Cmanr and left.

 

Cmanr looked inside the package and smiled. “This is one runner I think we both would like to bring in.” She held the package open so Laga could see the stacks of still views that they had taken of the long people mover.

 

“Let’s wait until we have the planet turns off to study this file. I won’t have another runner slipping through my finger plating like Z88441 did.” Laga gave Cmanr a nudge.

 


Chapter 33

 Parchment Trail

 

 

The bank of frozen fluid exploded as if someone had set off a gas ball when the riff opened and a portal slid out.

 

Arear stepped out of the portal. All he could see for a few hundred sikers in all directions were vapors and white frozen fluid. “Great, I pick a planet turn where everything is hidden by vapors. This planet chart isn’t going to help without some kind of reference point.” He slipped the chart back into his holding bag.

 

Off to Arear’s right something appeared out of the vapors.

 

Shortly, a broken down people mover stopped in front of him and a shaggy, old Sinne smiled, revealing black teeth.

 

“Hey, little Caratain, did you just get here?” Before Arear could answer the Sinne said, “For one payment I’ll take you into the nearest dwelling group.”

 

“I’m looking for your planet’s record keeping dwelling. Do you know where it is?” Arear started for the mover.

 

“Wait a ron there, little Caratain.” The Sinne ran his fingers through the dirty looking hair on his face. “That’s over in the next dwelling group. I’ll need to get an extra three payments to go that far.”

 

“How far is it and which way?”

 

“That’ll cost you a payment for that information.” The Sinne smiled again.

 

“Forget it.” Arear threw his holding bag over his shoulder and turned right, moving along the trail the people mover had made in the frozen fluid.

 

“Wait a deron. Okay, I’ll take you there for three payments.”

 

Arear looked back at him. “Two.”

 

The mover controller shook his head. “Two and a half; not a payment less. I have a mate and five offspring to buy intake for.”

 

Arear went back to the mover and tossed his holding bag in the back seat. “Deal.”

 

Turning the mover around, the Sinne started laughing. “You don’t look like it, but I’d put some payment on you being half Sinne.”

 

Arear watched as kayron after kayron of frozen fluid went by. Every now and then a dwelling would break free of the vapors and just as quickly disappear back into the endless white.

 

“I haven’t even seen a tall hard plant. Does this planet have anything on it except frozen fluid and a few dwellings?” Arear asked.

 

“Sure. You’re up around the top of the planet. It’s too cold here. They’re in the middle. We mine a lot of rock iron around here; top grade, too. Lots of other planets use it to make blasters with. It can withstand the heat from the white and red lights. My elders and their elders, farther back than I can remember, have worked in those mines.”

 

“What made you decide to control a people mover for a living?” Arear looked over at the Sinne who was trying not to grin.

 

“I just do this between shifts in the mine. Remember, I have a mate and five offspring to feed. Underplanet, they’re going to intake me out of my dwelling if I can’t get some of them to move out. I have two female offspring that are of age if you need a mate.”

 

Arear laughed, “Thanks, but no thanks. I have one waiting for me now back on Caratain’s main dwelling planet.”

 

“If that doesn’t work out, you come back and I’ll let you have your pick. I could use one of their resting rooms for a work area.”

 

A few derons later the mover entered a dwelling group and stopped in front of a large, two level dwelling. “That’ll be two and a half payments.”

 

Arear tossed the controller four payments. “Keep it. By the way, I thought you said this was farther than the nearest dwelling group?”

 

The Sinne looked at the payment in his hand. “And I thought you said two and a half payments.” Before Arear could answer the Sinne pushed the controls forward and yelled thanks as the mover sped off.

 

As he entered the dwelling through an open archway, Arear realized it was just as cold inside as out.

 

A big Sinne sat at a table doing some kind of work, shifting large flat rocks back and forth. She looked up at Arear. “Can I help you?”

 

“Yes. I’m here to look over the records of cost. Caratain Builders Enterprise is thinking about building here and I was sent to do some research. My boss, Qulona Azaw, messaged ahead.”

 

“Yes, sir, I have a room all set up and ready.” She pointed to a small archway off to the left. I’ll show you to our tablet room. You’ll want to bring one of these rolling tables. Some of our tablets are heavy. You’ll have to transport them back and forth yourself. Put everything back you where you got it from or your enterprise will be charged a refilling fee.”

 

Arear grabbed one of the rolling tables and followed her. “How far is the Whiteout Dwelling Rental from here?”

 

“Not far. Go out the main archway, go right three dwellings, turn left and it’s six dwellings down on your left. You can’t miss it.”

 

Going through the small arched doorway at the end of the mover way, Arear saw rows upon rows of rock tablets.

 

“This is the tablet room. If you need anything else let me know.” The Sinne turned and headed back to her table.

 

***

 

Three planet turns later Arear took the last still view and put his view maker away. He put all the rock tablets back where he had found them and headed out of the record dwelling. A people mover was sitting outside.

 

Arear looked inside and saw the old Sinne.

 

“Four payments to take you back to the riff,” he said with a grin.

 

“Two and a half and not a payment more,” Arear said with a laugh.

 

“I still say you have some Sinne in you. Two and a half payments it is. Get in. By the way, where you headed?”

 

“Back to Caratain. I have less than two planet turns to get my report in or this trip comes out of my payment.”

 

“It’s a six planet turn trip to Caratain. You’ll never make it.”

 

“I don’t have to be there, I just have to get the report there. I’ll send it over the portal messenger network. Besides, I still have to write it all up.”

 

The Sinne handed Arear a flat stone. “Here’s my rock. If you ever come back this way, send me a message first and I’ll make sure someone is waiting to pick you up.”

 

“Thanks, I’ll do that.” Arear placed the stone in his holding bag. The star was high and not a vapor could be seen.  He sat back and watched the frozen fluid floating up and down as the mover sped along. It reminded him of the waves on the great fluid body on his dwelling planet.

 

Arear was almost resting when the mover stopped.

 

“Here we are,” the Sinne said, holding out his hand. “The portal is always on time. You have about a seven deron wait.”

 

“Okay.” Arear gave him three payments. “Keep it. Buy the offspring something.”

 

He waited until the mover was out of sight then reached inside his coverings and pulled out a portal button. Within rons, a portal arrived and the door slid open. Once inside Arear programmed it for the Hterus’ main dwelling planet. When he felt the portal slip into the riff, he lay down on a resting table and closed all six of his eyes.

 

He woke with a jar and felt the portal take a sharp right. Both doors opened and all Arear could see in either direction was one tall hard plant after another.

 

Stepping out of the portal, Arear heard Hterus talking overhead. He looked up to see a group of dwellings in the tops of the tall hard plants.

 

At the base of one of the plants Arear noticed a lift box. He went over, got in and pushed the up button. The lift was so slow he started to wonder if it would ever get to the top. When it opened, a Hterus was standing there waiting to get in.

 

“Ah, can you tell me where the records dwelling is?” Arear asked.

 

The Hterus gave Arear a strange look. “Why didn’t you use the dwelling records lift? Never mind, I’ll show you.”

 

They took the lift back down to the base of the tall hard plant and waited for what the Hterus called ‘a base mover’.  A two tier people mover came along shortly and the Hterus talked to the controller and then motioned for Arear to get on.

 

“He’ll show you where to get off. I’m waiting for a different mover.”

 

Arear held out some payment, but the controller shook his head. “It’s free. Base movers are provided by the planet’s governing body.”

 

The base people movers were as slow as the lift. About thirty derons later the mover stopped.

 

The controller pointed to a lift with a large symbol on the front. “That’s the Dwelling Records lift.”

 

Arear stepped off of the huge mover and watched it slowly move away. “That thing is almost as big as a battle portal.”

 

At the top, the lift opened to a large room with eight tables in a semi circle with a Hterus sitting behind each one.

 

“May I help you?” asked the female at the table closest to the lift.

 

“Yes, I’m trying to find out which off-planet builder will give my enterprise the best payment cost in completion time for off-planet tunneling and dwelling building.”

 

“That would be table number four, sir.”

 

“Thank you.” Arear walked over to table number four and sat down in front of the young Hterus.

 

“Have you ever used one of our record keeping view boxes?” she asked.

 

“Yes, but I don’t understand Hterus symbols.” Arear looked at the control board under the clear view pane.

 

She typed something on her controller and Caratain symbols appeared on his control board view pane. “If you need anything else, please let me know.” Dark walls slid up on both sides and in front of Arear.

 

In no time at all Arear had pulled up the records for all off-planet builders that had worked on any Elan planets in the last two star turns. He tapped on the wall and it slid down until he was facing the Hterus again.

