Chapter Nine

Janos, as was so famously written in the Chancai Express, was not a haven for the nervous, the famous or the infirm. In fact, a less relaxing location in the sector was hard to imagine, given the nature of Janos’ arid deserts, sparse scrub, poisonous insects and blast-furnace heat. Most of the landmass of Janos lay above the equator, and was spread primarily around three continents and various small islands. To the west lay Urular, the least populated landmass. It was known for producing its worlds scribes and teachers, along with its greatest religious leaders. To the East lay Oronori, the continent with the largest population, and where the Berone Sunrise was currently docked. Here could be found the bulk of Janos’ major industries, its technical regions, scientific institutes and engineering yards. Most illegal activity that was run through Janos was operated on Oronori, although that in itself was a small amount of activity. Finally the third, central and major continent was Woron. Housing the worlds military installations Woron was the location of some of the most highly trained and feared warriors within the boundaries of the Setnin Sector. Janos Executioners were an elite fighting force conceived by their religious leader, the Emperor Priest. The latest Emperor Priest, Culdanatia the Third, resided on the heavily guarded island fortress of Heart. Their current mission was to retrieve Janos Jewels stolen from them during the Empires yearlong occupation of Janos. With a righteous and deeply religious zeal, these warriors protected their Emperor Priest and their world from all outside offensives. And beware any off-worlder that ignored their customs and laws while on their world. Janites had little patience for `aliens’, treating them as no more than bothersome insects. Jan Lomona had visited countless worlds during his sixteen years as a smuggler, and he had explored many of them purely for the pleasure of new discoveries, but Janos? Janos remained a world of hurt for Jan. On only two previous occasions had Jan Lomona touched down on Janos, and both times it had been a searing and painful experience. Jan hated Janos with a vengeance, and he was sure that Janos hated him.

And yet, for a third time, he was here.

It was through no conscious choice of his own. Janos was a world that nature had designed to be discouraging to outsiders, her borders only being opened to the rest of the sector within the last fifty years. Surely that was why Glann had chosen it to be one of the stop off points for their journey to Abrogard, to discourage other elements from following them. Jan winced at the strong sunlight as he collected his thoughts. No, others are definitely waiting for us here, and on the other worlds they had yet to disembark upon. But Jan Lomona would be ready for them. Thing was, did he have any other assistance from Glann? How many of Glanns agents had been spread throughout the stars to aid them along the way? Lots hoped Jan. Let it be lots and lots.

“Never changes, does it?” Frowned Terrie as she swung her bag over her shoulder and led the way to the edge of the landing platform. A sharp, hot gust of wind blasted at her as she took in the view. Stretching before them was the massive plain of Algea, the most holy location for devoted followers of the Emperor Priest. Great wars had been waged here thousands of years before between the warriors of Oronori and Woron, and the Janos Executioners had been divided into sub-sects to reflect that ever since. For a world so united in its disdain for outsiders, it certainly enjoyed its divisions. Jan stood next to Terrie and shielded his eyes from the glare of the overpowering sun.

“I’ve been here twice before, and each time I left I swore I’d never return.” He paused and turned to face Terrie. “So please, tell me we’re here for a damn good reason? Tell me it’s not another of Glann little jokes, this isn’t just another wild Womp chase?”

Terrie didn’t bother turning to look at Jan, or to answer his question.

“We’re meeting Glanns Janos team in the town centre later this evening, after the Chimes.”

Chimes was a time during late afternoon when all Janites would put down their tools, books, ladles or whatever they were holding and pray to their Emperor Priest, and for their world. It was always honoured and never ignored. Even the Janos-Ferrerea War stopped for the Chimes. And it lasted for five minutes, which would give them ample time to gather and debrief. Terrie glanced at Jan.

“Then you’ll find out all you need to know.”

Jan scratched his head and took Frans’ hand as she stood beside him.

“I doubt that very much.”

