Pray for Rain by Dangerous Walker
“Go, go, go,” Kaskey ordered as he clambered into the front seat.
“You know where you’re going?” Grant called.
“I do,” Gulch said.
“And then to the ship, we might need an evac.”
“Wilco,” Gulch said as he sped along the road.
***
Regrette and Tsyrker meanwhile moved out into the restricted area.
“You go that alarm sorted?” Regrette asked.
“Yes, I’ve isolated it, when you attach this looper device you spoke of it shouldn’t go off,” Kov said. He’d taken over from Gulch while he was playing getaway driver.
“Never get ‘should’ with Gulch,” Regrette said with a smirk.
“I’m doing my best.”
“Ignore him, he’s being a crunghole,” Tsyrker said.
“Such language is just a reminder you used to be in the Navy,” Regrette tsked.
“You’re good with the cameras?” she asked Kov.
“To an extent, yes, but I can’t see how to keep them down long enough for a large group without raising suspicion.”
“You just leave that to us,” Regrette smiled to himself.
They walked to the stairs and headed up.
“Down,” Tsyrker whispered.
“We have time, don’t worry.”
She followed him up.
“What’s your room number?” he asked and she told him.
“Kov, I want two girls to room 481.”
There was silence for half a minute.
“OK, should be in the system by the time you arrive.”
“And two more for Grant’s private room.”
They arrived on the floor where the girls were kept.
“What’ve you got?” Regrette asked cheerily.
“These two,” a big Oncolutian said dragging two girls along with him. “Room 481.”
“What about for a Mr. Charles? Private function,” Tsyrker said.
“What you be wearing?” the Oncolutian asked looking at her fancy dress.
“Special favour to Mr. Charles, gets me a bigger tip,” she explained curtly.
“Bet it does,” the Oncolutian laughed and punched Regrette on the shoulder. It was all he could do not to be knocked over.
“Right,” he laughed back. “Bet it does.”
“Here, take these two, system says he likes Humans.”
They grabbed their girls and made for the exit. They heard the Oncolutian repeat his quip, laugh and then call over to his buddy to recount the hilarity.
They took them down to Grant’s private room.
“Wait here for Grant,” Regrette said.
“What are you going to do?” Tsyrker asked.
“Make sure they don’t see us on the cameras,” he raised an eyebrow at her and then left.
She grabbed the door before it closed and kept a foot in it.
***
Regrette entered the security office and looked around. The wall to his right was full of banks of computers, holding the memories from the tapes. In the centre were two consoles that held four people each and more computer terminals on the left wall. The front wall held four huge screens that held views of the gaming floors. Any of the officers working there could move images from their computer up to there if needed.
Regrette walked along the wall of memory banks as he carried with him a small EM device whose magnet would wipe all that was held there.
“What are you doing?” someone shouted at him and he spun around.
“Issues,” he said loudly. “We’ve got issues.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Ahh, a comedian,” he clasped his hands together. “But this is no laughing matter. Our computer keeps glitching I’ve been sent to check if you’re having any issues.”
“Not since earlier.”
“Earlier?”
“Electrical fault was all,” another said.
“Well we’re still getting it,” Regrette harrumphed. “I need to use a terminal.”
“One of those over there,” an officer said.
“I know what I’m doing, that’s why they sent me.”
“Alright, alright, just bog off.”
The officers all turned back to their work. As he passed Regrette could see an image from the room Rainsford and the girls were currently in. It showed that it was empty and even Regrette couldn’t catch the glitch where the recording restarted. That Gulch, not much of a runner, but good at what he did.
He walked over to the terminals and before he got there he heard a ‘hey’ and turned back around. He knew a camera had flickered off.
“I thought this was fixed,” someone shouted crossly.
“Calm down, it happens, we’re still good.”
He sat down at a terminal and thankfully didn’t have to log in to it for his little device to work, he just plugged it in and the virus downloaded. This would give Kov some control over the computer system. He pulled it out, slipped a small explosive behind the monitor and got up.
“Alright, I’m done, can’t find an issue.”
“Stupid piece of junk,” someone else cursed. “I told ‘em we needed new gear.”
Regrette smiled on the inside knowing that Kov was already at work. He walked over and looked at a monitor, while he slipped another little device under the desk.
“Mssh, I’ve got better computers than these at home.”
“I know, right?” the officer said as his cursor jumped about and then came to rest.
“Cosmic storms?” Regrette said.
“Shouldn’t be an issue,” another said as she came over. “Now get out of here.”
“I’m gone. I’m gone.”
He managed to attach another bomb to a router as he left.
“Where we at Tsyrker?”
“At the door, looper in place. Grant?”
“Here we are, you guys ready?”
“Let the fireworks begin,” Regrette threw his arms up theatrically.
***
Tsyrker had the back door open and Kov continued what Gulch had been doing, messing with the cycling of the cameras so that one didn’t come up in the security office. If it was specifically chosen he would have to snow it over until they were out of sight. It was a lot easier now that they were in a group together, though it meant it took them longer to pass each camera and he didn’t have the kit that Gulch had in the van.