 

“Is there any way I can record this so I can take it with me?” He had no sooner asked when sheet after sheet of parchment came sliding out of a slot in the table as the wall slid back up.

 

Arear checked to make sure he had gotten everything he needed then stood up. Instantly the three walls slid down and the Hterus handed him a container to hold the parchment sheets.

 

“That’ll be six and a fourth payment, please.”

 

Arear handed her the payment and left.

 

At the base of the tall hard plant he stopped every base mover until he found one that would take him back to the riff.

 

Arear watched the portal slide out of the riff and hit a tall hard plant and turn to the right. “So that’s what happened. I guess they like their plants too much to cut one down.”

 

After programming the portal for the Shadaton’s main planet, Arear was glad Number One had talked him into taking one of the fast portals. “Still, at this speed and with everywhere I have to go, can I make it to Trackers Inn in four planet turns?” he muttered to himself then laughed. “Great, that’s all I need. Now I’m starting to talk to myself.”

 

***

 

After sitting in the Shadaton’s payment dwelling records room for two planet turns, Arear was tired of looking at payment transfers. Almost at closing time, Arear found the records he’d been looking for and memorized the page numbers. He kept turning pages for a few more derons. He stopped and studied a page very carefully.

 

“Is there any way I can get a copy of this page?” he asked the Shadaton male that had been sitting behind him, looking over his shoulder the whole time.

 

“I’ll have to check,” the Shadaton said. He got up and left the room.

 

Arear quickly turned back to the pages he wanted and snapped still views of the different accounts. He put the view maker away and flipped back to the last page he had stopped on.

 

The Shadaton came back with his boss.

 

The boss picked up the record book and studied the page Arear had open.

 

“Is this the page he wants a copy from?” the boss asked.

 

“Yes, that is the page he was studying.”

 

“I’m sorry, sir. As a tracker you have the right to look through these records, but you have to have a permit from Tracker League to remove any records from this dwelling.

 

“I don’t want to remove the record. I just want a copy.”

 

“Only with a permit from Tracker League, sir. Is there anything else my helper can show you?”

 

“No, I guess that’s all,” Arear said, getting up and starting out the door. “I’ll be back with a permit for that page.”

 

***

 

At the Lappaul and Spytaen payment dwellings Arear was left alone with the records. By the time he was on the last planet he was glad he’d brought several rolls of view film.

 

Arear programmed a portal for the riff opening not far from Trackers Inn. Once the portal was in the riff he sent a message to Number One: ‘Having fun, but I’ll cut short my planet turns off to be back at tracker room in time to oversee the new tech training. Arear’

 

He woke up to a beeping sound and looked at the message viewer.

 

‘Training was rescheduled for later time so no hurry. Have fun. Number One’

 

He cleared the message viewer. The portal started shaking and the door opened and there stood Ysor on the dock.

 

“Number One sent me a coded message you were on your way here so I waited. Wartron is coming with a people mover to get our holding bags. How did your trip go?”

 

The portal bobbed up and down in the fluid. “I’ll tell you when I get out of this portal, if it ever quits moving.” Arear grabbed for the dock railing, but it dropped out from under his hand.

 

“Just give it a deron to settle.” Ysor reached out and held the portal as still as he could.

 

Arear tossed his holding bag next to Ysor’s then jumped out the portal door onto the dock.

 

“My portal sucked back into the riff a ron before yours popped up. That’s why the fluid is so choppy.”

 

Arear picked up his holding bag and started toward the mover that Wartron had just stopped at the dock. “I need a place to get the still views out of the view maker.”

 

Ysor placed the holding bags in the back. “I know just the place. Wartron, do you mind if we use the mover for a few tesers?”

 

When they arrived at Trackers Inn, Wartron got out of the mover.

 

“Here, Wartron,” Ysor said, “take this bag of still views. We’re going to Waveart’s place.”

 

“Hold onto this, too, just in case.” Arear handed him the container full of parchment papers he’d gotten from the Hterus record keeper.

 

Wartron unlocked his dwelling rental and went inside.

 

“Where are they?” Tealayon asked.

 

“They’ll be back before star break. They have to do something.” Wartron locked the door then went over to the table and opened the two containers. He spread out the still views and parchments. “Okay, trackers, let’s see what we have so far.”

 

Hardzer, Anon, Meka, Zoeona, Idenp, Haytore, Tealayon and Wartron started passing the still views and parchments around.

 

***

 

Ysor was about to knock on Waveart’s door again when he heard her call out, “I’m out back. Come on around!”

 

Arear turned the back corner of the dwelling. An older Dorfor was hanging up coverings on a line. He heard the sound of a light blaster safety being put on or taken off behind the coverings. “I’m Arear, from Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room. Your offspring is a tracker there.”

 

“Sorry, Arear, I didn’t recognize you at first.” Waveart put the safety back on her blaster and holstered it.

 

Ysor, having seen a look of fear come over Arear’s face after stepping around the corner, stopped and pulled his light immobilizer. Staying out of sight, he asked. “How’s the cleaning business?”

 

“Doing it better than you did. Now come on out, everything is okay.”

 

“What did you do to scare my little friend?” Ysor asked as he stepped around the corner and holstered his light immobilizer.

 

“She pointed a light blaster at me. Well, she took the safety off and I thought it was pointed at me.”

 

“It was, but it isn’t now, so calm down. Now, what brings you two out here scaring the antennas off an old Dorfor?

 

“We’d like to borrow your dwelling again,” Ysor said.

 

“Not until we’re through,” a voice said from behind them.

 


Chapter 34

 Good or Bad

 

 

Wartron and Tealayon watched the Jaka guard open the small door to Armachee’s cell.

 

“Why do you have him in a high security area?” Tealayon asked.

 

“He tried to end two different cell mates. The word in the mines is that he’s ended the ron he goes back down there.” The guard stepped back.

 

Tealayon looked in and saw a small Alappon hunkered down in the corner. “You’re telling me this Alappon almost ended a six siker Hidea and a Lappaul almost twice his size?”

 

Wartron confronted the guard. “You were the first one there after each battle. What happened?”

 

“If you knew I was there then you must have read the report. Everything I had to say is in there.” The guard looked Wartron right in the eye then slowly rolled his eyes up and to the left.

 

Wartron put one of his tentacles over his mouth and started coughing. He tilted his body back and saw a small view maker in the corner. Wartron coughed a couple more times. “In the report you said you saw Armachee holding a fluid tube. Where did he get it?”

 

“Maybe you should read the report again.” The guard moved between Wartron and the other guard standing outside the door.

 

Tealayon tried to get Armachee to talk to her, but all he would do was look down, shake his head and tap one of his back claws on the ground. Tap-tap, and a muffled sound, over and over.

 

“Look, we’re from Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room and we would like to ask you some questions about the three hundred tri-blasters you were caught with.” Tealayon looked down at the back leg he was tapping. As she did the tapping stopped and the claw slid over just enough so Tealayon could see a piece of parchment sticking out from under it.

 

“I have nothing to say to you or anyone else. Your kind put me in here for eighty star turns knowing I’ll never feel falling fluid on my shell again. Leave me alone.” Armachee eased back and pulled his claw off the parchment.

 

Tealayon moved closer, placed one of her tentacles over the parchment and tucked it into one of her suction cups.

 

When Armachee saw what Tealayon had done he stood as high as he could. “You can tell Gegone Tracker Room I’ll be around long enough to see that they all get what is coming to them.”

 

A blast of blue light from outside the cell hit Armachee in the face.

 

“What in the underplant did you do that for?” Wartron said as he started for the guard, but was stopped by Tealayon.

 

“I thought he was going to try and hurt her.” The guard outside the cell bristled. “It’s time you two left. We have more reports to write now, thanks to you.”

 

In the air bubble Tealayon tapped out a message to Wartron about the parchment Armachee had slipped her. “This has been a wasted trip. When we get back I’m sending a report to Tracker League about that guard.”

 

Wartron saw the Jaka air bubble controller trying not to grin at what Tealayon had said. “You’d think someone didn’t want us to talk to that runner.”

 

The Jaka female stopped grinning and leaned back in her seat to make sure she heard everything Tealayon and Wartron said, but they just sat quietly the rest of the trip.

 

Before Wartron opened the portal door for Tealayon he looked for the small stone he had placed on the hinge, but it was gone. Inside the portal he pulled out his tracker and took a reading. A green blip showed up on the screen. The arrows showed something about ten sikers to his right and eight sikers up. “There are no messages for us so do you want to get some rest before the next mine?”