It was a tiring walk down the stairwells to the foot of the landing bay, the native Janites not bothering to install turbo-lifts for what was effectively the entrance point for off-worlders. By the time they exited to bottom of the stairs they were red faced, the thinness of the air contributing to their fatigue. Jan managed to hail a speeder to take them into the township area where they would meet Glanns Janos operatives, and after a contracted period of haggling and assuring the taxi driver that they wouldn’t attempt to steal his speeder they were on their way. Terrie took the opportunity to check through a datapad of information; Frans leaned her head on Jan’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep. Jan looked over at Paige, who was watching the Janos desert and scrub rush by. She had been very quiet since their arrival on Janos, which surprised him. He’d thought that letting her land the Sunrise would be a useful way to involve her in ship activities. After all, if she’s going to be a part of my crew then one day she’ll have to blast us out of some dangerous situation in a microsecond. What use is she if she can’t operate the ship? That thought made him cast his mind back to his first frenetic visit to Janos, and the trouble that had ensued. Show more of my tail on this visit and I can expect a return contest with the Executioners - and this time I don’t doubt the outcome of the confrontation.

Their speeder pulled into the central plaza of the township of Algea, dispersing its citizens who viewed the occupants of the vehicle with barely disguised looks of disinterest and disgust. They didn’t have many off-worlders around these parts and it suited them fine. `Alien’ to a Janite meant trouble, and trouble meant Executioners. No honest and true citizen of Janos wished to bother an honoured member of their holy order for no reason, so as a consequence they wished the `aliens’ would depart. Jan had no intention of doing so, not just yet. But when he did it wouldn’t be a moment too soon.

“We here yet?” Murmured Frans sleepily as she raised her head and shielded her sensitive eyes to the late afternoon sun, which was dropping out of the sky with great speed. Janos spun on its axis in eighteen standard hours, and a year consisted of two hundred and thirty four of these days. Over one hundred and thirty of those days were religious festival days, another sixteen sacrifice days and thirty-seven more were fasting days, days of abstinence. Jan smiled warmly as he looked down at Frans who had slipped down and down as she slept and was now resting her head on the crook of his arm. Now there’s something I can’t do without…

“We’re here honey. You’d better get up, the taxi’s leaving. I don’t want to lose you on Janos again.”

Frans grinned, the colour of alertness returning to her cheeks as she sat up and collected her belongings. She had no better memories of Janos than Jan did, although she knew he’d had a bad experience when he last landed here just under a year ago. It was something he’d only mentioned briefly and that only in passing. She knew it was a subject he’d perhaps never get around to talking about again. She respected that. Everyone had to have their secrets. It just so happened that Jan Lomona had more secrets than anyone did, and sometimes they turned up fourteen years later with dreams of looking for their father….

Terrie took them through the township plaza, past an ornate and beautifully designed statue to a row of shops and restaurants. Paige took it all in with her usual air of wonder and Jan couldn’t help but admire her outlook on life. If only I was still so impressed by it all, he thought to himself. With regret he sighed deeply, a reaction that wasn’t missed by Terrie.

“Credit for your thoughts?” She whispered quietly. Jan turned sharply, jolted out of his reverie, and smiled.

“I was just wondering. Where did all the beauty go?”

Terrie frowned, shook her head. What did he mean?

“I don’t follow.”

“The sunsets on A-desando, the waterfalls of Entall, the mineral shines on Leogard. When did I stop appreciating it and start taking it for granted?” He shook his head sorrowfully. “Look at Paige. I can remember being that impressed at the slightest little thing. The first time I saw the bay in Amagad City, what a sight that was.” He grinned. “The Rarrla Forests on Carlin.”

Terrie raised her shapely eyebrows at this.

“You’ve been to Carlin?”

Jan nodded eagerly.

“Oh yeah, must have been about seven years ago. Why?”

“It’s my home planet. I haven’t been there for years.” She looked saddened for a moment, then regained her composure. “Why were you there?”

“I was doing stuff for Jabba, and a little for myself. I sold some blaster carbines to a small rebel resistance cell that was forming back then. I made a good profit on the deal and I had some spare time to look around. I’d just bought the Sunrise but she hadn’t been souped up like she has now, so there was little chance of being spotted. We took a backpack, a blaster and some drinks and we hiked through the forest for a day or two.” He paused again, lost in the memory. “That was when me and Durne Selka were running jobs together.” He grinned broadly and shook his head in amusement at the thought. “Anyway, Carlin is a beautiful world. It’s one place I’d like to visit again. Unlike this hell-hole.”

