Chapter 35

Having come to a course of action, the crew of the Darkstrider finished up their lunch and got moving. While the bulk of the crew got moving to speak with Dagan Min, Taal’ani went to go and have a word with Daved, the sheriff of Tanith’s Gully. She wasn’t going alone, as Tahral was going with her, and the pair armed themselves accordingly.

“You remember how to use one of these?” Taal’ani asked her boyfriend.

“It’s not all that difficult for someone like me. The only problem I have with it is how it recoils, which often throws off my follow up shots,” Tahral told her.

“That’s why, when you’re first learning about such weapons, you use both hands on it. It helps control the recoil better,” Taal’ani teased.

“Oh? Like how you use both hands on...” Tahral started, trying not to snicker as he spoke.

“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you, buster!” Taal’ani threatened, as she gave him the stink eye. “Unless you want to suffer a severe case of blue balls.”

“But ... my balls are already blue. Unless you think they should be a different shade?” he got out before he burst out laughing.

“Oh ... shush, you smart ass!” Taal’ani grumped as she picked up a pair of machine pistols and extra clips to go with them.

Tahral just kept laughing as he selected a sidearm and a hand cannon, along with several combat knives that he stowed in his clothes. While Taal’ani could have taken a few knives herself, with her claws as sharp as they were, it was kind of redundant to carry a knife. Besides, that was one part about Fel’caan that people often forgot about. How just like they had fur, they also had claws.

The couple also selected some nanoweave armor vests that went under their clothing, much like a second skin. Sure, they were safe here in Tanith’s Gully, but with things the way they were here, that didn’t mean some toughs wouldn’t try their luck. Especially since the pair of them would be bereft of the rest of the crew with where they were going.

“Ready to go?” Tahral asked his lady.

“Yup. Let’s go see what the sheriff wants with me,” she stated, slinging her portable deck over her shoulder.

With that, the pair were off, ready to see what Daved was asking of Taal’ani. Aesha joined them a few seconds later, having picked up her weapons and gear earlier. They debarked from the ship and hit the entrance to town. Tahral asked one of the deputies how to get to the sheriff’s office and he gave the directions. It was easy enough to find, especially since some townsfolk were happy to help them find their way there.

It was pretty much an open secret about what the crew of the Darkstrider had brought for the town. The fruit and veg they had brought were of the seeded variety, which meant that the town could eventually grow their own seedlings. If that happened and they started growing more of their own food, it would mean a greater level of independence could be established.

Freedom from any sort of dependency on offworlders was what the people of Prodosia sought most of all. Many of them didn’t care about the battles and the politics of the wider galaxy. They had their own problems to deal than to involve themselves in issues they had no stake in. But, if there were those who were generous enough to help them out in their desire for independence, they might be worth listening to.

Regardless, the trio was directed to the sheriff’s office, which they found in short order. It was a simple, single story building that sat apart from any other structure. A rampart-like fence surrounded the building, which was electrified, to keep any unwanted guests out. Taal’ani marched up to the gate and hit the buzzer, letting Daved know she was there.

“Ah, Miss Taal’ani! Thank you for coming. Allow me!” Daved’s voice came in over a speakerphone. Seconds later, the electrified gate came apart and permitted the couple to pass through. They walked into the structure and found Daved addressing a pair of deputies.

“ ... I don’t care if you you’re slogging through the sewers! You will continue the search for Sargol and not let up until you find him. When you get your hands on that slippery bastard, he is to be brought to me, on his knees! The fucker thinks he can continue evading us like this? It’s past time he learned his place!” Daved ordered.

“Yes, sir!” the deputies chorused, before thumping their chests in a salute.

Daved dismissed the men, and they turned to leave and carry out their duties. As they left, the men noted the couple waiting for Daved to finish up with them. They sized Aesha up and didn’t bother making eyes at her, going by how heavily armed she was. One of them leered a bit at Taal’ani, thinking she might be up for some playtime later. Tahral growled quietly, wanting to punch the impudent man, but Taal’ani beat him to it.