 

“Sure.” Tealayon went over and turned off the overhead brightness. A low green glow faded away behind some tubes in the back of the portal. She slid in next to Wartron on the resting table and tapped on his back in code: “They put a view maker in our portal. Did they think we wouldn’t find it?”

 

He tapped on the tentacle she had wrapped around him. “I think they just want to know what we found. They know we are up to something, but not sure what yet.”

 

“There is not much we can do about the parchment till we find a secure place to read it.”

 

“I hope we can get some information from the Sinne moon mines.” Wartron rubbed Tealayon’s tentacle. “I love you, sweet tips.”

 

Tealayon smiled. “I love you, too.”

 

***

 

Mary, Frank, Kelona and Rkin sat in the people mover watching the covering dwelling.

 

“It seems more offspring runners are teaming up,” Rkin said as he watched fluid flow down the view pane.

 

Kelona saw the sign in the door change from “Here” to “Gone”. “Kind of soon to be leaving, isn’t it? Before star down?”

 

The four trackers had their light immobilizers out of their holsters before they opened the mover’s doors.

 

Two Lappauls, one male and one female, came out of the covering dwelling, their arms full of coverings and what looked like holding bags of payment. The female Lappaul saw the four trackers and blasted at them through the coverings she was holding. Luckily for Mary the blast went almost four sikers over the top of her head.

 

A mover slammed to a stop between the trackers and runners.

 

The runners took off in different directions down the mover lane.

 

“Too many Lappauls moving around out here. Hold your blasts!” Mary yelled over the sound of the falling fluid. “Kelona, Rkin, take the female. We’ll go after the male.”

 

They could see JJ3969 trying different doors on a few abandoned dwellings as he ran down the mover lane.

 

“He’s looking for a dwelling to give us the slip in,” Frank yelled to Mary as they ran after him.

 

“Well, catch him before he does!” She changed her light immobilizer to white light.

 

JJ3969’s hand grabbed the door handle of what looked like a large storage dwelling and it jerked open. He jumped inside.

 

Mary stopped, but Frank, only a few sikers behind the Lappaul, leaped through the door and crashed into the back of JJ3969 who was standing with both hands in the air. As they tumbled to the ground blasts of light narrowly missed them.

 

“Frank, are you alright?” Mary called out.

 

Over her tracker she heard, “I’m fine. There are four of them. From what’s marked on these containers, I’d say we stumbled across a dwelling full of stolen battle group equipment.”

 

“What do you mean ‘we’? I’m not in there hiding behind containers of stolen equipment.” Mary heard Frank’s light immobilizer blast.

 

“Okay, make that three. I could use some help if you don’t mind.” Frank pushed JJ3969 ahead of him as they wove between the containers.

 

“We’re about a hundred sikers behind you. We’ll be there in a ron,” Rkin’s voice came over Mary’s tracker.

 

A people mover roared past Mary then slammed into the side of the storage dwelling knocking a large hole in it. Almost as quick Kelona and Rkin passed Mary and entered the dwelling through the hole the mover had made. Mary entered and saw three Lappauls lying on the ground. One had a blaster hole in him and the other two were under the mover which was covered in broken pieces of dwelling wall.

 

“Frank, there’s one more somewhere,” Mary called out.

 

“Don’t blast me! I’m coming out,” Frank said. “Two went out the back door. When they passed me I saw tracker patches on their coverings. ” Frank pushed JJ3969 out from between two rows of containers.

 

“Trackers?” Rkin said in disbelief. “Maybe they weren’t real trackers.”

 

“They were real enough. I know them. They’re from Idor Tracker Room. Have you ever had a feeling you couldn’t put your finger on? Now I know why I’ve never liked those two. I meet them about five star turns ago. They looked and smelled dirty.”

 

“What happened to JJ3970? Did she get away?” Frank asked.

 

“No. She’s limb-locked to a mover line lighting post. A Lappaul saw her blast at us and when she passed by him, he hit her. My guess is she’s still unconscious. I’d better go get her.” Kelona left.

 

Rkin looked over the people mover. “Good thing I remembered the blast shield before I remote controlled her through the dwelling wall. I don’t think there’s even a scratch on my offspring.” He took a small black box out of his covering and backed the mover out of the dwelling.

 

Mary put down her tracker. “The planet officer group is sending officers here and to the covering dwelling. They want us to wait around to do some parchment work.”

 

Frank picked up a snap board. “Hey, you guys, take a look at this. It’s a shipping, receiving and payment list and you won’t believe whose names are on it.”

 

“Whose names are on what?” Kelona said, putting down the female Lappaul she had been carrying over her shoulder.

 

“The names on these parchments. Gegone, Tarford and Idor Tracker Rooms plus several battling groups and no telling who all these other names are.” Frank pulled the parchments off and he and Rkin went into a small room in the back that looked like an office. In a few rons they came back out. Frank tossed the snap board with the parchments beside an ended Lappaul.

 

“What did you do? Kelona asked.

 

“There’s a duplicating machine in there. We made copies.”

 

Kelona started to say something, but stopped when three planet officer movers came to a squealing stop with red and green lights flashing.

 

***

 

Tealayon programmed the portal for the riff just outside Trackers Inn then sat down beside Wartron. “Nine moon mines in six planet turns and nothing ties our ended Tracker League board member Taymar to that illegal blaster seller Z88441. I’m starting to think our Sinne friend was up to something, was unlucky and stumbled into a hit on his first meeting.

 

“You need to get your message in to tracker room so we can start on our time off.” “I didn’t know so many runners knew code.  KE50083 sent me a coded message that  most of the trackers in the Tarford Tracker Room, including their Number One and a top tech, are involved in illegal blaster sales,” Tealayon tapped.

 

“Give me a teser and I’ll have this report done.” Wartron started pushing buttons on his tracker. “I know, but just because a runner names names, it doesn’t make it true. Right now we can’t point a tentacle at anyone. We still have the two parchments. We have the one from Armachee. If only of he hadn’t written so small. We need to find a way to read it. And then we have the one you found in your covering pocket. The more I think about it, it had to have been that Gardon prisoner who stepped through the door the same time you did. She was the only one close enough to put anything in your covering.” Wartron held his tracker so Tealayon could read it. “Number One said we could take five planet turns off so I think I’m going to get some rest. I’ll finish this report later.”

 

“That’s a good idea. Could you get the brightness, dear?” Tealayon lay down on the resting table.

 

“Sure.” When Wartron turned off the brightness, they watched the green light fade away. He tapped, “Yup, they’re still watching.”

 

***

 

Wartron and Tealayon stepped out onto the dock.

 

Persamp was waiting with a people mover. He got out and came over to get some of the holding bags they were unloading. “It’s good to see you again. It’s been way too long.” He stuck out a hand and shook Wartron’s tentacle.

 

Tealayon reached out and pulled Persamp in, giving him a big hug and whispering in his ear, “Don’t say anything out loud you don’t want anyone to know.” In a normal voice she said, “How have you been? How are your mate and offspring?”

 

“They’re great. I’m sorry to tell you this, but you messaged me a little late and we’re full right now. I’m putting you in a storage room and it’s going to be a bit crowded. At star break we should have a bigger room available.”

 

“Is there more room than in that portal?” Wartron asked.

 

Persamp laughed. “Yes, a lot more room than that.”

 

“Fine.” Wartron patted him on the back. “We’ll take it.”

 

Persamp finished loading the mover then drove Wartron and Tealayon to a dwelling at the back of Tracker Inn. “Let me get the door for you.” Persamp got out of the mover and went to the door. After a few taps and raps it opened.

 

Tealayon’s and Wartron’s light immobilizers powered up. The sound of other light immobilizers powering up could be heard.

 

“Stand down, everyone!” Persamp yelled. “Your Number Ones said you should all stay in the same rental. Don’t go blasting holes in my walls trying to end each other.”

 

Wartron told everyone in the room to come outside and added that he’d better not see any blasters.

 

“Wartron, is that you? Is Tealayon with you? It’s Meka. And Zoeona, Idenp and Haytore are here, too.” Meka moved over and stood in the doorway.

 

Zoeona came outside to help Wartron and Persamp bring in holding bags.

 

Tealayon saw why it was going to be crowded. Persamp and Elda had placed ten resting tables in the room. “I thought this was just going to be a few trackers.”

 

“So did I,” Idenp said. “I wonder who the other four resting tables are for.”

 

“Arear, Ysor, Cmanr and Laga will be here some time after star break.” Wartron had barely finished speaking when someone tapped on the door.

 

“It’s Elda,” Haytore murmured as she slowly opened the door.

 

Elda and Persamp were holding two resting tables.