Terrie nodded in agreement as she spun around and began walking towards a nearby building. Paige and Frans were engaged in animated conversation near the entrance and Jan wondered what they could be talking about. Me? Probably. After all, I am the most interesting thing on this dirtball. Or any other world come to think of it.

Terrie entered the curtained doorway first and as Jan followed closely he saw that it was in fact a civic meeting hall. He was quietly surprised. Somehow he’d expected yet another filthy run-down tapcafe; it was where they usually had their clandestine meetings. This however was a novel and sensible location to meet. Few would expect it, and once the group had confirmed their identities to each other they could agree on a new and isolated location for further discussions. Frans nudged in behind Jan with Paige at her side. Silently the four of them moved in, taking a short row of bench seats. They didn’t speak for ten long minutes, it simply didn’t seem like the time or the place for idle chat. Occasional town’s folk wandered in to the hall, but upon noticing the presence of off-worlders, left quietly. Soon Paige began to fidget and become unsettled, and Terrie had to quietly caution her against any rash actions. It was too important a juncture in the mission for them to be distracted. Maturely, Paige conceded and composed herself. Jan felt a momentary flash of pride, the words `that’s my girl’ unexpectedly flashing through his mind. He frowned to himself and put it down to fatigue. After all, it had been a very long day.

“I’m going to check outside, see if there’s any sign of our contacts.” Terrie stood and strode out of the circular hall to the curtain, and with a swish she was gone. Jan slid along the bench to be nearer to Frans and Paige.

“They should be here soon, it’s almost time for the Chimes.”

Frans and Paige nodded solemnly. In a few moments the townships temple bell would begin to ring out and for the following five minutes all activity in Algea township would cease. To Jans teams distinct advantage. Terrie re-entered the hall and waved them over.

“Our team’s on its way. They’ll be entering the plaza any second.”

No sooner had she said it than the speeder appeared. Jan couldn’t help but smile when he recognised the hulking pilot of the speeder.

“Well I’ll be a Jawas jockstrap….”

Swinging to a halt in front of the hall Himbimimam stepped out of the vehicle and grinned broadly, his diminutive companion Weale exiting and standing next to him.

“Himbs, buddy. It’s been a while.” Jan laughed quietly. “I’m surprised Glann sent you out to this stop off point though.”

Himbs raised what passed for his eyebrows in interest as the six of them re-entered the hall to the rising sounds of the Chimes.

“Why’s that?”

“After your last visit to Janos. You said you’d never set foot on this `worthless piece of Krictakk crap’ again. What made you change your mind?”

Himbs appeared almost embarrassed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Glann can be very….persuasive when he wants to.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“He’s promised me six thousand credits for this detail….and the continued use of my legs.”

Jan nodded evenly at the thought. Himbs with no legs would be like a Hutt without a tail.

“Anyway, I don’t mind really. It’s given me the chance to teach this bright young sparkler here some field tips.”

Weale forced a smile and stepped forward to introduce herself.

“Captain Lomona, I’m Weale. One of Glanns special operatives.”

Shadow Warriors rarely referred to themselves as such in public, and only those required to know of them ever learned of their existence. Jan shook her small hand, recognising her as the Warrior who’d frisked him down in Glanns turbo-lift on Amagad, and marvelling at the strength of her grip.

“Is that short for something, or is it just Weale?” He winced and then sighed inwardly with relief as she missed the subtle comment on her height.

“No Captain, just Weale. I don’t know my surname. All I’ve known is the Shadow Warrior Academy on Ferrerea and Glann Cipples kindness.”

Jan and Frans exchanged glances. Many people knew of `Glanns kindness’. Weale noticed the exchange but decided to say nothing. Frans acknowledged Weale with a warm smile and Paige with a broad grin. At last, Paige thought, someone born in the same century as me. Weale returned Paige's grin with a cool smile. After all, she didn’t have the slightest clue who the tall slender A-desandian girl was. And neither did Glanns people.

Terrie turned to Himbs.

“We need somewhere we can speak freely and not be monitored. I take it you’ve located such a place?”

Himbs nodded slowly.

“I have.” He handed Terrie a disk. “In the meantime, go back to the Sunrise and de-code this.” He slyly handed Terrie a second data-disk. “Everything you need is there.”