Said van was pulled up in the alleyway and Kaskey and Grant jumped out and guided the girls in. Gulch then sped off to the space port as the others re-entered the casino. Kaskey and Tysker went to the private rooms to find more slave entertaining while Tandish pulle dup the bus they’d purloined. Loveritto jumped out and met Kaskey who already had two men and a woman. He showed them into the bus as Kaskey disappeared and then went up to meet Grant to guide people out. Grant had already headed up the stairs to meet with Regrette.
“Here we go,” Regrette said and pushed a button.
The explosive he’d planted in the money counting room went off, only a small explosion meant to emulate an electrical fault, but it was enough to start a small fire. This of course sent the security office into a panic with shouts of ‘save the money’. It wouldn’t matter too much of course, Regrette had already wandered around with his EM device switched on, wiping the computer’s memory of the transactions.
As the security office went into overdrive, Kov messed with the cameras and glitched the computers and communications before Regrette detonated the explosives in there and everyone got soaked by the sprinkler system. Though why they always put sprinkler systems in with computers is anyone’s guess.
Grant caught up to Regrette who led him up to the captives. They both pulled their guns; along with Tsyrker they were the only ones armed as they had fancy guns that all but a few machines could detect. And eyes, eyes could see them.
There were people running up and down the stairs so they holstered their guns and moved swiftly. No one took any notice of them a
“Hello, all,” Grant shouted, but only the employees looked at them. “You seem to have a number of slaves here.”
“Very naughty,” Regrette agreed. “We’ll be taking them away now.”
Two security guards came forwards, but stopped when they both pointed their guns at them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to escape this is the time, do please come with us,” Grant shouted.
The two guards eyed the guns, their hands twitching near their own.
“Go on, try it,” Regrette challenged.
Loveritto entered at that point and walked past Grant and Regrette. He looked at the two guards and in one swift motion bashed their heads together and knocked them out. He waded into the people, any guard that tried to stop him was thrown out of the way.
“Come on, come on, up and out, this here is a rescue,” he shouted.
The slaves were terrified by him and began to run around him towards Grant and Regrette, stopping when they saw the guns.
“It’s OK, we’re here to get you out,” Grant assured loudly, but you couldn’t blame them for a lack of trust.
“Let’s go, people. Come on, freedom awaits,” Regrette shouted.
“You can’t,” one man said. “It’s impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible with a little pizzazz, come on,” Regrette urged.
“Really?” the man asked.
“You want to stay?” Grant asked back.
“No, sir.”
“Then let’s go,” Grant urged.
“Come on, follow them,” the man shouted and that seemed to get them going.
Grant took the lead with Loveritto in the middle and Regrette at the back. There were no longer people rushing up and down the stairs, the explosives had been small, made to look like whatever they were attached to had caught fire and the fire was no doubt out in the counting room. They would now be trying to get the computers and cameras up and running. This meant that, despite their large group they got down to the door without an issue.
From there Loveritto started ushering them to the bus as Tsyrker and Kaskey joined them with five more girls and two guys. Grant and Regrette covered the door and then Regrette grabbed the looper and pulled the door shut.
It would be another hour before anyone found anything that suggested foul play.
CHAPTER 23
Grant sat in the bridge of The Albatross with his feet on the console. It had been a busy twenty-four hours and he was exhausted; happy, but exhausted. He knew Gulch wouldn’t approve of his feet placement, but he didn’t care.
Tsyrker had been in touch with her people and they had agreed to take all the captives and get them home; after they had been interviewed. Grant, Tsyrker and Kaskey had also talked with them, stressing the importance of never mentioning them, not talking too much about what they had seen and been through, especially with anyone who wasn’t close. No one was going to come after them unless they thought they were trouble or could use them to get to those that set them free. Everyone seemed just fine with putting the whole thing behind them and getting back to their families and their lives. They were grateful for the second chance. Grant felt sorry that they wouldn’t get that chance for another few hours as Tsyrker’s co-workers (if you could call them that, even Grant wasn’t entirely sure who she worked for or with) would grill them mercilessly for information that could help them bring down those at the top.
By now, he hoped, they would be on their ways home and the truth of it would finally be real to them, though not entirely until they were in the embrace of their families.
“You’re looking pretty pleased with yourself,” Gulch said as he took his chair. He narrowed his eyes at Grant’s feet, but said nothing.
“We did what we were hired to do and all got out alright. Good job all round.”
“More than we were hired for.”
“Yes. And I’m glad we did,” Grant admitted and took his feet down. “You did good, Gulch, as ever.”
“And the others?”
“Yeah,” Grant nodded to himself. “They stepped up, didn’t they?”
“They did. Useful people to know,” Gulch smiled to himself.
“They are,” Grant mused.
The last thing they had done was to drop Tandish, Loveritto and Kov back in Vexupulla.
***
“Now what?” Tandish had asked.
“Now you go back to your lives,” Grant had replied.