 

“Two more trackers are showing up from Lainer Galaxy Room,” Elda said.

 

“We need something to read very fine writing, Persamp. You don’t know where we can get something like that, do you?” Wartron asked.

 

“We have a view enlarger that groups use when they’re meeting here trying to sell each other things. I’ll have Persamp bring it right over.” Elda gestured to Persamp to go get it.

 

“I’ll do it in a deron. I have to help them set things up in here.”

 

“If they wanted you to know what they’re meeting about, they’d ask you to join them. Now go get the view enlarger. I swear you’d think he wanted to be a tracker!” Elda turned, took Persamp’s arm, and led him out of the room.

 

They could hear her as she dragged him toward the main dwelling, “I’m not having you running all over the galaxy chasing bad life forms and getting yourself ended. If they want to do that, it’s fine by me. Someone has to, but your job is staying right here taking care of your mate and the offspring. That’s way more important than anything they’re doing!”

 

Persamp come back with the view enlarger, helped set it up then left.

 

“Okay,” said Wartron. “Let’s see what Armachee has to say first. Then we’ll take a look at something someone slipped into Tealayon’s coverings. Tealayon will write out the message she got from a runner at the moon mine this planet turn then we can go over it.”

 

By the time they’d looked over the first two set of parchments, Tealayon was ready for them to see what KE50083 had told her.

 

“This parchment won’t hold up in front of the League Board unless he’s willing to repeat it,” Zoeona said, standing behind Meka and reading all the locations, names, times and the amounts of payment transferred.

 

“True, but it gives us a reason to look deeper.” Meka stood up, put her finger to her chest and everyone went quiet. She went over to door. Three light raps were followed by two heavy ones. “It’s Persamp.” Meka opened the door and there stood Hardzer and Anon.

 

Hardzer started laughing. “All Persamp would tell us is, ‘Don’t power up your blasters.’” She and Anon came in and closed the door.

 

Anon moved over and tossed a parchment container onto the table. “Wait till you see what Mary’s and Kelona’s bunch found in a Lappaul storage dwelling.”



Chapter 35

 Jumping off Point

 

 

 

Ysor’s hand swung around and hit Arear in the chest knocking him backward to the ground.

 

Arear looked up and Ysor was sitting on top his chest pointing his blaster at someone over his head.

 

Cmanr had never seen Ysor move that fast before. In rons she was looking down the blaster end of his light immobilizer. “Ysor! Ysor, it’s me!” She slowly raised both hands.

 

Arear saw a look of horror fill Ysor’s face as he powered down his immobilizer.

 

Off to Arear’s right another blaster powered down. He turned his head and saw Laga holstering his immobilizer.

 

Waveart got up off the ground and brushed herself off. “I have no idea what’s going on around here, but when trackers start trying to blast each other, it’s bad. If you three are through we can go inside and get some coffii.” Waveart started for the dwelling then stopped. “Is that okay with you? If not, Ysor, get off of Arear so we can go inside while you work this out.”

 

Ysor put away his immobilizer and stood up. “Sorry, Cmanr, I didn’t know you were here. Wait a deron. What are you two doing here? You’re supposed to be with Wartron right now.”

 

“We took some still views back at tracker room and we needed to get them out of the view maker before we came.”

 

Ysor waited until Waveart and Arear went inside the dwelling. “You should have told Elaray where you were going. If I wasn’t so old and slow you would have been laying there with a hole in you.”

 

“It’s a good thing you were old and slow or we would have lost two good trackers this planet turn,” Laga said, patting Ysor on the back. “Now let’s get some of that coffii before Arear intakes it all.”

 

Cmanr started to move past Ysor, but stopped. Leaning over she kissed him on the side of his face. “Thanks for being old.”

 

Ysor grinned and rolled his eyes. “Offspring!” He put his arm around Cmanr. “Do you think there’ll be any coffii left by the time we get in there? By the way, what did you take still views of?”

 

***

 

Tealayon put down the last piece of the parchments the Meka and Idenp tracker teams had brought with them. Reaching over the table she picked up the still views Cmanr, Laga and Ysor had showed up with that star break. “How could all this have gone on right under our air intakes? Three tracker rooms and over twelve trackers teams on the take, not to mention all the techs, and all of it ran by a Tracker League board member. She’s got quite a little empire going for herself with Tracker League Security looking the other way and even ending people at her will.”

 

“Okay, we know what’s going on. Now how do we stop it? Three tracker rooms against two is not my idea of a fair fight,” Haytore said.

 

“Fair or not, Yadortay is the head of the Tracker League board. According to these parchments, even with Taymar ended, she has fifty percent of the board’s voting power.” Zoeona plopped down on one of the resting tables.

 

A rapping was heard on the door.

 

Laga opened it up and stepped back. Meka and Wartron came in carrying a duplicating machine.

 

“Wartron and I have been talking,” Meka said as she and Wartron put the machine on a table. “If Yadortay, or any one of her bunch, finds out what we know they’ll get rid of all the evidence. So we’re going to make copies for each of you. Hide your copy and don’t even tell your partner where. We’re giving this set to our Number Ones. They can figure out what to do about it.”

 

Wartron was busy making copies. “And, for the love of the Great Power, don’t tell anyone about these duplicates.” Wartron handed Ysor two sets. “One’s for Elaray.”

 

***

 

Two planet turns later Waveart heard a knock at her door. Looking out the viewport she saw three Lappauls. She went over to the door and without opening it, asked, “Yes? May I help you?”

 

“We’re from Tracker League Security. We’d like to ask you some questions.”

 

Waveart opened the door just enough to look out. “Show me some proof of who you are.”

 

The three Lappauls pulled out their security badges.

 

“Well, come right on in.” She held the door open. “You must be here to see my mate about the rock hopper. I’ll call him.”

 

When Waveart screamed for Haytonte, all three grabbed their ears.

 

“Why?” a voice called out from the back of the dwelling.

 

“Because someone from Tracker League Security wants to see you about their rock hopper!”

 

The Lappauls were just getting their hearing back when a few derons later Haytonte entered through the front door.

 

“I didn’t see any hoppers out front. Where is it? Couldn’t that tech fix it? I showed him how on two of them.”

 

“No, we’re here to ask you some questions about all the coming and going of trackers from the riff about a kayron from here in the last few planet turns. We know you have dealings with them from time to time.”

 

“Let me think,” Haytonte said, “about eight planet turns ago two trackers brought me a hopper and I adjusted the power fluid intake. Then about four planet turns later they brought two more and a little tech so I could show him how to adjust the fluid intake.”

 

“Haytonte,” Waveart said, “remember I told you my friend said two trackers came into her intake dwelling around the same time? She said they were acting really strange.”

 

“Did she tell you how they were acting strange?” asked one of the Lappauls.

 

“Yes. She said that one of them tried to intake all her musers. I bet they were the same two.”

 

“We don’t care about hoppers or musers. Did a group of them meet here or anywhere around here that you know of?”

 

“No, sorry, but I could ask my friends in the dwelling group if you like.” Waveart smiled.

 

“If you hear anything let us know and don’t tell anyone we were here.” He handed Haytonte a card.

 

“I’ll keep this between us. You know I’d do anything I could to help Tracker League.” Haytonte shook the Lappaul’s hand.

 

After the three left, Haytonte went over and tossed the card in the waste intake container. “I wasn’t hatched last planet turn.”

 

Waveart smiled and winked at him. “Intake will be ready in about a teser.”

 

Back inside the portal one of the Lappauls sent a coded message to Tracker League: ‘There’s no indication of abnormal portal use by trackers at Dorfor planet nine in the Lainer Galaxy. A report on possible meetings at the Tracker Inn will follow after interviews of trackers from Lainer Tracker Room.’

 

***

 

Number One took a reading with his tracker as Arear finished his scan of the storage bay. “What’s up?” Number One asked.

 

“Persamp sent us a request for payment for the coverings we kept when we were trying to catch hussers on our last visit to his inn or he wants them back.”

 

“Did any of the trackers spend any time down at the fluid pond?”

 

“No, sir, Persamp and his mate brought intake to the room. I think I better grab a couple of coverings and go see what he’s talking about.”

 

“Don’t take any coverings. Send him a message that you’re bringing a payment slip to cover all expenses our trackers might have incurred while on leave. Let me know what’s going on the deron you get back.”

 

“How is the meeting between you and Omata going, Number One?”

 

“Sorry, Arear, but the less you know the safer you’re going to be.”

 

***

 

Persamp waited for Arear at the portal. “It’s such a nice planet turn I thought we could go by foot to Tracker Inn.”

