Return to Bermudas Index
by wordboy
APPARITARUS – A COMMERCE PLANET
Aeryn looked around the cage and tried to keep her growing anger under control. She had thoroughly examined the room, from corner to corner, trying to find any weakness, any failing joint, anything that she could use to escape. That the cage had been designed with someone like her, a trained soldier, in mind was evident. All the joints were tightly sealed, and even the air vents were far too small to be of use to her.
There has to be a way out of here, she thought. Every cell has its weak point. I just have to find it.
Aeryn leaned against the table and tried to force herself to calm down. She stared at the floor, then glanced up through the ceiling. Though she could only see stars, her thoughts went back to Apparitarus, and John. Tianza had said he would be dead within a solar day. She knew that would be harder than Tianza apparently anticipated, but her concern was almost as strong as her anger.
Movement attracted her attention, and Aeryn saw the drone that had brought the tray earlier. It returned to the same spot over the table and lowered until it was in contact with the ceiling. A hole large enough for the drone irised open, and the drone dropped down on top of the tray. Aeryn reached out quickly for the drone, then pulled her hand back as her fingertips touched some kind of energy field that sent a shock up her arm.
Aeryn blew on her tingling fingertips and watched the drone. It seemed to stare at her then began to rise toward the ceiling. Moving quickly, Aeryn climbed onto the table and waited. When the drone passed through its opening, she jumped and grabbed the edges of the opening. As she started to pull herself up, Aeryn saw the opening begin to close. She held on as long as she could, trying to force it open. When it became apparent she was about to lose her fingers, Aeryn let go and dropped to the table. She lost her footing and fell to the floor.
She lay still for a microt, watching the drone float away. Frowning, she started to stand, but stopped when she noticed the opaque flooring had cracked where she’d landed. If I can’t go up, Aeryn thought, maybe I can go down.
Tianza’s voice came from behind her. “Why do you insist on trying to escape? Don’t you understand the honor I’ve bestowed upon you?”
“Strange, I don’t feel honored. What part of your brain is malfunctioning to the point that this makes sense?”
For a microt, Tianza didn’t respond. He turned the scarred portion of his face toward Aeryn and spoke in a quiet voice. “Do you see my disfigurement? Do you know how most people react to me? With revulsion, with fear. They don’t see me, they see the scars. I used to be popular. It used to be an honor to be seen with me. But because of an accident, I was segregated from the rest of society. So since I was cut off from the world I once knew, I decided to bring that world to me. I now surround myself with beautiful things and beautiful people.”
“How many other people have you kidnapped over the cycles? And for how long do you think you can continue doing this?”
“As long as I feel it necessary. Shall we say local law enforcement owes its very existence to me.”
“You’ve bribed them.” Aeryn shook her head slowly. “So, what do you want from me? Pity? Sympathy? All you’ll get is contempt.”
Tianza began to pace. “I seem to have underestimated your training. Even though you left the Peacekeepers two and a half cycles ago, you are still very much the Prowler pilot. Not a concern. You will eventually come around and accept the situation.”
“I’ll be dead first.” Aeryn’s voice was cold.
“Possibly. I can preserve you as you are now.” Tianza’s hologram faded away.
Aeryn stared at where the hologram once was then glanced back at the broken floor. “Now, let’s see what’s under there.”
---------------------------------------
For a microt long eternity, John stared at the blade and wondered how long the Luxan would drag out the moment. He was still wondering when he heard Somrela say, “Stop, Treslen. Crichton is not yours to kill. His life belongs to me.”
Treslen looked back at Somrela and growled. “Tianza wants him dead. I reached him first. I get the kill.”
“I have history with him. He disgraced me in the eyes of my people. To regain my honor, I must kill him.”
John looked from Treslen to Somrela and wondered who he should be more concerned with. “Hey, look guys. No need to argue over little ol’ me. In fact, why do you let me up. I’ll go take care of some business while you two discuss this like a couple of good homicidal maniacs.”
Treslen looked back at John. “I think not.” He again raised the knife.
