CHAPTER 21
I resisted the overwhelming urge to curse. My lips had almost been on Slinkie’s, and tongue had been a clear given. Who knew where that might have led? I mean, I had a damned good guess, but there was no way to put it to the test.
In a split second, amorous thoughts were in the ether, because the ’floater was having some serious problems. Caused, as near as I could tell, by the several military ’floaters around it.
Unlike what we were in, Herion Military’s autofloaters were sleek machines. You wouldn’t be able to stand on one of them, they were built for speed. They were also built for business. It was clear they meant it.
We were surrounded, both sides, above, front and rear. None of their drivers were stupid enough to go below us, though.
“Land and drive like a good citizen.”
“Well, it’s that or crash and die, Alexander, so, I was going to do that anyway.”
I sighed. “So testy. Look, when we get out, Governor, you just act cranky and old—you know, be natural. Slinkie, you just stand up straight, toss the hair, smile, you know the drill.”
“What are you going to be doing?” Slinkie sounded like she was back to normal. I tried not to dwell on the disappointment. All wasn’t lost, just delayed. I hoped.
“I’m going to be angrily lodging a complaint.”
The ’floater touched down and the Governor drove slowly along, while the Herion Military ’floaters landed around us. The one above us stayed in the air, not that we had a prayer of outdistancing anything in the old heap we were in. They indicated it was time to stop, pull over and assume the position.
We did so, and then got out of the ’floater. This wasn’t always a wise move, but one thing Herion Military were great about was the fact that they truly waited to make sure they had the right people for the right reason before they blew them away. Of course, on Herion, the right reasons were easy to come up with.
The cosmos liked its little joke. Who should get out of the ’floater in front of us than Lionside. I looked around. Saw the rest of the gang we’d been interrogated by earlier. Only one missing was Nitin. No loss.
Lionside strode over. Slinkie did her thing. I tried not to lose all will to live—she didn’t look like she was faking it. However, survival was still what mattered.
I moved in front of the Governor and Slinkie as Lionside reached us. “Major, I’d like to lodge a formal complaint. My crew member was kidnapped on Herion’s streets, and no one from Herion Military was around to help until after I’d rescued her.”
Lionside stopped in mid-stride. “What… you’re saying Miss Slinkie was abducted?” The way he said it, it was clear space dragons were going to be slain, and soon.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. How bad is it here that tourists who are doing their best to enhance the Herion economy are snatched in front of a legitimate and quite costly business establishment?” I’d been trained well by the Governor—I could do the pompous double-speak with the best of them.
Lionside ignored me and focused on Slinkie. “Are you hurt? Do we need to get you to medical?”
“I’m fine. Captain Outland rescued me. If he hadn’t….” She let that one hang.
Lionside looked physically ill. “I had no idea. We got a report that someone was joyriding and crashed the stolen autofloater into the main sewage tank. The cleanup is going to be horrific.”
“I don’t call what happened a joyride, and I’m sure Slinkie doesn’t either. I had to take extreme measures since they were attacking her in addition to kidnapping.”
One of the other military personnel came over and whispered something to Lionside. He nodded. “Run backgrounds, as much as you can.” He turned back to me. “Captain, you killed the four men responsible?”
“It was self-defense. They didn’t want to give Slinkie back and tried to kill me.”
“No argument. We believe they were part of the Land League.”
“The who league?”
He sighed. “The Land League. They’re a group of, frankly, maniacs, who feel we should cease all intersystem and interstellar travel.”
This rang a bell. “I think they planted bombs on my ship.”
Lionside nodded. “Your Chief Mechanic reported such, yes.” He rubbed his head. “I apologize for this, Captain. We do need to take your statements, officially, and I will need to do so at local headquarters.”
“You’re arresting Captain Outland?” Slinkie sounded enraged.
“No, not at all.” He sounded evasive.
The Governor snorted. “You can take our statements here, then. A trip to Herion HQ is a trip to prison.”
“There was a great deal of destruction of property.” Lionside sounded apologetic.
“Blame the goons who snatched Slinkie off the sidewalk.”
“I’d love to, but they’re dead.”
“Take their dead bodies in for questioning, then.”
Lionside shook his head. “Miss Slinkie is free to go, as is your, ah, driver here. But I’m afraid I’ll have to insist you come with us, Captain.”
I heard a lot of guns make that “ready to fire” sound. “Fine. But I’ll be lodging another formal complaint, for wrongful arrest.”
“It’s not wrongful if you’re guilty.” Nitin’s voice oozed from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder. Yep, he was there. And it was the soldiers with him who had the guns drawn.
“I’m not guilty of anything other than self-defense and the defense of one of my female crew members.”
Nitin smiled, and it was a nasty, unpleasant smile. “Well, I’m sure we can find something you’re guilty of, Captain Outland. Your reputation, shall we say, precedes.”