 

Persamp walked closely beside Arear and spoke quietly. “Three Lappauls were here asking questions about what you all did when you were here. I told them you stayed out here by the fluid pond trying to catch hussers and intaking hard fluid. They wanted to know how I knew. I told them I was the one that brought you all the hard fluid and some coverings for the Hidea you had limb-locked to the tall hard plant over there. Then they wanted to know why you limb-locked him to the tall hard plant. I said he had intaken so much hard fluid you were afraid he would wander into the fluid pond and end himself. I overheard one say they were headed for a Dorfor planet next, then to Lainer Tracker Room. I know you could get here and back to tracker room before they could get over to the Dorfor planet.”

 

Arear handed Persamp a payment request for two coverings. “You have to turn this in. They know why I’m here and if you don’t request some kind of payment, they’ll be back and this time it won’t be to talk.”

 

“I’ll go turn this in right now. You’d better get back. I’m not sure how long it’ll be before they get there.”

 

***

 

Five planet turns after Arear got back to Tracker Room he, along with a holding room tech, entered Numbers One’s room. “Sir, we’re showing a portal headed this way with three members from Tracker League Security. They messaged ahead ordering you to isolate and hold Ysor, Cmanr, Laga, Wartron, Tealayon and me for questioning.”

 

“Tech, I want you to go find the trackers and take them to the intake room and have them sit at different tables. Tell them not to talk to each other until League Security tells them they can.”

 

“I’m going to the intake room. Sir, is it okay if we order fluid and intake while we wait?” Arear asked

 

“No, don’t do anything. Just go there and sit down.” Number One stopped the holding room tech that was about to leave. “Send another holding room tech to the intake room. Have him tell the intake servers to put out containers of fluid and plates of intake then seal off the room. Only let Ysor, Cmanr, Laga, Wartron, Tealayon, Arear and the three League Security personnel in there.”

 

***

 

Inside the portal the three Lappauls put down their trackers. “From what they’re saying, I’ve got the feeling those trackers were just taking some time off.”

 

“I’m not as sure as you seem to be. That dwelling keeper did message them right after we left.”

 

“Remember, he said he had forgotten about the coverings he took to the fluid pond. The only thing in his message was about getting them back.”

 

“You’re right. He did turn in a request for payment after the tech came and talked to him about them.”

 

“Look, you two, did the dwelling keeper talk about the coverings and the payment for them or was that all a cover-up for what they really talked about? We couldn’t hear anything they said away from the dock.”

 

“Right now I’m willing to bet four planet turns of payment it was nothing more than trackers taking some time off and intaking too much hard fluid,” Gortiffe said.

 

“I’ll bet you one planet turn payment they’re up to something. What Yadortay does after she gets our report will determine the winner.”

 

“I’m not betting either one of you. I just want to get these interviews over with and get back to Tracker league. I think Gortiffe is right. They were just taking some time off.”

 

The portal came to a stop and the door opened. A Caratain was waiting. “This way, sirs. We’ve set up Star Chart Room C for you. I have been assigned to assist you while you’re here. If there’s anything you need, just ask me.”

 

***

 

Arear came back into the intake room and sat down.

 

The Caratain guard looked over at Laga. “They want to see you next.”

 

Laga got up and, without saying a word, headed for Star Chart Room C.

 

Gortiffe and his two partners were sitting behind one of the desks.

 

“Have a seat,” Gortiffe told Laga. “We’ve called you in last for three reasons. One reason is that the other trackers said you tried to get them to investigate Tracker League Board member Taymar’s ending against strict orders from Tracker League. The second reason is your apparent abuse of hard fluid which is in direct violation of Tracker League Rule Q894. Third is the misappropriation of Tracker League payment to cover two stolen coverings.”

 

The shorter Lappaul leaned forward. “Tell us everything that went on during those four planet turns at Trackers Inn and we’ll see about getting some of these chargers dropped.”

 

Laga leaned back in his chair, placed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. When he removed his hands the Lappauls saw fluid leaking from his eyes. “I would never go against Tracker League Security or the board. Ever since I was an offspring all I ever wanted was to be one of you guys. As for the hard fluid, that’s the first time in five Star turns I’ve ever passed out from too much. I placed the coverings at the base of a tall hard plant. When Arear got back I signed a slip to have the cost taken out of my payment for the next runner I brought in. I don’t know who took the coverings, but I’ll make sure Persamp gets reimbursed.”

 

“Okay, Laga,” the third Lappaul said, “just tell us what went on during those four planet turns at Tracker Inn.”

 

“Cmanr and I got there late the first planet turn. There weren’t any dwelling rentals available so we all stayed in a storage dwelling the first darkness. We downed a few hard fluids, played some cards, which I lost, and that’s about it. The next planet turn Cmanr and I went into the dwelling group and just looked around. When we got back the rest were at the fluid pond trying to catch hussers. About the same thing on the next planet turn except me and Cmanr sat out in the starlight reading till that darkness. On the fourth planet turn I woke up limb-locked to a tall hard plant with a couple of coverings over me. Then we came back here to get our next assignment.”

 

“Remember, this is part of an on-going investigation,” Gortiffe said. “You can’t repeat anything said inside this room to anyone. Not even your partner. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, sir.” Laga stood up. “Is that all, sir?”

 

“Tell the rest of them that they can go back to work.”

 

“Yes, sir.” Laga headed back to the intake room.

 

The guard to the intake room nodded when Laga appeared in the mover way. Arear and all the trackers quickly pulled their listening devices out of their ears and put them back inside their coverings.

 

“I was told to tell everyone to go back to work,” Laga said as he entered the intake room.

 

A tech came and indicated with his hands that the three Lappauls were gone.

 

Arear held up two fingers, tapped his time keeper and pointed to the storage bays. “I want to remind everyone that nothing said or heard while in Star Chart Room C is to be repeated.”

 

***

 

The Lappaul put down his tracker. “Okay, I’ll send my report in. I haven’t lost yet.”

 

“Yadortay has more important things to do than to worry about a Hidea that leaks fluid when you falsely accuse him. If anything was going on he would have turned on the rest of them to stay out of trouble.”

 

Gortiffe plopped down on the resting table. “I think we need some of those new portals. We would have been back at Tracker League by now.”

 

***

 

Number One looked around the storage bay. He handed Wartron a small, clear container with a tiny black speck in it. “Listen, everyone, we know they’re watching the riffs now. Arear and I have to go for a little while so Wartron is in charge. Tealayon, take your offspring to your elders. I don’t want them here when I get back. If anyone doesn’t want to take part in this, now is the time to back out.”

 

Cmanr started counting heads. “Other than Kelona, Rkin, Sayron and Magator, we’re all here. If they come back, do we tell them what’s going on?”

 

“And most of our holding room techs are here, too,” Laga whispered to Cmanr.

 

“No,” said Number One. “Don’t tell them anything. They’re after the only two runners we were assigned. It seems Tracker League wants us where they can keep track of everything we do. So let them.”

 

“What about the two new trackers?” Anon asked.

 

“They’ve been quarantined for thirty planet turns. Even League Security won’t go near them. Everybody back to work,” Number One said.

 

“You want me to go with you?” Arear asked.

 

“Yes. You don’t have an implant and you can explain what you found better than I can. The other planet turn you asked how my meetings with Omata were going. Well, here’s your chance to find out. Put this under your covering.” Number One handed Arear a blaster and holster. “Come on, our portal is waiting.”

 

Within derons a portal door closed behind them and Arear felt the portal slip into the riff. He started to ask Number One something, but the big Morea shook his head, pulled out his tracker and scanned the portal.

 

“Okay, what were you going to ask me?”

 

“I wanted to know where we’re going.” Arear said.

 

“Stareen’s dwelling rental.”

 

In a short time the portal slowed down and came to a stop. The door opened and there stood Rkin.

 

“They’re all here, sir,” Rkin said, looking past Number One to Arear. “Magator put a brown rock at the other riff and as soon as Arear gets out of this one, I’ll do the same.”

 

Kelona was standing by a rock hopper.

 

Arear went over to her. “I thought you were after a runner?”

 

“I am, only she doesn’t know it yet. Get in. We’re running late.”

 

On the way to the dwelling no one spoke. Kelona sat next to Arear in the back of the hopper holding a long blaster. Arear watched the rocks fly by underneath.

 

Sayron was waiting for them outside Stareen’s dwelling rental. He gave Arear a quick smile, but his eyes never stopped scanning the horizon.

 

Kelona put her hand on Arear’s back and gently pushed him. “Get inside, please.”