As he started to bring the knife down, Somrela rushed forward, striking Treslen in the side. Both of them tumbled to the floor and started fighting.
John slid off the table and watched them for a microt. Never look a gift horse or a close call in the mouth, he thought. He slowly backed out of the bar.
He managed to relax a little when he was out on the street. He looked around quickly and spotted Ixa coming toward him. “What happened? What’s going on?”
“It looks like Tianza wants me out of the way. He sent Somrela and a Luxan to take care of me.” John took a deep breath and let it whistle out through his teeth. “Did you find out anything?”
“In the three microts since I left? I’m good, but not even I can get that kind of information that fast.”
John chewed on his lower lip and began walking down the street, heading toward the landing field, Ixa walking quickly to keep up with him. “What if we go to the local sheriff? Surely they…”
“Are you joking? Tianza owns the local sheriff. Paid cash for his last election. If Tianza wants you dead and the Luxan and the Rolvarian haven’t killed you, the sheriff will.”
“Great. This just keeps getting better. Wait a minute.” John stopped and began to turn over possibilities in his mind. “Tianza collects beautiful things? One of a kind rarities and such. Right?”
Ixa nodded. “But it would have to be something no one else has. Something rare, valuable and beautiful.”
John nodded as his college literature class came back to him. “I think we might be able to come up with something. Is there a jeweler nearby? Someone that can do a rush job for a large sum of cash?”
“Maybe. What’re you thinking?”
“If I have to trade, then I’ll trade. Now, let’s go.”
---------------------------------------
Tianza looked around the opulent series of chambers that made up his private quarters on his orbital habitat and sighed in satisfaction. A small part of his mind was concerned about the defiance Aeryn continued to show. He quickly dismissed the concern, knowing that all the ones he had taken before Aeryn had shown the same defiance. Just as they had lost their will to fight, so would she. It would happen. He just had to be patient.
He slowly walked to his bedroom and climbed onto the bed. Tianza’s eyes slipped shut as he felt himself relax. His mind drifted back, and he remembered fire and pain, tumbling out of control, and an impact that should have left him dead.
I’ve overcome that tragedy, he thought. I’ve risen above it to regain the power that I’ve lost.
Quiet beeping and an equally quiet voice. “Excuse me, sir.”
Tianza sighed. “I did not want to be disturbed.”
“Yes, sir. But there is a small transport pod approaching. We’re receiving a signal from them.”
“Why are you concerning me with this? Destroy it.”
“Sir, the caller says he’s John Crichton and wants to talk to you about Aeryn Sun.”
Tianza opened his eyes. Crichton is still alive? “Transfer it down here.” He climbed from the bed and went to his office.
A hologram of John was shimmering into existence as Tianza stepped in. “Well, Crichton, you seem to have an annoying habit of surviving.”
A smirk crossed John’s face. “Oh, did you watch a lot of James Bond films, too? As personally revolting as I may find it, I’m here to negotiate for Aeryn. I have something that no one else has, and I’m willing to let it go in exchange for Aeryn’s freedom.”
“What could you possibly have that would make me trade my newest possession?”
“Have you ever heard of the One Ring of Power? It’s an ancient artifact from my world.”
“Never heard of it. It’s a ring? Why would I want a ring?”
John lowered his eyes and seemed to think. “On my world, nineteen rings were forged and passed out to the various races. This ring controlled them all. There is nothing like it in this or any other universe, and it’s beautiful in its simplicity.”
Despite himself, Tianza was intrigued. “You have my attention, Crichton. I’ll give you permission to land. You’ll then be escorted to my chambers. Until then.” As the hologram faded, Tianza went to his desk and touched an isolated control. “Allow the pod to land. Escort Crichton to my chambers. Before he arrives, I want to see Tirim’bella. There is a task his so-called experts couldn’t handle that now must fall to his hands.”
Tianza switched off the comm and glanced at the ceiling. “We’ll see what Crichton has, dear Aeryn. If what he says is true, then I’ll have both you and this ring. If not, then I have lost nothing but some time. Either way, Crichton’s time among the living is drawing to a close.” He looked around the office and nodded in satisfaction.