Terrie smiled and flicked her dark hair from her face.

“This should really go to you Captain. After all, these co-ordinates should match the information on my master disk.” She handed it over. “This is for you.”

Lomona took the disk and pocketed it away.

“Okay. I’ll take this back to the Sunrise and check it out. When do we meet?” This time it was Himbs and Terrie who exchanged weary glances.

“Read the disk Jan.”

“Oh yeah.”

“I do believe Gentles, that it’s the perfect time to remind Glann Cipple that this whole matter is more than a simple game of follow the leader. Do you all concur?” Before him the five Holo-images flickered, and one by one the men nodded their consent. Treece smiled and steeped his fingers together. This is proving to be an excellent game of wits. How much does Glann Cipple know? How much do I know? More than that crooked fool, that’s for certain. Whatever, the pieces were in place and the game would soon begin. Glann, Treece smirked to himself, how you’ll wish you could hide under a large rock and just disappear. Pity there’s no rock safe enough for you to find.

“I’ll alert my men to begin the next phase of the operation then?” Geon Tasar asked, eager to open hostilities.

Treece nodded.

“At your convenience Geon. That goes for all of you. As of now it’s open season on the Berone Sunrise.”

All five holos flickered and faded away into the ether. Satisfied, Treece leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. The steady thrumming of the engines propelling the Star Destroyer Repressor through hyperspace formed a rhythmic backdrop to his thoughts….

“Not far to go now folks. I’d insist on a sing-along, but our genial driver might throw us out and it’s a long haul back to the Sunrise.”

His three female companions in the back acknowledged him with a smirk, a glare or a snore. Jan shook his head in good humour and returned his eyes to the road ahead. It’s true. Every word they ever said about the good nature and pleasant disposition of the Janites is true. They don’t have one. It sure won’t be the world I’ll choose to hold my stag night, whenever that is. A-desandians were practically resistant to the effects of alcohol. Janites wouldn’t know a good joke if it conquered their world and took the moon as a punch line. Oh well, live and let live - just don’t ever get stuck in a turbo-lift with one. Jan squinted as he took in the barren vista ahead of them. Was that a glint of metal moving ahead in the distance? He couldn’t be certain, but it looked like something moving towards them at high velocity. That was something he could do without. Just keeping his three companions happy was turning out to be a full time mission. Fighting and shooting and running for their lives? That would be a stretch too far. Maybe it was just another taxi.

“What’s that over there?” Jan kept the question brief and to the point. Unlike every other member of his profession throughout the galaxy Janite taxi-drivers loathed small talk.

“Another taxi speeder.” He paused, his white eyes straining to make out the make of the speeder. “I don’t recognise the model. Must be new to the lanes.” Satisfied, the driver turned back to the straight road ahead.

Jan was less than satisfied as he turned.

“Terrie?”

She pulled herself forward and looked quizzically at Jan.

“What’s up?”

“I think we’ve got company, over there in that canyon.” He pointed to their left at a canyon entrance. Terrie nodded and grabbed her binocs.

“Wake Frans up will you?” She asked Paige as she swung the binocs forward. Terrie nodded slowly and frowned.

“Well spotted Captain. Looks like an Arralyte WS-42, about two klicks away. Fast, manoeuvrable, and loaded for Wampa.”

They exchanged serious glances. Finally, it was happening. And, as usual, they were out in the field and left in the dark.

Frans wiped her eyes and frowned as she woke up.

“What’s going on?”

Paige pointed worriedly ahead.

“Another speeder. Not a taxi. Looks like trouble.”

Frans sat up straight and ran her fingers through her wild red hair.

“Figures. Well, we’ve had a pretty easy ride so far. What’s the plan?”

Jan focused down the barrel of his P-45 Type Three heavy blaster, which he’d just whipped out of his holster to the consternation of the driver.

“The plan? I told you back in the Yapya, we’re making this up as we go. Ready?” Terrie, Paige and Frans nodded, although none of them knew what they were supposed to be ready for. Lomona turned to the driver to his right.

“Stop the taxi.”

Shaking his head the taxi driver clenched his teeth and stared rigidly ahead.