Before they knew what happened, Taal’ani bared her fangs and hissed at the man menacingly. The gesture caught the man off guard and spooked him enough to where he fell on his ass. The woman even had her claws pop out, which made the man’s face go white, as he’d never seen an angry Fel’caan woman with her claws out. Nor did he want to as he scrambled to his feet and followed his friend outside.

“Oh! Well played!” Daved laughed as he clapped his hands in amusement.

“The boy needed to know that this kitty doesn’t play with guys like him,” Taal’ani sassed, cocking her hips.

“I’ll say! I’m guessing he’s the only one you play with?” Daved asked, gesturing at Tahral.

“You could say that,” Taal’ani purred, making eyes at Tahral, who felt his blood run hot for a moment.

“Plenty of time for that later. Besides, thanks for helping keep my boys motivated. The sooner they catch that weasel bastard Sargol, the sooner they’ll have the day off,” Daved chuckled.

“I remember you saying the man was difficult, if not impossible to catch. You think your deputies will find him?” Aesha wondered.

“Well, I did give them a fair amount of incentive. The whole week off, fully paid, to whichever team brings Sargol in, alive,” Daved told the pair.

“A good incentive! Now, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?” the cat-girl asked.

“Right! Let’s step into my office, so we can discuss things a bit more ... privately,” Daved told the couple as his eyes darted around.

Taal’ani wasn’t sure what was going on, but she knew it couldn’t have been good. The trio walked into Daved’s office and, after closing the door, a scanning device popped out of his desk. It had a telescoping head, much like an ancient periscope, and it scanned the room and everyone in it. Seconds later, the device beeped a green color, and an automated voice chimed quietly.

“No listening devices located within the office area. Location is secure.”

“Now, we can speak freely.” Daved told them.

“What the hell was that about?” Taal’ani demanded angrily. Tahral was feeling much the same, and his hand rested on his sidearm.

“It’s about Inari and exonerating her name,” Daved told them as simply as he could.

“If that’s the case, how can we help?” the Artucian man asked.

“I thought my little display was enough to clear her right there!” Taal’ani protested, thinking she’d already done that.

“What you did was great. I’m not disputing that. What it was, though, wasn’t a full exoneration. It was more of a stopgap measure,” Daved informed them.

“How do you mean, a ‘stopgap’ measure?” Aesha questioned.

“What I mean by that is how the people of Tanith’s Gully aren’t fully convinced of Inari’s innocence. While you did show that she wasn’t the one who betrayed them, you didn’t show who did. That’s what is needed in order to clear our friend’s name,” Daved told them.

“Our friend?”

“Yes. Our friend. She always had my back whenever she’d stay here. Inari even pulled my bacon out of the fryer. More than once! I owe that woman my life!” the sheriff told the trio.

“So, why didn’t you do something back when she was still here?” Tahral queried.

“I was a new deputy back then, barely a year on the job. Old Fred pretty much ran the show at the time, so defying the stubborn old fool was the quickest way to an early grave,” Daved told them seriously.

“Your hands were tied, in more ways than one. I suppose if Old Fred was still around, we wouldn’t be having this conversation?” Taal’ani guessed.

“You assume correctly on that front. While Old Fred being gone helps us a great deal, there are ... other parties who want to keep things the way they are. Especially with Inari taking the fall for betraying the settlement of Tanith’s Gully,” Daved told them.

“Other parties? You mean ... those who want to keep their control over this place?” Aesha asked, her mind putting things together.

“Just so. Tanith’s Gully, while an independent town, isn’t devoid of rules ... or rulers, in a sense. It’s run by a council who are all elected to serve the people, which is a noble ideal, but there are ... problems with it,” Daved stated.

“What kind of problems?” Taal’ani questioned, her inner hacktivist interested in what was going on.

“Corruption, along with bribery, nepotism and so on. The list is too damn long, but solving who framed Inari might help with a whole other host of problems here,” the sheriff answered.

“Such as?” Taal’ani wondered. Daved looked apprehensive, but the cat-girl kept going. “Look, if you want our help in this, we have to know the entire stake of what’s going on here. We can’t be in the dark about shit when us knowing helps us determine just how bad things are here.”

“I think the Human Confederacy is trying to make a play to seize control of Prodosia,” Daved said bluntly.

