Chapter 6

Captain’s Log:

Our meeting with the Admiral went as well as could be expected. He was most troubled by the presence of Rouge and having his granddaughter wearing a black market bounty on her head. Well, he was satisfied knowing that some hotshot wouldn’t try anything. Million credit bounties were not customarily placed on rookies. As such, rookie hunters would stay away.

I also received a sizable personal bounty. One Hundred Million credits are ‘sizable,’ after all. Every bad guy in the universe is going to be gunning for me. My real worry was not the bad guys but the good guys looking for a quick buck.

Bonnie was not handling the bounty on her head too well. She couldn’t accept that her former idol put it there. Even her grandfather was impressed to hear the string of profanities that came out of Bonnie’s mouth for ten cycles straight ... without once repeating.

Our newfound wealth allowed us to make many modifications to the ship. The most important ones are the new military lasers. All four mounts were now boasting the new miniaturized Type 9. Not only did each one pack three times the firepower of the earlier models, but they also reduced the heat build-up by half. That’s a significant advantage when you’re in a battle.

We also added a ‘Galactic Jump Unit.’ Galactic Jump Units are ‘use once and jettison’ externally mounted drives. Since one unit jumps the ship from one galaxy to another, they come only in pairs. The best part is that it works without regard to the local mass units involved. I have no idea why, but it does work, and that’s all that matters.

They are expensive, however. At two hundred fifty thousand Galactic Credits each, they are something only some traders invest in. We invested in it because it’s the ultimate escape device. The drive will work even if all the ship’s systems are overheated or inoperable.

Bonnie said, “Shit, Sam, I can’t believe she put a bounty on my head.”

“I understand, love, I understand.”

“No, you don’t! How could you?”

“Must be the Hundred Mil she placed on my head.”

Bonnie was silent for a moment. She was considering this news as if she had finally realized it.

“Damn her! How could she do that to us?”

‘Well, that was an improvement, at least... ‘us’ instead of ‘I,’ that is.’ I thought to myself.

That’s when we heard Rouge in our heads.

‘Delightful, I can feel your love from here.’

Bonnie thought, ‘How could you do this to us?’

‘Simple. You killed my man. Now, I shall kill you, one way or another.’

With that thought, she was gone.

“Shit, I am going to kill that bitch,” Bonnie said rather loudly.

Ok, I am in shock now. Bonnie acts as if she is thinking differently. She is half-charged, and I worry she may be discharged prematurely.

Suddenly, the ship Com announced the presence of visitors at the hatch.

“Now, who could that be?” I asked just as Bonnie activated the external viewer.

It was her grandfather, along with two others. They wore gray robes with hoods pulled up over their heads, like old-time monks’ robes.

Talk about looking conspicuous! Someone walking around like that would make you wonder if they were high-ranking diplomats. That’s when the thought occurred to me: ‘Maybe they are.’

Bonnie activated the door before I could ask her to do so, and the three of them came in. The Admiral was in the lead. He raised his hand to silence us, and then he spoke.

“Captain, I’d like to introduce you to Ambassador ‘Sue Lang’ and her assistant ‘Fong Lee.’”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, shaking the ambassador’s hand.

In the most sensual voice I have ever heard, she replied, “The pleasure is mine, Captain.”

I stood there dumbstruck for a moment, shaking the dainty hand thrust out from under the robe. I felt the mental ‘nudge’ from Bonne’s mind that brought me back around.

“Forgive me, Ambassador. This is my first officer, Bonnie,” Sam said as I pointed to her.

“Ah, yes. The Admiral’s granddaughter. We have met.”

Bonnie asked, “We have?”

Sue Lang’s hands went to her head. She removed the hood, allowing it to drop behind her shoulders. Bonnie gasped in recognition of her old college roommate.

The Admiral said, “Forgive me, Ambassador, but time is of the essence here.”

“Of course. Please proceed.”

“Now, Captain, I need you to transport the ambassador to Deloris 7. You have eighteen days to get her there.”

I stuttered, “Deloris 7?”

So that you understand my shock, Deloris 7 is in the next spiral arm over from our current location. It would take every day we were given, and then some, to get her there in an MK 5 trade vessel.

The ambassador smiled out from behind her bright green eyes and said. “It is a covert negotiation. That is why we selected your ship for this transport duty.”