“No, I will not.”

Jan raised his eyebrows and raised the profile of his blaster slightly higher.

“Bring this heap of crap to a halt and start walking. You won’t get hurt in our fight and….I’ll call for another taxi to pick you up.”

“A rival firm no doubt.” The driver glanced quickly at the nozzle of Jans blaster which was creeping ever higher. “Very well.”

The speeder began a rapid deceleration until the scrubs became distinguishable from one another and they bobbed to a standstill. The canyon was still half a kilometre away from them, and Jan did a quick mental estimate of how long it would take them to reach his group.

“Terrie, front seat now, we ain’t got long.” He shooed the driver out of the speeder. “Aim that way and keep walking fast.”

With a disgusted frown the driver exited the taxi.

“You’re telling a taxi-driver which way to go? I’m flattered.” Grumbling, the man began walking steadily away from the speeder towards the skyline and the landing pad in the distance and was so busy cursing the `aliens’ that he never even felt the blaster round tear into his neck and rip his head clean off.

“Floor it!!” Terrie screamed as she slid into the front passenger seat. The Arralyte tore out of the canyon cover at almost full speed and Jan, needing no invitation, slid into the still warm pilot’s seat, gunned the engine and swung her around toward the horizon and the Sunrise.

“They’re gaining Dad!” Yelled Paige above the roar of the straining engines, ducking and cutting as they struggled to gain speed. Jan grimaced.

“I know they’re gaining! And don’t call me Dad!”

Paige looked awkwardly at Frans beside her and shrunk into the seat. Angrily Frans leaned forward, right behind Jans left ear.

“There’s no need to take it out on Paige!”

“We don’t have time for this right now honey!” He replied, swinging the speeder to the right to avoid a scattering of rocks. Frans huffed in anger as she was thrown back into the seat, her legs swinging up and over her head. She quickly righted herself.

“You don’t have the time for anything!”

Jan crossed his eyebrows and shot a glance over his shoulder.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think you know exactly what it means.”

“Can we have this argument later?” Yelled Terrie, pulling out her own blaster and peppering shots behind them. The Arralyte had gained significantly and the five occupants could be seen clearly through the transpari-screen. Frans cursed as she ticked off the opposition on a checklist in her mind.

“Much as I hate negative thinking….”

Terrie spun out another three shots which splatted off the hood and glanced at Frans in the seat behind her.

“But?”

Frans pointed at the Arralyte behind.

“Our pursuers work for Geon Tasar. I can see Smatt Open, Bigg Arrams. Which means - ”

“ - more fuel to the fire,” finished Terrie as she squeezed another shot off, hitting the edge of the wind shield and spraying the men with sparks and globules of molten plastic. “It’s as we feared. Whoever’s stolen the disk has thrown in with other gangs to bring Glann down.”

Jan turned the speeder to the right to avoid more rocks and shouted over his shoulder.

“But we don’t know who’s with who, or who’s doing what? How the Stang do we figure this mess out?”

Terrie shrugged as she blasted out more shots.

“You’re the Captain, you figure it out.”

“Gee, thanks.” He grunted as he once again slammed the thrusters and spun the speeder around to the left. He was at a serious disadvantage, he knew that, but he also knew that he was one of the best jet-jockeys on the Mid-Rim and his deep self-confidence in his piloting abilities had seen him through stickier situations than this.

He hoped.

“Aim for that canyon entrance,” Pointed Terrie between blasts, “maybe you’ll shake them in there.”

Lomona acknowledged by steering the speeder directly at the opening. Behind, the Arralyte cut in and accelerated, momentarily broadsiding them as Frans reached down and retrieved a blaster from Terrie’s holdall.

“Take this,” Frans yelled above the rushing heat and dry air, “point it at their heads and squeeze the trigger. Got it?”

Paige nodded matter-of-factly and began trading shots with their attackers with pinpoint accuracy. Frans smiled in approval as Paige concentrated. Don’t tell me, thought Frans, your Mom had this boyfriend….

“Hold on!” Shouted Jan as the canyon walls enveloped them.