“The Human Confederacy?” Tahral asked, looking a little confused.

“I’ve read of them. A most xenophobic group of humans, that tries to make plays for greater control of the galaxy. The way they go about it, though, often leaves bodies in their wake. Human or alien, they don’t care, as long as they are the only ones left standing in the end,” Aesha supplied.

“That’s right! That’s exactly right! Where did you learn that?” Taal’ani queried, curious about the warrior woman’s level of knowledge.

“If I’m going to keep the ambassador to my people safe, I need to learn about who is a potential threat and who is not,” Aesha responded with a smirk.

“What makes you think this ... Human Confederacy is behind the problems you face?” Tahral asked.

“Tanith’s Gully is the largest settlement on Prodosia since the war that turned this planet into a slag heap. Taking hold of the largest settlement means you essentially control what’s going on planetside. Prodosia is the toughest place to live in the Abandoned Frontier, and as such, all the other worlds follow our lead. If this world was to fall to Confederate control...” Daved stated, letting the thought hang out there.

“Then they’d gain control of the other worlds here. Worlds that have a unique staging point, allowing access to other worlds that are too far to hit,” Taal’ani continued, seeing the implications of what could happen.

“Many of these worlds outside the Abandoned Frontier are often too weak to properly defend themselves against a full-scale military incursion,” Daved said worriedly. “Their distance and UCW patrols help keep Confederate ambitions in check. Because the Abandoned Frontier is rarely visited, no one would know what would be happening until it’s too late,” Daved finished.

“Here I thought that most folks here on Prodosia didn’t give a rat’s ass about the goings on of the greater galaxy,” Taal’ani mused.

“Not everyone thinks that way. At least, not the younger generations, like myself and Jenque,” the sheriff said.

“Jenque?”

“My wife and member of the council of Tanith’s Gully. Many of the things I hear come from her, since she became a member of the council,” Daved replied.

“Do you have any proof?” Taal’ani wondered, now fully committed to helping the people of this beleaguered town.

“Just rumors and hearsay, but there have been disturbing reports of several council members being involved in ... questionable activities. People have been disappearing and they don’t even talk against dangerous groups, like the Shadow Dancers. They take issue with how some of the council run things. Such people either disappear, or wind up hurt or dead in various ... accidents,” the sheriff told them.

“Even here, on an abandoned world, this shit still happens?” Taal’ani growled.

“Yup. Human nature. Go figure,” Daved shrugged.

“The people who are hurt, they do not speak of what happened to them? Of who injured them?” Aesha questioned.

“Most people don’t remember any details of what happened or how it happened. Mainly because the event happens so quickly, they have zero time to get their bearings. Those that do remember say nothing, only blaming themselves for what happened. It’s clear that whoever is behind this is scaring these people into silence. Then there’s the supplies that show up,” the sheriff went on.

“Supplies? What supplies?” Tahral asked.

“There have been supplies coming in, but there is no manifest about where they came from, or where they were purchased. Some of the supplies have been much fancier than what we normally get, and brought in by various council members,” Daved said.

“Are you thinking that the Confederacy has been sending supplies here to curry favor with the locals?” Taal’ani asked.

“It is possible, but I know that if it was known the Confeds were sending supplies, we’d send them right back. Hatred of the Confederacy still runs deep, so people would refuse any help from them. Particularly since they were the ones responsible for putting Prodosia in its current state,” Daved went on.

“Would they be the same about supplies that came from the Federation or another government agency?” Aesha asked.

“There is just as much hate for the Federation, since they were the ones who abandoned us. We take no supplies from either side, preferring to get by on our own. Third parties who operate outside their jurisdictions, we have no problems with. Though we are leery on taking anything from any government agency or group, as we have no idea what angle they’re playing,” Daved replied.

“Which is a fair assumption. With everything you’ve told us, what makes you think the Confederacy is behind this? Could it be some other group that is taking an interest in the Abandoned Frontier?” Taal’ani asked, playing the devil’s advocate.

In response, Daved pulled out a drawer from his desk and reached into it. He pulled out a piece of paper that was hermetically sealed in an evidence bag. The paper inside was mostly burned, but some of it was still intact. On the paper, while it was faded, Taal’ani could make out the eagle crest, which was the sigil of the Human Confederacy.