 

Inside the intake room Arear could not believe his eyes. Twelve Number Ones from various galaxy tracker rooms sat around tables covered with the parchments and still views he had helped gather.



Chapter 36

 An Empire Collapses

 

 

Stareen looked out the intake fixing room’s viewport at Qutine, Hoffador and two other trackers she didn’t know, all held long blasters. “If the Tracker League Security has already been to Waveart’s dwelling what makes you think they’re not going to show up here?” she asked Magator.

 

He handed Stareen a container for the coffii she was fixing. “Implants - you’re the only one that has an implant.” He held his arm out and pointed to a small gray spot on the back. “If they’re looking for me, I’m back at tracker room running around with a couple of trackers.”

 

“You know, I just got this place put back together after you were here last time.”

 

“We’ll all be gone before star down. Then things will get back to normal.” Magator watched as Stareen got some intake out of the cold box and started cutting it up.

 

“Look, you big lug, you’re not in my way and I don’t mind you being here. My offspring are safe and Waveart found the listening device they left in her dwelling. Besides, after what Lainer Galaxy did for me, I’m still in your debt.”

 

“You don’t owe us anything.”

 

Stareen leaned over and kissed Magator’s cheek. “You’re right. I owe you everything. Nice shade of gray you’re turning. Come on, let’s get this in there before they start banging their fists on my new tables. They’ve been going at this for almost nine tesers now.”

 

***

 

Stareen and Magator entered the intake room the Number Ones were using for the meeting just as Omata said in a frustrated voice, “Arear, go over it one more time for Petona.”

 

“I know what you’re saying!” Petona huffed. “Yadortay authorized a transfer of payment to Hackdine who transferred it to Assmar who transferred it to Taymar who sent half of it to Odeon and the other half to Affacar derons after he was ended. All this parchment shows me is that someone from his tracker room sent the message. From what we have right now, I say lock up all the trackers, Number Ones, plus a few techs in the Gegone, Tarford and Idor tracker rooms. We’ll find out real quick who will muser out who to save their own hide.”

 

Ytono stood up, hammered his empty fluid container on the table then held up a list of names. “I want to see a raise of fluid containers if you think we have enough evidence to place everyone on this list in holding until we can get a newly appointed Tracker Board to bring judgment against them.”

 

The Number Ones counted the fluid containers in the air.

 

“Twelve is the count,” Jaydowna, from the Mayta Galaxy Tracker Room, said.

 

“Wait a deron,” said Lanigiro from the Haveron Tracker Room. “I want to know if anyone thinks someone on this list shouldn’t be placed in a holding room.”

 

No one held up their containers.

 

Metorme banged her container on the table and looked down at the battle plans she was holding. “My fadora, Dandora, is a tracker in Gegone Tracker Room. I don’t want to tell my elders I might have been the one that ended her. I request a change with a group going to Idor or Tarford Tracker Rooms.”

 

“I’ll change with you,” Petona said.

 

Metorme went over to Petona. “Watch her. She’s always had a mean temper. She won’t give up easily. If you have to battle it out with her, she’ll flatten herself out to drop under your blast.”

 

“Thanks, I’ll tell my trackers.” Petona stuck out her paw and shook Metorme’s tentacle.

 

“Are all your battle portals up and running?” Omata asked.

 

All the Number Ones nodded.

 

“Okay, five tesers from NOW! Good luck everyone.”

 

Stareen watched ten Number Ones file out of the intake room. She watched as the intake she had just brought in disappeared as fast. “Well, they won’t go to battle hungry.”

 

“Rkin, Sayron, pick up all the evidence and give half of it to Zarta Galaxy group. Don’t leave anything behind that could tie Stareen in with us,” Number One said.

 

***

 

Number One waited until the last tracker was in the storage bay. “We have less than three tesers so listen up. Nine tracker rooms will split up and take on the Idor, Tarford and Gegone Tracker Rooms. We’ve already sent all our holding room techs to reinforce the Ablonie Tracker Room. They’ll be going after trackers and Tracker League Security teams out in the Galaxy. We and Zarta are going to place Yadortay, and any tracker security personnel at Tracker League on this list, under arrest. If you think this is going to be easy, you’d better change your thinking. Some of the security teams are wanted for ending beings. Keep your body and eye shields on at all times. All light immobilizers will be set on white. They’ll be wearing shields so blast for limbs. You’re going after beings that are better trained so keep sharp.”

 

Arear glanced over his snap board. “Mary, your team and Meka’s will assist Number One and Zarta’s Number One in apprehending Yadortay. She’s known to have three tracker security officers with her at all times.

 

“Wartron, Kelona, Hardzer, Cmanr and Sayron will assist Idenp’s, Qutine’s, Agamenti’s, and Geehon’s teams in securing the Tracker Security dwellings. You need to leave now so you can co-ordinate your teams. We’ve programmed your portal. Wartron, you’re in charge.

 

“Harayah your in charge of Lainer Tracker Room and Elaray, your team will stay here and assist her.”

 

***

 

At the Zarta Galaxy Tracker Room, Meka ran down a mover way with Zoeona close behind. “Zoton! Teshe! Wait up!”

 

The Lappauls turned around to find Meka pointing two star blasters at them.

 

Zoeona quickly took their light immobilizers away, limb-locked their hands together and whispered, “Don’t say anything or my partner will turn your heads into green mush. You’re under arrest for dealing in stolen battle equipment and accepting illegal payment transfers for personal use. You’ve been bad trackers.” He pushed them toward the holding rooms.

 

A tech ran up to Meka. “Wartron’s teams are here. We’re taking them to the immobilizer testing room now. Idenp’s teams are waiting for them.”

 

“Tell Number One that after we get these two locked down we’ll meet him at the portal.” Meka watched the tech run down the mover way. “We need to give our techs bigger payments.”

 

***

 

Dandora knocked on her Number One’s door. “Sir, there are four battle portals headed our way from different galaxies. We show all are full of trackers.”

 

Number One got up and headed for the door. “What’s going on?”

 

“Sir, at the speed they’re coming in, this is not a friendly visit.”

 

“Sound the alarm. Get all trackers to the portal bay.” Number One turned, ran back to his desk and grabbed his light immobilizer.

 

The riff opened up and four battle portals slid to a stop in the bay immediately followed by a huge flash of blue light and an explosion.

 

Dandora flattened herself to the ground and pointed her light immobilizer at the first portal. As the tracker came out she blasted him directly in the face with white light. Several trackers from other portals returned blasts before she could take aim on another tracker. Her light immobilizer fell out of her tentacle and hit the ground. One of the Rezon trackers stopped to make sure Dandora was ended.

 

Streams of light came from down by the intake room as other trackers started showing up. Quickly, Gegone Trackers built a barricade across the mover way.

 

Petona looked around the bay. Most of the techs were face down on the ground with arms outstretched. “Get limb-locks on these techs and turn on the portal voice boxes,” she commanded. “Let them know we’re here to arrest them, not to end them. Jarma take some trackers and get behind their barricade through the storage bay before they think of it and get us in a cross blast.”

 

Number One from the Rezon Tracker Room waved at Petona. “We’ll do it; we’re over here already. Naymon, get that bay door open!” he yelled at one of his trackers.

 

Naymon pointed his long star blaster at the door and pulled the trigger. The door was gone in a flash of light.

 

A tracker tapped Petona on the shoulder and pointed at Number One’s room. Assmar was lying in a crumpled heap, still smoldering from all the light blasts that had hit him. “That makes five trackers so far, Number One.”

 

“How many were ours?” she asked.

 

“Two.”

 

“Everyone, stop blasting,” she ordered.

 

The bay got very quiet.

 

A Rezon tracker came back through the hole in the bay wall and gave Petona a nod.

 

“Gegone Trackers and techs,” Petona announced, “if you look behind you, you’ll see we have you in a cross blast. Throw out your immobilizes or we’ll start using our long star blasters.”

 

The sound of light immobilizers hitting the ground as they were tossed over the barricade echoed in the mover way.

 

Two flashes of light filled the intake room followed by the sound of bodies hitting the ground.

 

“Don’t blast! Don’t blast!” someone yelled. “We’re coming out! Don’t blast!”

 

***

 

Tarford Tracker Room’s Number One heard someone running in the portal bay. He got up, started for his door when it flew open and Lanigiro and Metorme entered.

 

“Borbuden, you and all your trackers are to be placed in holding rooms until Tracker League Board is reinstated and can arrange hearings for your crimes against the Galaxies,” Lanigiro said.

 

“Tell all your trackers to stop battling and surrender before any more get ended.”