Terrie gasped with the rush as the light level dropped off and Jan dodged and swung the speeder from left to right. It was dizzying; their velocity had tailed off slightly but within the confines of the narrow walls they seemed on the verge of lightspeed. Any hopes of avoiding pursuance was lost with the resumption of blaster fire from the rear, and Jan poured it on a touch more to keep the rocky outcrops between them and the damaging barrage.

“What now?” Roared Jan. The way ahead was looking distinctly narrow, and Terrie looked upwards for inspiration. Above, the light entered the canyon with a fresh brightness and filtered its way down, down, down….

….just like the shaft on Chancai.

“Slow down.” Terrie ordered.

“What!” Jan turned to face her.

“Watch it Jan!”

Jan yelped and barely managed to twist the speeder out of the way of a jut of red rock. “Slow down and wait for them to get close enough.”

He frowned.

“Close enough to do what? Hitch a ride?”

Terrie grinned and turned to check their position over her shoulder.

“Something like that.”

The Arralyte was perhaps ten metres behind them now, and the determined visages of their pursuers were all too clear. Just a touch more, just a fraction. She looked at Jan, and he looked back, nonplussed. Who’s making it up now?

“When I call it, decelerate and lift the nose up, then boot it full throttle.”

Jan shook his head as he registered what she was thinking.

“Nice idea lady, but the flight ceiling for these crates is thirty metres. It’s at least twice that height up there.”

She grabbed Jans forearm, and for the second that it lasted the touch was electric. Or was it just the exhilaration of the chase?

“Trust me Captain. I know what I’m doing.” She paused. The Arralyte was almost in the back seat. “Do it!”

Jan slammed his feet to the floor, decreasing the forward velocity of the speeder, and as he did so raised the nose. With almost morbid fascination they watched the Arralyte speed underneath, its occupants looking up in confusion. With a wide grin Jan realised Terries plan. He gunned the engine once again and tilted the speeder skywards, using the attackers speeder as a launch platform. With a whoop of triumph Jan aimed them towards the widest gap he could safely reach, their shouts and yells of delight echoing around the canyon and mingling with the crashing of the Arralyte as it was first pummelled into the canyon floor by the pressure of the taxi’s launch and then slamming into the canyon wall fifty metres further on.

“Where’d you learn a stunt-jockey trick like that?” Jan exclaimed as the blazing sunlight blinded them momentarily. Terrie almost let slip with a laugh and just managed to keep it in.

“Back on Chancai when me and Paige were trying to get back to the Sunrise. We managed to dodge a swoop but ended up in the path of a heavy cargo trawler. There was no room to dodge and your hangar was only a short distance away so we did the same trick, hopped over it and blasted upwards. Except we didn’t have such a smooth ride.”

Jan turned around to Frans and Paige in the rear seats, both of them grinning and hugging each other in delight. Terrie smiled.

“A lesser pilot would never have made it in there.” Terrie looked directly into Jan’s eyes and smiled a warm smile. “Well done.”

He turned away, slightly embarrassed by the compliment and eased the speeder down the outside of the canyon walls and back onto the plains leading to the landing pads housing the Berone Sunrise.

“Any time I can be of assistance ladies,” He smirked, “don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Cup of Chav, Weale?” Himbimimam waited for an answer from his companion, but it didn’t come. He stepped over to the young girl, his shadow looming over her small crouching frame.

“You’re blocking the light.”

“No, I’m blocking your light. Do you want your drink in the cup or over your head? It’s your choice.”

Weale frowned and raised her open hand for the cup, which Himbs placed there. He took a long gulp and returned to the ramp of the Tailburner, seating himself and picking up the signal booster he’d been fiddling with for the last hour. Classic timing. Just when the message was supposed to be sent the booster shorted out, meaning they could receive messages but not send them. It was nothing that he couldn’t fix, but it would take time. And time was rapidly becoming tight. Unbeknownst to Weale, Himbs had received a communiqué from one of Glanns local agents apprising him of the recent confrontation between Glann and Dressel. An old barstool pilot like Himbimimam could easily read the messages between the lines. All bets were off, and the Sunrise crew needed all the cover they could get. True, the disks had yet to be decoded, or so Glanns intelligence assumed. That logically meant that it was to the opposition’s advantage to leave Jan and his friends alone, to simply follow them to their final destination. But accidents had nasty ways of happening, and `messages’ and `hints’ were being sent in the form of attacks. A number of them were being directed at the Sunrise team and it’s up to field agents like me to ensure they reach their destination safely.