“Does this suffice as ample evidence to look into it?” Daved asked quietly.

“More than ample evidence! Where did you get this?” Taal’ani questioned.

“My wife found it, by chance, from a pile of burned trash outside the council building. When she found this, she knew that shit had gotten real around here, so she brought it to my attention, hoping I could do something about this. Since I started investigating, I’ve found a few leads that can be pursued, but I can’t do so. Not openly at least,” the man told them.

“Why not?”

“Because, if word got out I was chasing these leads, those who work for the Confeds would know we’re onto them. They may be a bunch of racist xenophobic brutes, but they take their spycraft very seriously. They would disappear and leave no trace of who they were or what they were doing. Then, new folks would show up and no one would be the wiser,” Daved said.

“So, Inari’s name being cleared would be one such lead. But you said you had a few leads?” Taal’ani guessed.

“Yes. While investigating the real culprit is top priority, I would also like you to look into a local gang that’s been bothering the locals around here,” Daved told them.

“What have they been doing?” Tahral asked, wondering if this group was like the Yahk’shurt back on his homeworld.

“Bullying people and throwing their weight around, but the most troubling thing is that they’re dealing in Neurocaine,” Daved grumped.

“A drug?” Aesha guessed.

“Yup! A highly addictive one too! It’s a powerful hallucinogen which gives people highs that are so strong, it can sometimes kill with a single hit,” Taal’ani sighed worriedly.

“The biggest problem with their dealing is that they’re getting kids hooked on it. More often than not, they’re bullying people or cracking heads on anyone who doesn’t stay quiet about it. I think they’re part of the Confeds plans, but I can’t prove it,” Daved growled.

“Neurocaine is a high grade designer drug. It’s a painstakingly long process to make it, and it often requires high grade equipment to make just the base. You also have to have a degree in chemistry or pharmacology to even get access to the compounds needed to make it,” Taal’ani said.

“Which is what makes me think it’s coming in with those supplies that have no proper manifests, that some council members oversee. No matter how much my deputies and I crack down on the dealers, the level of supply remains the same. I’ve been over each mercy drop and supply run we get, and I’ve come up with nothing. The only drops I can’t inspect are the special ones that councilors get in,” Daved stated.

“Which is where we come in, then?” Taal’ani guessed.

“That would be about right. If you’ll help?” Daved all but begged.

“We’ll help, but we do it our way. We call the shots and we handle things as we see fit. That’s how we roll and if you can’t handle that, then we walk away, right now,” Taal’ani told the sheriff. The Artucian looked at Taal’ani with a measure of disbelief, but they followed her lead. She was obviously trying to get Daved to play things their way, and they hoped he would play ball.

“Can you promise me that no one will get hurt?” Daved questioned, looking reluctant about the whole idea.

“We can promise that no innocents will get hurt if we can help it. People who are involved in this shit, or guilty as sin, we make no promises for them,” Taal’ani told the man. This statement was backed up by Aesha, who nodded and slammed a fist into her palm, eager to crack some skulls.

“I guess that’s the best I’m going to get. I’ll assign a couple of deputies to you three, as backup,” Daved offered.

“No need for that. We have some backup that we can make use of,” Tahral told the sheriff.

“Those bots? Some folks might try to take those things down, thinking them to be worth some easy money. They’d scrap those things and it would make things tough for you,” Daved warned.

“Those bots, as you call them, are for more resilient and advanced than people would think,” Aesha replied.

“Oh? How advanced are they?” Daved questioned.

“Advanced enough to be programmed with every fighting style and use of every known weapon in existence,” Taal’ani supplied.

“Damn! Inari’s been moving up in the galaxy, if she can afford hardware like that!” Daved sighed in awe.

“That’s not all she’s been ... spending her money on,” Taal’ani grinned.

“So I’ve noticed! At least let me assign one deputy to you guys so he can help you with the investigation. Hell, he might even spot a few things you might miss!” Daved offered.

“Who is this deputy you wish to assign to us?” Aesha queried.

“He’s family.”

“Do you trust him?” Taal’ani asked.

