Chapter 75

Tim felt good about the day ahead as he woke up with his five women. They had all spent the night together, enjoying each other’s company.

Risfi raised her head above Miss C’s shoulder and asked, “Tim, I believe it’s my turn for breakfast.”

Tim chuckled and replied, “Of course, Risfi. What would you like this morning? I’ll make sure it’s extra special for you.”

With a grin on her face, Risfi replied, “It is always unique. Let me show you how I make breakfast while you relax.” She lowered herself down the bed and between Tim’s legs.

Tim blushed and stammered, “Uh, Risfi, maybe we should stick to our usual breakfast routine. I don’t want to make a mess.”

Risfi smirked mischievously and whispered, “Trust me, Tim. This will be a breakfast you won’t forget.”

Deniece shifted her position so that she was facing Tim and said, “Would you let the girl fix her breakfast without making such a big fuss?” She kissed him as she leaned over. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll put one of these tits in your mouth and give you something to do.”

Tim looked at her and started to say something.

Deniece moved up toward the headboard, placing her left breast into Tim’s mouth. Tim’s words were instantly muffled as he began to suckle on Deniece’s breast, his eyes widening in surprise. Deniece chuckled softly, her fingers running through Tim’s hair as she whispered, “Sometimes actions speak louder than words, don’t they?”

Deniece yanked her breast out of Tim’s mouth after Risfi was done having her breakfast and told him, “Now, go exercise; I’ll see you at the breakfast table with the kids.”

Zala went back to the bar and sat down at the same table, ordering a drink while keeping an eye out for the soldier. After an hour of sitting there, he became agitated. In his eyes, everything seemed to be going wrong this morning.

The door opened, and in walked the soldier, wearing a stern expression on her face. Zala’s heart skipped a beat as he prepared himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold. She approached, sat down, and beamed with pleasure. She said, “I’ve talked to my commander, and she in turn talked to Tim, and he will talk to you.”

“OK, thanks. When can we schedule a meeting with him?”

“I’ll pick you up from here this afternoon, and we can go and meet him.”

“Hold on, you’re going to take me to meet him; why don’t we just do it here?” Zala’s question hung in the air, causing a momentary pause in the conversation.

The soldier’s smile faded slightly as she considered his suggestion. “Well,” she began, her tone thoughtful, “meeting at a restaurant location might be more appropriate given the circumstances. It would provide a comfortable environment for everyone involved.”

Zala had to remember, ’He was to talk about his missing sister. Not to take Tim Bodge in for the bounty. “That’s great with me; give me a couple of hours, and I’ll be back.” Zala stood up and made his way back to his ship to wait and get ready for the meeting.

******

Anden-Aipas was visiting Commander Rodmond in his office. “Commander, we recognize your authority over the space station, but we kindly ask for your assistance.” She explained the situation at hand, emphasizing the need for cooperation.

“You’re supposed to make sure that nothing bad happens when your captain, Tim Bodge, arranges to meet this person at one of the area’s eateries, right?”

“Yes, the restaurant will be reserved exclusively for us, and there will be security around it.”

“Can you tell me which eatery this is?”

“It will be the Lake of the Lizards.”

“Oh, I’ve eaten at that one; it’s great.”

The commander expressed her gratitude for the compliment and continued, “We have chosen Lake of the Lizards because Tim was OK with having it on board his ship as well. We believe it will provide a suitable setting for the meeting.”

Commander Anden-Aipas left the space station commander’s office and headed to the Lake of the Lizards restaurant. There was a long line of people waiting to enter the restaurant as she rounded the corner and looked at it. She thought. ‘How are we going to get everyone to leave?’

The closer she got, the more she started to notice that about every fifth individual was one of her soldiers in civilian clothing. She realized that her soldiers had already infiltrated the restaurant, strategically blending in with the crowd.

She approached the entryway, pushed open the door, and entered. She looked around and saw that the place was packed with people sitting and eating. She heard her name and turned to see Tim in the far corner at a table.

She approached Tim and said, “How are you going to get all these people out of here before the meeting?”

Tim smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. The majority of these people are clones, whereas those on the outside tables are Deck 3 volunteers. They serve to provide the illusion of realism. We have a well-organized system in place to ensure everything runs smoothly.”

Tim stood and walked the commander around the room. “If there were gunplay,” Tim continued, “and if the clones were shot, it would not hurt them. To protect the volunteers from the gunfire, the clones would stand and form a wall. This way, they would shield the volunteers from any potential harm.”

The waiters and cooks are your soldiers; each is wearing protection suits. These protection suits are designed to withstand any potential threats, such as gunfire or other hazardous situations.

Zala walked back into the club and looked around, but he didn’t see the soldier, so he sat at the bar to wait. He sipped his beer and waited, hoping beyond hope that she’d show up. As Zala sat there, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The absence of the soldier made him question whether she would actually come. However, he reminded himself to remain patient and continued to scan the entrance, eagerly anticipating her arrival.