Himbs finished his Chav, licked the bottom of the cup with his long tongue and stood to rejoin Weale.

“Any luck? I’ll take over for a while if you need a break.”

“Thank you sir. Perhaps a short break would sharpen my focus.” Weale uncrossed her legs and got to her feet. Brushing the dust off her hands she checked her chrono. “If they’ve read the disk then Captain Lomona and his team will be here any time now. Is there anything I need to do before they arrive?”

Himbs scratched his nostril plate.

“I don’t think so. Have a break, we’ll get back to this later.”

Weale nodded and re-entered the Tailburner.

Himbs checked his own chrono. Jan sometimes had a tendency to be less than punctual. However, with a tough case like Saffra chaperoning him that might not be the case today. Or so he hoped. The sooner the Sunrise team was safely off Janos the sooner he could return to Amagad, and the credits that awaited him. Maybe he’d make Glann an offer for the Tailburner; it was a capable and sturdy vessel that he’d enjoyed co-piloting. With Weales capable assistance. Come to that he enjoyed Weales’ company. She was, in her own understated way, pleasant company. And for a young human female she was quite attractive. Himbs hadn’t had relations with human females; they tended to be on the fragile side for his species, the Imbams. They were notoriously violent lovers who thought nothing of breaking each other’s bones in the throes of passion. Poor Weale would get ground into mincemeat. Himbs smiled his semi-smile again and sat to work at the signal booster. Maybe a more platonic relationship was…safer for the girl. Given the cultural differences.

Inside the Tailburner Weale had taken the opportunity to grab a quick shower and change into fresh clothes. With military precision she was in and out in a couple of minutes, and changed another minute later. Towelling her hair she made her way through the winding corridors of the freighter, up the stairwell and into the small cockpit. Janos’ fierce red sun Janoui was setting rapidly over the horizon and Weale was bathed in glowing fire light as she seated herself at the comm-panel and began sorting through the frequencies to contact Lomona’s crew. Initially she was greeted with crackling static, then faint staccato bursts of speech, then flatline again. She surmised it was the radiation from Janoui affecting planet-side transmissions. Without the signal booster the two teams were effectively cut off from each other. Twisting her mouth in annoyance Weale flicked off the comm-panel and made her way back outside to Himbs.

“I thought you said you could remember where the Sunrise was docked?” Growled Terrie angrily as for the fifth time Jan swung the speeder around the towering domed mountain. This was ridiculous. Without getting to the Sunrise and decoding the disk Himbs had given them they wouldn’t know the location of their planned meeting, the time of it, anything. And after the narrow triumph of the day’s earlier escapade the adrenaline had well and truly rushed away and tempers were fraying fast.

“I do. I just wasn’t expecting this crate to break down on me.”

Earlier, the exertions of their escape had finally paid its toll on the taxis engines and it broke down. Luckily, as usual, Paige had her tools with her and they made short work of fixing the problem. But the sun had begun to set and by the time they were ready to resume their journey the horizon they were aiming for was a dim, moonlit silver sliver and the road they’d been following didn’t seem anywhere near as distinct as it had before. So now they were lost. Frans had remained resolutely silent on the subject. She’d told Jan to keep aiming for the ridge of level rock to the northwest, but he’d disagreed and aimed directly north. Terrie kept barking out instructions to no great effect, and Paige had kept herself busy re-arranging her tool kit into some semblance of tidiness before getting some sleep. Jan slowed the speeder down again and thumped the console in frustration.

“Look, this is getting us nowhere fast. I ain’t got a clue which direction the Sunrise is. I can’t figure out which of these stars to orient myself by because I’ve never travelled Janos at night.” He paused, throwing a dangerous glare in Terrie’s direction. “And don’t you dare give me that `you’re the Captain, it’s you’re problem’ line. I didn’t want this job in the first place, and I sure didn’t want you tagging along.” Terrie shifted around in her seat to face Jan, flushed red with anger.

“If I’d known you were so incompetent I’d have insisted on Glann sending someone else. I know I’ve got better things to do with my time than baby-sit a spoilt smuggler.”