“With my life. Have before and he’s never let me down,” the sheriff told them.

“Where is he? We’d like to meet him,” Tahral stated.

“Come with me. He’s busy with some station duties and he answers only to me,” Daved replied as he stood up, moving his chair back.

Before he moved away from his desk, the man fished something out of a drawer there and put it in his pocket. He then gestured for the group to follow him and they moved along, letting the man lead them on. Daved moved into the station, passing several of the clerks who worked there as he headed to the rear of the station. They entered a room, which appeared to be an archive of sorts, before the sheriff called out.

“Kid? You back here?”

“I’m always here, uncle. It’s where you assigned me since I joined up,” a young sounding voice piped up.

The voice belonged to a young man, no more than twenty-two. He stood at around five-foot-ten, with brown hair, brown eyes and dusky skin. His features were handsome enough, if a little childish, as the babyfat on his cheeks wasn’t gone yet. His build was lean, yet lacked the full power and stature that a grown man had. He had a look about him that said you could trust him, but only so far, as he had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“You get all those archived cases fully sorted yet, Willem?” Daved questioned.

“Just finished. Why? You got some other demeaning tasks for me to do?” the young man griped.

“That’s a hell of a tone to take with a man who’s handing you a proper assignment!” Taal’ani rebuked.

“Wait, what?!? I’m being assigned to a case?!?!? Finally!!” the man enthused, his face lighting up.

“It’s an observational assignment, mainly to keep this group here,” Daved said, gesturing to the trio behind him, “out of trouble.”

“I’m not going to bellyache about that! As long as it gets me out of here and onto some real work, I’m in!” the young man stated.

“Taal’ani, Tahral and Aesha, allow me to introduce my nephew, Willem. Please bring him back alive, as my sister will skin me alive if you don’t,” Daved told them.

“Provided he doesn’t get disrespectful or sassy with me, we’ll bring him back in one piece,” Taal’ani replied.

“What’s life without a little sass? Boring as fuck, that’s what!” Willem replied.

“Hmm. Not a bad off-the-cuff reply. He might be fun to have around,” the cat-girl told the sheriff.

“Just remember, kid, this lady here is in charge. Whatever she tells you, treat it as though it comes from me,” Daved told the boy seriously.

“I get it, uncle! Follow their lead, so I don’t get dead. Otherwise, mom will probably bring me back or clone my ass, just to kill me herself,” Willem laughed.

“Knowing your ma, she probably would do that. Don’t forget to arm up before you leave,” Daved told his nephew.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out something shiny. Upon closer inspection, Taal’ani saw it was a brass badge, much like the one Daved wore. The biggest difference was that instead of the word ‘Sheriff’ it instead read ‘Deputy’. Daved tossed it to the boy, who snatched it out of the air. Willem held the badge, hooking it to his belt with a sense of pride before responding to his uncle.

“Copy that!” the young man replied with a salute. The three crew members watched the man depart with much enthusiasm, while they looked a little worried.

“Are you sure he’s up to this? The kid looks a little green,” Taal’ani told.

“I agree. I mean, has that boy even seen battle?” Aesha queried.

“He may not look like it, but that kid has been in more than his share of fights growing up. Though there are kids here, they grow up harder than most other kids from other worlds. You don’t get to adulthood here on Prodosia, without a few scars to show for it,” Daved informed the group.

A few moments later, Willem strolled up, shrugging into his coat and securing his sidearm into its holster. While the coat was a little large, it fit him perfectly, and that’s when Taal’ani noted the telltale bulge of an armor vest under his shirt. While he may have appeared green, the boy was at least taking the proper precautions.

“So, where are we going?”

The rest of the crew arrived at the Black Kettle, looking for Dagan Min, but found that he was gone. They learned from Vincent that he’d gone to the rover depot, as he’d received information he’d been waiting for. While Inari was familiar with the layout of Tanith’s Gully, the rover depot was something entirely new. Thankfully, Vincent was kind enough to guide them to the depot.

“Thank you for volunteering to be our guide!” Alex thanked the bird.

“The pleasure is all mine! I don’t get out to stretch the wings often enough! Being your guide gives me an excuse to fly!” the bird chirped. The Rondathan parrot was pleasant company on the way there, idly chatting with the crew as they moved along.