The soldier walked through the doorway and looked to see where Zala was. She noticed him sitting at the bar and made her way toward him, a small smile playing on her lips.

Zala’s unease instantly vanished as he caught sight of her, relieved that she had finally arrived. He stood and walked toward her and asked, “Where are we meeting him?”

She returned his smile and replied, “He’s waiting for us at the restaurant a few doors down.”

Zala nodded, grateful for her presence, and they walked together towards their rendezvous point. As they approached the restaurant, they saw a long line of customers waiting outside to get in.

Zala said, “I hope we don’t have to wait.” He glanced at her, hoping for a solution.

She reassured him, “Don’t worry, the commander made a reservation earlier today.”

Zala felt a wave of relief wash over him as they bypassed the line and entered the restaurant without any delay. As he entered the door, he began looking around.

The location of all items was crucial for him to know. Zala’s eyes scanned the elegant interior, taking note of the hostess stand and the bustling waitstaff. He spotted their reserved table in a cozy corner, adorned with a small vase of fresh flowers. Feeling more at ease, the soldier guided him toward their designated table.

Zala scanned the table and saw that there was another person at the table, giving him his first glimpse of his bounty. He thought, ‘I can’t take him here; there are too many people, and it’s too risky to make a scene.’ As they moved closer to the table, Zala’s mind began to race with ideas for how he would approach his target while keeping him in the dark about his true purpose.

Tim stood as Zala and the soldier approached the table, extending a hand in greeting. Zala reciprocated the gesture, trying to appear friendly and nonchalant. As they exchanged pleasantries, Zala subtly assessed Tim’s body language and demeanor, searching for any signs of suspicion or unease.

Tim turned to the soldier and said, “Thanks. I believe we can handle it from here.”

The soldier nodded and turned to leave the restaurant, leaving Tim and Zala alone at the table.

Zala maintained his facade of casual conversation, but his mind raced with questions about Tim’s true intentions. He knew he had to tread carefully, not wanting to reveal his reason for being here. He sat, vigilantly surveying his surroundings.

“So, you are trying to find your sister!”

Zala nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “Yes, she disappeared without a trace, and I won’t rest until I find her.”

Tim’s suspicion grew stronger as he wondered why Zala seemed so invested in this search. He decided to probe further, carefully choosing his words to avoid revealing his own ulterior motives. “Can you tell me where you last heard from her?”

Zala hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting as if recalling a painful memory. “It was a few weeks ago. She sent me a text saying she was going on a trip, but she never mentioned where or with whom.”

Tim’s interest was piqued further by his suspicion that the man was embellishing the narrative as he went. He knew he had to tread carefully to uncover the truth without raising any suspicions. “Did she mention anything unusual or anyone who might have wanted to harm her?”

Zala, thinking fast, replied, “No, just that she was getting on a shuttle within a few minutes.”

Tim enjoyed playing this game of cat and mouse. “Is there anybody you can think of who could wish to harm her?”

Zala’s expression suggested he was pondering something. To that, he replied, “No, she’s been on her own for a year now.”

Tim raised an eyebrow in response to Zala’s statement. In an attempt to find out why he was really here, he asked, “Has she ever mentioned any enemies or encountered any dangerous situations during that time?”

Zala hesitated for a moment before answering, “Not that I’m aware of, but she did mention some strange occurrences lately.”

Tim noticed Zala’s hand move to his weapon holstered at his side, a subtle indication that he was preparing for something.

Tim knew his guy was good at his job. For a while, he had Tim believing his story.

A stranger walked to the table and said, “Zala, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. Who are you after this time?” The stranger turned to Tim and said, “Do you know that Zala is the best bounty hunter in the whole universe?”

Tim’s heart skipped a beat as he realized that his guy, Zala, was here after him. He looked at Zala and asked, “Are you here for the bounty?”

Zala smirked and replied, “You could say that. Let’s just say I’ve been chasing a very valuable target.”

Tim smiled and replied, “That wouldn’t be 50,000 credits, would it?”

“So you know about that?”

“Yes, but that’s from the person they call the Big Boss,” I understand.

“50,000 credits is 50,000 credits, no matter who offers it. So, how are we going to do this?” Zala began looking around.

“Well, you can leave without me and go looking for another bounty.”

“Why would I ever consider doing that?” Zala asked, raising an eyebrow. He smirked and replied, “Besides, the thrill of the chase is what I live for.”

Tim beamed and continued, “You can live for the chase someplace else, or on a planet where there is no return.”

Zala didn’t understand that one remark and sat there for a minute. As he sat there, there was a commotion at the entrance to the restaurant.

A small fellow pushed his way in and looked around. Saw Tim, pulled out a handgun, and quickly shot Tim in the chest.