“Just like that?”
“You got yourselves involved here.”
“He’s right, Tandish,” Loveritto said.
“But couldn’t we…”
“No,” Grant shook his head. “But you did good, all three of you. We couldn’t have pulled that off without you. You all should be proud of what you did.”
“I am,” Kov smiled. “I have to say, I had fun.”
Loveritto nodded.
“I felt like I made a difference for once.”
“Exactly,” Tandish said with agitation. “How can you expect us to go back to watching screens?”
“As I already told you I don’t do this often, mostly Gulch and I just find missing stuff. It’s no more thrilling than your job.”
“And Kaskey? You’re hiring him,” she pouted.
“And that’s none of your business,” he said sternly.
“It’s OK, Grant. Thank you,” Loveritto said.
“No, thank you. You really think I’m just going to walk away? I said we mostly just find stuff. I’ve got your number and I’ll use it.”
He looked at Tandish.
“You good?”
“Yes,” she said and then hugged Grant. “We’ll be here if you need us.”
He shook hands with Loveritto and with Kov’s little mechanical arm.
“She speaks for all of us. You need a crew, we’ll be there,” Loveritto said.
“I’m counting on it,” Grant smiled.
***
They’d left Tsyrker with the captives to help sort out their trips home and Regrette had left not long after.
“Where’d Regrette go?” Kaskey asked entering the bridge.
“Who knows?” Grant asked not looking round.
“You don’t know where he lives?”
“Best not to,” Gulch commented.
“I’ve been thinking about home,” Kaskey said and Grant turned in his chair. “I’m not leaving.”
“Good.”
“But if I’m going to live on this ship I’m gonna need some stuff.”
Grant considered it.
“Good point. Though, you know we don’t live on the ship? I mean not always.”
“Still need more than one pair of pants, man.”
“We’ll take you home,” Gulch agreed.
“Man needs pants,” Kaskey said to himself as he took a seat behind and slightly to one side of Grant’s chair. “Big ship for two people.”
“That’s why we hired you, stop us rattling around in here,” Grant said.
“As you’ve seen,” Gulch said more seriously, “we tend to pick up other team members.”
“With nice ships. What was that thing Regrette was flying?”
“We think he built it himself,” Grant said turning back to the console and punching in coordinates.
“He’s full of surprises, isn’t he?” Kaskey asked.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Gulch said.
“And neither do we,” Grant added.
“And Rainsford? What ship was that?”
“Some UTN top secret doodah,” Grant shrugged.
“She won’t let him in it,” Gulch grinned.
“What does she do?” Kaskey asked.
They both shrugged in reply.
“Seriously??
“We just find stuff,” Grant said.
“You keep saying that, but I ain’t seen the evidence yet.”
They got in line at the star-gate.
***
“Nice place,” Grant said standing in Kaskey’s little flat.
“Don’t judge me, man.”
“But you have heard the theory of cleaning, right?” Grant asked inspecting the dirt on his finger.
“I fired the maid,” Kaskey said rummaging through his small bedroom.
“I can see why. You want tea?”
Kaskey looked up at him.
“Yeah, why not? Where’s Gulch?”
“Booking us into a hotel.”
“OK. Wait, we’re staying here?”
“Seems like a good place to lay low for a few days. It’s that or sitting in The Albatross in deep space,” Grant said walking to the kitchenette.
“Then why’d you come with me?”
“Wanted to see where you lived,” he called back as he filled a kettle.
“It’s not like I have a permanent address, you know?”
“Here, have some tea,” Grant said handing him a cup and taking a seat.
“So what’s next?” Kaskey asked also sitting.
“I’d like to say we wait for our next case, but…”
“But you’ve got a bead on this Desard Family and you don’t want to let it go.”
“Right,” Grant frowned.
“So we go back to Gothra?”
“Who can give us Cobroy,” Grant nodded.
***
The got a call from Gulch that he had booked a hotel and Kaskey suggested a restaurant for them to meet at. The streets here were under the skyway and the streets were dirty, litter-strewn and poorly lit. Everywhere Grant looked were signs of decay and despair, a far cry from the casinos of Haffir.
They met in a scruffy little place with plastic chairs and tables, but Kaskey insisted the food was excellent. Which it was and afterwards they sat with a bottle of Pargkat beer each.
“Well this really isn’t what we usually do,” Gulch said.
“Just find stuff, yeah, I got that,” Kaskey said.
“He’s a fast learner,” Grant said.
“Be serious for a moment,” Gulch scolded.
“You up to it?” Grant asked him.
“As far as I’m aware, I can’t say I’ve ever done anything like this,” Gulch replied.
“Me neither, Kas?”
“Nope.”
“There we go then,” Grant drained the last of his beer and put up a hand to get another three.
“You must have done stuff like this,” Kaskey said.
“Like this? Yeah. This? No.”
A waitress put the beers down and cleared their plates.
“Thank you,” Kaskey smiled at her. “So what is the closest thing you’ve done to this?”