“So, you are the fourth woman who is ... in a relationship with the big man here?” the parrot asked Korsa as he flew overhead.

“I am! Is there an issue with that?” the Khontaran woman asked.

“None at all! I can certainly see the appeal! You are a gorgeous woman!” Vincent told the big woman.

“A smooth talking parrot! Will wonders never cease?” Korsa replied, taking the compliment gracefully.

“I do have my moments! Just ahead, through that archway! That’s where the depot is!” Vincent told the crew as he flapped his wings, climbing higher in the air.

The crew came out into the depot and took in the scene before them. There were nearly a dozen vehicles there, most of them large six-wheelers that could tow heavy loads. While they were built for towing and transport, these rovers were modified. Mainly to be lighter, as most of the extraneous armor plating had been stripped down. This was likely done in favor of mobility, as a fast vehicle was one that was difficult to hit.

Each rover was the size of an APC, capable of carrying a dozen people, along with various cargo. They were equipped with multiple cargo compartments, making ferrying any sort of cargo easy. Clustered around one such rover, both Dagan Min and Zuzanna Walczak were directing traffic. Several men, who were likely Dagan’s, going by their clothing, were equipping the rover with some heavy weapons while it was fueled up.

“Captain! The crew of the Darkstrider has arrived!” Vincent said, as he alighted on a nearby idle rover.

“Thank you, Vincent Cluckster!” Dagan said, as he turned to face the crew. “Welcome, my friends! Luck is with us this day! As it turns out, the Children of the Wolf are nearby Tanith’s Gully! My runner ran into them barely an hour after being sent! While it is unusual for them, they have agreed to meet with us!”

“Excellent! Have they said where they wish to meet us?” Kasumi asked.

“Yes! That old market square I spoke of is where they will be meeting with us! It is a sacred place to the tribes, and even the worst among them will not draw blood or raise their weapons there!” Dagan told the crew cheerily. “Though we will have to hustle if we are to make it there by sundown.”

“Why not just meet with them there in the Darkstrider? It would be a lot faster and we’d save time by going in like that,” Alex suggested.

“Not an option. To go in the Darkstrider would be seen as an act of aggression. None of the tribes will even go near ships, unless they’re wrecks. Some of the tribe members are old enough to remember when ships flew in during the war, bringing fire and death. Because of the destructive power of ships and the havoc they can wreak on a tribe, flying in on a ship is seen as disrespectful in the worst possible way,” Inari explained.

“Indeed, Captain Sunara! Showing respect for the tribes’ way of life is the only way you will do business with them. Meeting with them on foot is the only way to go. They won’t mind us coming in on rovers, thankfully. They can handle such vehicles, should things go sideways for them,” Dagan chimed in.

“Might I ask why Dr. Walczak is coming with us? It seems a little ... odd to bring two doctors with us for this expedition,” Korsa remarked.

“That’s because the tribes trust me and my word. While I may be a citizen of Tanith’s Gully, I have treated every tribal prisoner we’ve ever had to see they got the proper care they needed. They might have been prisoners, but that didn’t mean that I had to abandon my oath to help people,” Zuzanna stated.

“Hmm. You make a fair point about that. Having a friend close to hand, someone you trust to be forthright about matters, has its benefits,” Korsa replied, taking no issue with the idea.

“All valid points, and I will concede to such matters to those who know better than I do,” Alex stated, bowing his head. “We should head over to the Darkstrider once we’re done here.”

“To retrieve those items you said you had for trade?” Dagan questioned.

“Yup. When those bastards walked in and took some cargo, they overlooked most of the good stuff,” Priya stated.

“What kind of good stuff are you speaking of?” Dagan asked, curious, but with an avaricious glint in his eye.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Alex replied cryptically, but with a dangerous edge to his voice.

Dagan took the hint and shut his mouth as the men finished with fueling the rover. The moment they were done, he, along with Zuzanna, and the crew of the Darkstrider mounted up. A pair of Dagan’s men also jumped in, there being just enough room for them. While the seating was a little snug, everyone was comfortable as Dagan powered up the rover and tore out of the depot.