End of the Universe by M J Dees

Author:M J Dees
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera
Publisher: M J Dees
Published: 2023-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26: TO SAVE NIX

Despite its relative centrality in the Republic, Gothaehiri was an unremarkable, little visited system, mainly because of the similar unremarkableness and lack of resources of its neighbouring systems, Titan and Henneria.

It wasn’t a shortcut to anywhere, so people only passed through the Gothaehiri system if they had business on Gothaehiri, and few had a reason for that.

In its rotation, Gothaehiri had been famous for its marine life, which was said to rival that of Pallene, but overfishing had decimated the oceans and industry only existed to make use of the cheap labour force, who were left with few options.

“It’s difficult to imagine what reason the Corporation would have for taking Dr Nix to Gothaehiri,” said Tori.

By the time they emerged through the portal, it was clear the corporation vessel was heading for the planet that gave Gothaehiri its name. The only planet in the system with conditions hospitable for the likes of Republic and Corporation clones and their owners.

Ron ensured they followed the craft at a discrete distance so as not to arouse the suspicions of their quarry.

Tori felt uneasy about how simple their mission had been so far and he expressed as much to Ay-ttho when she finally returned to the bridge from her extended breakfast.

“Do you think they are trying to lure us in?” she asked. “It’s possible.”

“Why would they do that?” asked Tori.

“I don’t know, but don’t you think it’s odd that they just board the presidential cruiser and leave with the president’s chief scientist, with no one attempting to stop them?”

“It is odd.”

“Did it not occur to you to mention it to Allecram?”

“We’d just woken up. I wasn’t really thinking straight.”

“Obviously.”

“Well, what would you have said?”

“I’d have asked a few more questions before agreeing to go on a wild crisqix chase.”

“That’s all we ever seen to do.”

“And we haven’t been paid.”

“And they haven’t delivered Nadio or Effeek’o.”

“Yet.”

“If they ever do.”

“You are such a cynic.”

“I’m a cynic? What about you?”

“Can we stop fighting?” asked Sevan. “They restocked and refuelled us, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I suggest we just cut our losses and go straight back to the Doomed Planet.”

“What? Do you know what they are paying us?”

“We haven’t seen any of those credits so far. There’s no guarantee we ever will.”

“Sevan the cynic. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,”

“I don’t think there is.”

“We are approaching Gothaehiri,” Ron interrupted.

“So what now?” asked Sevan.

“We land close to them but not in the same hangar, then Ron tracks them and informs us of their location via communicator while we pursue them on foot.” Ay-ttho surveyed Tori and Sevan. “Unless you have any other ideas?”

“Of course not, Captain,” said Tori.

“Very well then. Take us down Ron.”

Ron steered the ship through the atmosphere of Gothaehiri to the settlement where the Corporation vessel had landed. It turned out to be quite a ramshackle place, like a spaceport that has seen better, more lucrative rotations, and was now trying to get by on whatever trade it could.

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