“Oh? You’ve got better things to do have you? Well maybe you’d better get us back to the ship so you can get on with doing them.”

Terrie sneered at him, not attempting to hide her annoyance.

“There’s nothing I’d like better.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

Frans, who’d been listening to the argument with a mixed expression of surprise and amusement, leaned forward.

“You two sound like lovers having a quarrel.” She eyed Jan. “You’re making me jealous. Now sort yourself out and get us back to the ship. Himbs will be panicking,” She smiled. “ and I’ve got something special for you when we get back.”

Jan caught the twinkle in her eye and was convinced it wasn’t just the moonlight reflected there. Smiling slowly he grabbed the controls and re-started the engine. With a satisfying growl it responded and he headed for the taxi lane again, ignoring Terries annoyed frown. What is it with her, he thought. I can’t stand her. She’s bull-headed, arrogant and domineering. She can’t take advice without a smart comment and she always thinks she’s right. We couldn’t be more different. Then again, maybe that’s what I like about her. She sure is feisty, and her looks could stun a Gorax at fifty paces. So why am I even thinking about her when I’ve got Frans in the backseat? Jan shook his head slowly at his own conflicting thoughts. I must be more complicated than I thought.

They travelled another ten minutes, heading for the ridge that Frans had pointed out earlier. Terrie tried the comm again, keying the frequency for Himbs unit but still got no response. Janoui must have been going through one of its phases, she guessed, and as a consequence was knocking out planet-side communications. It figured. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

“Still nothing with the comm. Maybe the Sunrise will have better luck.”

Jan nodded calmly and grinned uncomfortably.

“About blowing my top back there….”

Terrie looked amused.

“Is this an apology Captain?”

Jan looked suitably affronted.

“Of course it’s not. Well, maybe a retraction.”

Terrie grinned.

“Good enough.” She returned her eyes to the desert ahead. “Ahh, I think I can see it.”

“What?” asked Frans, sitting up from her comfortable position in the rear of the speeder. Paige huddled against her asleep.

“The edge of the ridge you pointed out this afternoon. Over there.”

Jan laughed and hit the accelerator.

“Well spotted Terrie. Maybe we’ll get a good nights sleep after all.”

Terrie looked at Jan, then at Frans, then at Paige who was still dozing peacefully.

“Well, me and Paige might.”

Himbs was almost frantic. Jan could sometimes be late but never this late. He’d been standing on the ramp to the Tailburner for almost three hours scanning the Eluune Plain for a sign. The last vestiges of sunlight had slithered over the horizon to be replaced by the glow of the moons. He stamped the ground in frustration with a massive foot. There was nothing he could do - Jan had to be here so he could brief his team and then report back to Glann. Without his A-desandian friend the chain of events totally fell apart. What the hell could be keeping them? Something had happened, that was for certain. Jan had a habit of getting himself into awkward situations, although he always came through. And Terrie was a first class field agent; Glann had told him that himself. So where were they? He stomped his way back on board.

“Weale?” He yelled, his booming voice echoing throughout the freighter. “Weale!” He repeated angrily. She appeared from out of the head, frowning.

“I was indisposed.”

Himbs looked away, embarrassed.

“Sorry. Look, there’s no sign of them. I still can’t raise them on the comm.”

“I know. The Janos sun is going through a magnetic phase. Communications won’t work for at least another three hours, possibly not until sunrise.”

Himbs agreed.

“That’s the problem, we’re all waiting on the Sunrise. Glann will be having cubs by now. He doesn’t even know if the Sunrise has arrived yet, let alone got lost.” Himbs caught the almost smug look on Weales face. “Okay, you were right. If I’d sent the message right away he’d have known they were here. But neither of us knew about the suns interference, did we?”

Weale shook her head and sat next to him.

“It is an inconvenient coincidence. What do you suggest we do?”

Himbs’ shoulders sagged.

“I can’t think of any other option but to go look for them”

Weale nodded her compliance.

“I agree. I’ll warm up the engines.”

Himbs smiled again and stood to close the Tailburners ramp. When he got there he was genuinely surprised by the sight that greeted him.

“Weale?”

“Yes sir?”

“We’ve got company.”