Chapter 53

Zeke inspected his handy work.

“Damn, I’m going to have to cut the tip off the harpoon.”

“No, leave it. Can you unclip your cable?”

“Yes,” Zeke answered as he unclipped it.

“Good. I’ll get the MPs to bring a levitation platform for it if you don’t mind. I’ll also organise a replacement harpoon.”

Zeke shrugged, “It’s all yours. Sorry, we took so long, Manny. How about an early dinner?”

Three grins gave him the answer he expected.

“Oh, what about the container?” Manny asked as they started to walk towards the hallway and the lift.

Zeke shrugged, “I know what’s in the container.”

A chorus of “What’s?” met his ears.

“My, Pedz,” Zeke answered as he pushed the button to call the lift. The doors opened, and they stepped in.

“Okay, how did a container of your Pedz end up in that freighter?” Manny asked as he turned to face Zeke.

“When I was outside Kilos’ warehouse this morning, some people decided it was a good time to rob it. If I hadn’t blinked back to Freya while outside, I probably could have stopped it.”

“The robbers ambushed Kilos and Nikau when they went back inside. I’m just glad they are alright. Manny, you will find a green container still in that freighter with my Z.Mars Ink. Logo on it.”

“Shit,” he expelled. He stopped short of the galley and started calling people.

Zeke went to make dinner.

Zeke bustled about the kitchen as Tean and Lindsay sat down.

They could hear Manny, still in the hall, issuing orders. He sounded quite upset.

“Aren’t you worried?” Lindsay asked Zeke.

As Zeke tossed the steaks on, he replied, “Nah. I gave Kilos and Nikau magic items this morning. Kilos assured me that they were fine besides bumps on their heads, a few bruises, and the indignity of being tied up.”

“Did you know this when you went after the container?” Tean asked.

“No, I knew when our lights shone on it. I sub-vocalised to Freya to call Kilos. She reported back to me what happened. She even has the vid from the warehouse of the men who took the containers.”

“I was worried,” Freya interjected as Zeke went to the fridge to retrieve several containers that contained pickled vegetables, such as sliced beetroot and corn kernels.

As he gathered other items to arrange a salad, he said, “Yes, I know you were, Freya. Thank you for calling the MPs and an ambulance. Did they keep Kilos and Nikau in the hospital?” he asked as he put containers on the table.

“No, Kilos refused to stay. He was worried about the warehouse, and he didn’t want the doctors to know about the rings. He called a few minutes before you came aboard. He and Nikau are back home. They said not to be concerned. They are healing just fine, thanks to you.”

“Captain, the freighter is docking. They have two squads of MPs waiting to board the ship. It is registered to a Muhammad Ali. He certainly doesn’t look like a boxer?”

Zeke chuckled. In answer to the confused looks on Tean’s and Lindsay’s faces, he said, “A man of that name was famous back in the 1960s to 70s, as a heavyweight boxer.”

“I had asked Vic one day to teach me how to physically protect myself. He was part of a club that still taught boxing. He showed me the vids of Muhammad Ali and other boxers in action that were in our archives. It was very enlightening to see two huge men wearing big fat red gloves beating the shit out of each other.”

“And people still do that?” Tean asked in surprise and mild disgust.

“Yes, it is classed as an extreme sport if you fight, and exercise if you don’t. They tried to ban the fights many years ago, but some people still like to see how tough they are, and others like to watch. Many of the defence arts are still taught. Some people also consider them a form of art.”

“It takes all kinds,” Lindsay quipped. “I was taught several forms of defence. You can always use them to attack, as well. Joys of being in the Military.”

“That’s barbaric,” Tean responded with charging.

“We are, what we are,” Zeke added. “Technology has changed us, but our basic human nature is still there, even if we try to hide it under civility.”

“Now, the question is, what to do with you, Lindsay?” Zeke commented as he put the big bowl of salad greens on the table.

Zeke checked the steaks as he expressed his views. “While I appreciate that you and your sister love each other, as siblings are wont to do. However, you two seem to have a bit of sibling rivalry.”

“You have, in many ways, similar skill sets, even though you have obtained them by different means. So, I’m worried about order of command,” Zeke said as he went to get the cold cuts from the fridge.

As he returned, he said, “Since I have already offered Tean the position of second in command of Aida, it comes down to if you will obey her orders, Lindsay, or if you take offence when she orders you around, like a big sister.”

When he went to get some glasses, Tean gave her brother a smug expression. It didn’t last long when Zeke added, “Tean, on the other hand, is also a problem.”