 

Number one reached over and pushed a button on a voice box. “This is Number One. Tarford trackers put down your blasters and surrender.”

 

Metorme and Lanigiro turned as a tracker came into the room and announced, “Some of the Tarford trackers have ended themselves.” A flash of light filled the room and when they turned back to Borbuden, he lay across his desk with a blaster in his hand.

 

After making sure he was ended, Metorme and Lanigiro moved out into the portal bay and closed Borbuden’s door.

 

“Lock all these scum together and get them in the portal.” Lanigiro pushed one of the Tarford trackers down to the ground.

 

***

 

As Jaydowna rushed out of the portal he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A blast of light ripped through his middle chest plates. He raised his light immobilizer, but everything went black.

 

Flashes of light and screams filled Idor Tracker Room as the five tracker rooms battled for control of  the rooms along the mover way.

 

Tata and her partner crawled up behind Tecoa. “Number One, it seems Gegone Tracker Room sent out an alarm. That’s why they were waiting on us.”

 

“They’re well encased. It looks like a standoff for now. We need help. How are the other tracker rooms doing?” Tecoa asked.

 

“Eight ended, fourteen wounded so far. Number One from Mayta was hit when he came out of the portal.”

 

“We lost eight and Jaydowna was wounded? Is he okay? Who did it?”

 

“A Caratain healer blasted him. I heard they told her we were Zameon raiders and she had to help stop us in the portal bay. She blasted him then she saved him. And no, sir, we’ve only lost three trackers, the rest were from Idor.”

 

“Saved him? They have her in limb-locks, don’t they?”

 

“No, sir, she’s looking after the wounded in the portal bay. If it wasn’t for her, a lot more trackers would be ended. I heard she’s saved at least four of our trackers.”

 

The sound of rolling metal came down the mover way.

 

Number One looked around the corner and saw a gas ball heading for them. A blast of red light from a doorway ripped into the gas ball before it could explode.

 

Tata put down her tracker. “Number One, the Rezon and Uratie tracker rooms will be here in fifteen derons. They’ve lost four trackers and have nine wounded. Both Tarford and Gegone Tracker Rooms have been taken.”

 

“What about Tracker League?”

 

“Sir, reports are that they’re still battling and Foron Tracker Room is headed that way now.”

 

“Petona never could stay away from a battle. We better get these musers out of their holes. Tata, how long will it take you to disconnect a battle portal shield and get it up here?

 

“About five derons, sir.”

 

“Well, what are you waiting for? Hordean, Saysee - go find a remote people mover we can squeeze down this mover way and a couple of auto blasters.”

 

***

 

“I’ve never used eye shield inserts.” Zoeona tried to balance the small round disk on the end of his claw.

 

“Give it to me. You’ll end up poking your eye out with your claw.” Meka took the disk and carefully slipped it over Zoeona’s eye. “Where’s the other one?”

 

The portal came to a stop and the door opened to reveal two Tracker League Security guards, one holding a snap board.

 

“Number Ones.” The Guard looked at his snap board. “Your meeting with Yadortay is not for another thirty derons. You can wait in Room G. We’ll come get you when she’s ready.”

 

As Omata and Ytono got out of the portal they quickly stepped to the side. Mary blasted both guards with blue light at the same time that Frank blasted with yellow light and Meka with green.

 

“You were right, Mary,” Zoeona said as he holstered his light immobilizer. “They were wearing different color eye shields.”

 

Mary went over, removed the guard’s eye shields and blasted them again with blue light.

 

Two battle portals slipped out of the riffs and Wartron’s and Idenp’s tracker teams came rushing out. Haytore quickly went over and limb-locked the two guards.

 

“Let’s go find Yadortay.” Omata picked up the snap board and ran his finger down the parchment. “She should be in her room meeting with an Nretse Planet Board member.”

 

Turning a corner in the mover way they saw three Lappauls standing around a closed door.

 

Zoeona and Meka, who were in front of the others, were almost to the three Lappauls when a high piercing alarm went off.

 

The middle guard’s immobilizer was out of his holster and pointed at Meka before she could even touch hers.

 

Zoeona leaped in front of Meka and felt the blast of white light hit him in the left arm.

 

Frank and Mary stepped to each side of Meka with their light immobilizers pointed at the other two guard’s heads, but they just stood with their hands in the air.

 

When the guard saw Mary and Frank step up with immobilizers in their hands, he hesitated, giving Meka time to set her immobilizer on continuous blast. A stream of white light hit the guard so fast the covering under his light shield burst into flickering heat. He crumpled to the ground with a muffled scream.

 

Meka dropped to the ground and grabbed Zoeona’s light immobilizer. Changing it to red light she blasted the tip of his left arm. “You were losing too much fluid, partner. I had to stop it. I’m so sorry.” Huge drops of fluid rolled from her eyes.

 

Zoeona looked at what was left of his arm then saw the rest of it lying on the ground beside him. “Blasted it clean off me, did he?” He smiled up at Meka then everything went dark.

 

Ytono kicked Yadortay’s door in. Before they could enter, a blast of light came out of the room and hit the mover way wall.

 

“Don’t come in here! I have a hostage!” Yadortay yelled.

 

“Jamateo of the Nretse Planet Board, is that you in there?” Omata asked.

 

“Yes! Don’t come in. She’ll blast me.”

 

“Good. You’re both under arrest for crimes against the Galaxies!” Ytono yelled back.

 

Mary took out a flash ball and tossed it to Omata then handed another to Ytono.

 

Omata armed the flash ball and rolled it into Yadortay’s room. A loud bang and the room filled with blue light. Ytono quickly did the same then they looked into the room.

 

Yadortay and Jamateo stood with their blasters in their hands.

 

Frank went in, took their blasters away and limb-locked them together.

 

Number One’s tracker beeped. He read the message. “Trackers, listen up. Idenp and Anon were ended by a Lappaul named Gortiffe. Gortiffe turned his light shield off and hid behind a door with a tri-blaster. When Anon and Idenp opened it, he blasted both of them. They never stood a chance. Get Zoeona to the portal bay then find Wartron. He’s outnumbered.”

 

***

 

Mary, Frank and Meka laid Zoeona on one of the tables the healers had set up in the bay. One of the riff lights started flashing and a battle portal slid out.

 

“It’s one of ours,” someone yelled as holding room techs with long star blasters started filing out.

 

“We’re from Ablonie Tracker Room. They said you needed help.”

 

“We do,” Wartron said as he came into the bay and gently placed Tealayon on one of the tables.

 

“Tealayon, are you okay?” Mary yelled.

 

“I’m fine. It’s just a light burn. I just couldn’t find something big enough to hide behind. When that healer gets a covering slapped on it, I’ll be right back out there.”

 

Wartron looked at over Zoeona. Meka was kneeling beside his table. “Meka, are you going to be able to do battle?”

 

Meka stood up. “Yes. What do you want me to do?”

 

“We have control of this end plus the right and left sides of the compound. They’re holding the opposite end. Take half of these techs and find Haytore on the right. Stay out of the middle of the compound – it’s an ending zone.”

 

“What about us?” Frank asked.

 

Wartron looked around the bay. “Where is Number One?”

 

“In Yadortay’s chamber with Zarta’s Number One.”

 

“Go find and stay with Number One. There are still small groups of security out there.”

 

“We’re right here,” Number One said as he and Omata dropped Yadortay and Jamateo on the portal bay ground.

 

“Where are my trackers?” Zarta’s Number One asked.

 

“I’ll take him,” Tealayon said, sliding off the table and looking at the patch on her tentacle. “Nice job, healer.”

 

***

 

Tecoa watched as the last of the Idor trackers and techs were loaded into the portal.

 

A tracker came up to him. “Sir, five of our trackers ended and twelve wounded. One of the trackers ended was Tata, sir. Her partner is bringing her body this way now.”

 

“Tata. Underplanet! She just got her star three planet turns ago. She was a good tracker. What am I going to tell her elders?” Number One sighed and shook his head.

 

“Sir I just got a report from Tracker League that three trackers, two techs and eighteen security members were ended. Foron Tracker Room is doing a final sweep of all Tracker League dwellings now.

 

“How many wounded?” Tecoa asked.

 

“It’s hard to say, sir. From reports after trackers got patched they went right back into battle. A Dorfor was wounded four times. They took quite a beating.”

 

“We all did. If I had my way I’d send every one of the trackers and security members on this list to a white star.” He told the holding room tech as the door started to close, “Blast the first one that even looks at you wrong.”

 

“I will, sir. One of my moreas was ended at Gegone this planet turn.”

 

“I’m glad it’s all over, Number One,” a tracker said as he got into a portal.

 

Tecoa looked around the portal bay. “It’s not over. We’re just getting started.”


Chapter 37

 A New Start

 

 

The dust and small rocks spun in a furious swirl as the portal pushed out of the riff.

 

Y2394 closed his eyes and tried to step back, but the tracker behind him kept a firm grip on his shoulder.

 

“I heard you’re up for a star real soon and there’s going to be a big change at Tracker League,” Swal said to Harayah as he helped her get the big Hidea through the portal door.

 

Harayah entered the setting for Lainer Tracker Room. “If anyone is getting a star, it should be Tealayon. If it were up to me, Kelona would get her Single Half-moon, too. They took on five tracker league security personnel trying to get behind Zarta’s trackers.” She closed the portal door.

 

“I know.” Swal checked Y2394’s limb-locks. “Haytore must have told that story thirty times. You’d think she was trying to get those two the Galaxy Ribbon of Honor. I’m not saying they don’t deserve it, mind you, but I’ll scream if I have to hear it one more time.”

 

“I wonder how Hardzer, Meka, and Haytore are doing. I’d hate to lose a partner in a battle.”

 

Swal gave her a grin. “I’d hate for you to lose a partner for any reason.”

 

“You know what I meant.”

 

Swal reached over and patted her hand. “I know. When Y2394 went to hit you, I felt my claw flip my light immobilizer from blue to white. All I could see was you laying there like Anon and Idenp.”

 

Harayah felt the portal slow down. “I doubt if there’ll be any holding room techs waiting for us as shorthanded as we are. Let’s get him to holding right away. They’ll probably have another runner for us to go after.”

 

When the portal door opened, Arear was waiting with a blaster strapped around his waist. “I’ll take your runner to holding. We have a Tracker Room meeting in two and a half tesers. It’s formal, so get cleaned up and put on your ceremonial coverings.”

 

“What’s going on?” Swal asked.

 

“I don’t have time to tell you.” Arear hurriedly lead Y2394 away.

 

“Partner, did you see that?” Harayah asked, poking Swal.

 

“See what?” Swal looked around the portal bay.

 

“Arear is wearing double half-moons. As good as your eyesight is you missed it. Come on, we don’t have much time.” She pushed Swal toward the resting area.

 

***

 

Number One stepped up onto the platform and looked over all the trackers seated in the bay area. “I promised the healers this wouldn’t take long so most of you can get back to the healing room. As you all know, it was less than twenty-one planet turns ago that we lost a lot of good trackers and a lot of good techs. I have asked myself why. Why do we go out there planet turn after planet turn risking everything to bring in beings that just don’t care? The only answer I could come up with is because it is our job and because it is the right thing to do.

 

I have decided to take a position on the Tracker Board. I stand before you this planet turn as your Number One for the last time. While I am still wearing these star clusters I have the honor of handing out a few pins that are long overdue.”

 

Arear got up and stood beside Number One. “As I call your name, please come forward. Mary, Wartron, Frank, Hardzer, Harayah, Swal, Tealayon, Sayron, Magator, Kelona. Rkin, would you please come forward for Kelona? The healers wouldn’t let her out of the healing tank.”

 

Number One stepped off the platform and stood in front of Mary. “Mary, with this set of star cluster pins I turn over Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room to you. Take care of your trackers and they will take care of you. You’re now officially Number One of Lainer Galaxy Tracker Room”

 

“Wartron, with this set of star cluster pins and the authorization of Tracker Board, I appoint you Number One of Tarford Tracker Training Facility. Congratulations. I understand you have already picked your training staff. I know the new trackers we get will now all be top of the line.

 

“Frank, I’d like to ask your new partner to pin these stars on you.” Ytono handed the stars to Hardzer.

 

“I thought I was pinning them on you,” Frank said.

 

“Nope, partner, this is all yours. I like it right where I am. Two half-moons are enough weight for anyone.”

 

Ytono stepped in front of Harayah. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to tell you about these.” He opened a box with two star pins in it. “With everything that has been going on, I put this off until you got back. Swal, do you think you can pin this on your partner without sticking her?”

 

Swal ginned. “I can try.”

 

“Tealayon, it is a tradition that partners pin stars on. Now that you’re going to be a trainer and you don’t have a partner, it would give me great pleasure if you would grant me that honor.”

 

Tealayon winked at Ytono then looked over at Wartron who was grinning like a Sinne fixing to do battle. “Of course you can. It would be my honor for you to pin them on me.”

 

Moving over in front of Sayron, Ytono started to laugh. “Every time I give you a set of pins I ask myself how you managed to keep the last set I gave you. Try not to give Number One so much trouble. And stop hustling the techs for containers of hard fluid.”

 

Ytono handled the pins to Magator. “Remember, Magator, these pins have sharp points. Now is the time for revenge.”

 

A riff opened and a portal slid out. When the door opened, Meka and Haytore stepped out.

 

Ysor poked Elaray. “Look, Meka is wearing a star. I wonder when that happened.”

 

“Not long. She didn’t have it eight planet turns ago when I saw her at Tracker League talking to two board members,” Cmanr said from behind them.

 

Meka saw the star clusters on Mary’s coverings. “Number One, sorry I’m late. I had to stop by Tracker League to pick up something. I see Tealayon. Where’s Kelona?”

 

“She’s still in the healing tank,” said Number One.

 

“If you don’t mind, can we move to the healing room so I can personally hand her this?” Meka opened the box and pulled out a Ribbon of Valor.

 

Number One smiled. “Like Board Member Ytono said, most of us have to get back to the healer room anyway so let’s go.”

 

As they piled into the healing room, Kelona looked out over the top of the tank wall. “What’s going on?”

 

“Tealayon, do you mind helping us with this?” Haytore asked.

 

“I’m sure you all heard the story of how Tealayon and Kelona risked their lives to stop five tracker league security personnel bent on ambushing a group of trackers from Zarta Tracker Room. By standing their ground, Tracker League feels they showed the true meaning of loyalty and dedication to duty. We, from Zarta Tracker Room, proudly present Tealayon and Kelona the Ribbon of Valor.” Meka took out a ribbon and slipped it over Tealayon’s head. Haytore removed a second ribbon and hung it over the side of Kelona’s healing tank.

 

Rkin reached over and pinned the single half-moon pin onto the ribbon. “I guess that will have to do till you get out of that tank, partner.”

 

Kelona’s eyes filled with big drops of fluid.

 

“Okay, everyone, that doesn’t belong in here. Get out,” a healer ordered. “Let her get some rest and the rest of you get back into your healing tanks.”

 

Tealayon started to leave the room.

 

“That goes for you, too, Tealayon. I don’t care if you did get a star and ribbon this planet turn. If you don’t get back in that tank, I’ll blast you again myself.”

 

“Laga, you go over there and sit down right now. You’re not going anywhere till I change that bandage. How do you expect to heal if you won’t follow my orders?”

 

“Yes, ma’am.” Laga went and plopped on the first table he came to.

 

“I’ll be in the intake room when you get out of here,” Cmanr told Laga as she left.

 

Wartron kissed Tealayon on the cheek. “Looks like you’ve met your match.”

 

***

 

Everyone sat around the intake room and listened as Meka told them what had happened over at Zarta Tracker Room earlier that star break.

 

“You know that Omata took a Tracker Board position. Someone from Foron Tracker Room, named Jarma, is the new Number One. I’ve never worked with him, but Hoffador said he was a fair and good tracker. Hoffador got his star and said he didn’t want to lose another partner so he’s going to Tarford to help Number One and Tealayon with training. Zoeona’s going to see if he could be a battling trainer at Tarford when they let him out of the healing tank. He said he can whip anyone they put him up against even with just one arm. The healers don’t think Qutine will ever have the use of his legs again. By the way, whatever happened to that healer tech that blasted Number One at Idor?”

 

Sayron adjusted the wrap on his arm. “She’s the one that just ran us out of the healer room.”

 

Meka looked at him in surprise. “That’s her? What happened to your arm? I don’t remember you getting wounded.”

 

“He didn’t.” Magator laughed. “He was helping get Kelona out of the portal when we got back and he slipped and broke his arm. You should hear all the stories he’s been telling down at the fluid dwelling for a free container of hard fluid.”

 

“So, Frank, when are you and Hardzer going to show up at Zarta?” Haytore asked.

 

“You’re transferring to Zarta?” Ysor asked.

 

“It’ll only be for three or four star turns until everything gets back to normal. Besides, it’ll take that long to rebuild the Gegone and Idor tracker rooms. They’ll be looking for a couple of Number Ones by then. You never know.”