Snakes' Nest Read online

greets her, ‘Alice I presume.’

  Turning to face him warily, ‘Who wishes to know?’

  ‘My name is Giles, I have a job for you.’

  ‘I currently have a contract.’

  ‘This is no ordinary job.’

  ‘I have a contract, now back off or...’

  ‘I’ll be on my back like the chap in the bar last night?’

  ‘You’ve been watching me? And you know me, So you know I always complete my contract. I’m leaving.’

  ‘Yes I know this. The job I have for you is when you return.’

  ‘I’m not coming back to this stink hole.’

  ‘No you’ll meet me in Rafferty's Paradise.’

  ‘Only if I feel like taking the contract.’

  ‘You will, You’ll get more kills on this one mission than you can dream of, and you’ll be paid to take jobs.’

  Interest piqued she enquires further, ‘I’m already paid to take jobs. What do you mean?’

  ‘We will pay you, to do what you’re already doing.’

  ‘You mean like this contract now? and you’ll pay me extra to do it?’

  ‘Yes. Ask no more though, you won’t get an answer, and you won’t put me on my back a second time.’

  Alice’s eyes widen in recognition as Giles turns and walks away. Shaking her head, Alice enters her ship and requests launch clearance.

  The run to Maises was uneventful, with only a couple of minor skirmishes from untried freebooters, who soon fell to Alice’s skill. Maises started uneventful. It was almost like no one wanted to attempt an attack. Alice remained vigilant, waiting, expecting. After some short time had passed, a glint in the distance gave away an incoming ship. Moving fast, the ship soon appeared on scanner, heading straight for her. Gut instinct made her take evasive action just in time, as a beam of white hot laser streamed towards “Shadow”. The craft was quickly Identified via the ship ID system.

  Ship: Imperial Courier

  Rating: Deadly

  Bounty: 5,000cr

  Notes: If you spot this ship, flee. You’ll need to be Elite to attempt combat.

  Alice doesn’t wait any longer, She turns, and stabs a couple of quick shots at the craft, having little effect on the shields. Typical! One of those new expensive things. It’ll take me days to punch through its’ shields alone. “Shadow” is then flipped and Alice makes a run for the safety of the station. The pilot of the Courier, not expecting such rash moves, is caught off guard, and heads in pursuit.

  Alice keeps an eye on her rear view, not trusting to her scanner against such a high-tech ship and forces full throttle from her Sidewinder, while using her Witchdrive Injectors to their full keeping distance for as long as possible. As time passes, the Courier gradually gains distance on her. Judging the gap carefully Alice waits for the last possible moment before making evasive maneuvers, edging ever closer to the station and its dubious safety. Come onnnn, just a few moments longer, I can get a bit closerrrr, before.... now! Alice starts to roll and climb her ship.

  The Courier pilot fumes, about to take is shot when the target moves out of alignment, Damn this girl is good. It’s almost a shame to waste her talent.

  Alice keeps her cool, Turning to run head on, into her pursuer, stabbing two laser shot’s and striking true, to keep attention diverted, Alice then launches two missiles, the second being right on the tail of the first and out of view. She then rolls past the Courier and turns back for the station. Looking in her rear viewer, she’s greeted by a bright flash as the second missile explodes through the shields and onto the hull.

  The courier shields, fail and go offline as the pilot pulls himself together. That was close. That was too close. Never again. He targets and launches a hardened missile, knowing the Sidewinder can’t counter it.

  Alice spots the arrow streaking in towards her, and recognises that she can’t do anything. She waits for the missile to close in, before using maximum reverse thrust and spinning her ship out of the way. The missile overshoots and starts its inbound run again. Alice starts a weaving pattern headed gradually back towards the Courier. Allowing the missile to come slightly closer bit by bit, she finally makes a direct run at her attacker, with missile in tow.

  What is she doing? The pilot of the Courier watches in amazement, as Alice first dodges impact, then ducks and weaves out of harms way, time after time. She’s bringing that missile home the dirty little bitch. He activates his ECM device moments before both ship and missile impact. He tries to turn to keep up with the smaller craft.

  Yes it worked, I’m outta here. Hitting full thrust as she closes on the station, taking her momentary advantage, Alice uses the last of her spare fuel on her Witchdrive Injectors to open the gap between her and the attacker. With the planet looming, filling the fore viewer, a white hot laser beam slides past only a hands breadth over the top of her cockpit. Keeping full thrust, Alice starts weaving, holding her tormentor at bay. She can finally see the door to the station and opens a comms channel. ‘Whoever is listening, clear the way. Sidewinder ship Shadow is coming in hot. I’m not stopping and I’m under attack, but don’t bother with the Vipers.’ As she lines herself up, awaiting the moment to use reverse thrusters, praying the Courier pilot isn’t lining up for these last moments. She hits full reverse thrusters, scooting past a Mamba that was on a docking run. Bracing for impact six police Vipers launch almost striking her on the way past. A Comms announcement is made, ‘Imperial Courier, You have no Ident, we’re taking you...’ She never heard the rest as the signal was lost entering the station. Pushing for a quick turnaround, Alice has her ship refuelled and two new missiles before even receiving payment on her parcel. Immediately upon payment being cleared, she launches, setting her navigation console to head back to the old worlds, on a no-stop journey, to find this mysterious Giles.

  Four weeks of asking questions, and chasing up leads, Alice finally is at her destination in Rafferty’s Paradise. The hotel concierge offers her the last room available, at the same price as the room she’d requested. Deciding to have a couple of days rest before finding out the details of the contract from Giles, Alice shuns her flight suit for poolside attire and relaxes in her own private garden with her own thoughts. On the second day, these thoughts turn to Giles and his job. Unable to relax she orders a massage and something bubbly to drink. The room attendant lets himself in, pours a drink and attends to Alice and her massage.

  ‘Now, that contract I mentioned to you.’

  Alice leaps up and turns to face Giles. ‘You! how did you know where to find me?’

  ‘It’s my job to know what’s going on and where.’

  ‘What is your job?’

  ‘That doesn’t matter, what matters is your part.’

  ‘I want to know who you are, and why this job is needed.’

  ‘No you don’t. Listen to me Alice. You are the best out there, your reputation is for asking no questions, and always delivering on time. One unfortunate case was also to exact revenge on a non-payer, and it wasn’t pretty.’

  ‘Yes that’s me.’

  ‘I know who you really are as well, and I know about that Courier. Oh and for your information, the funny speaking person has been dealt with. I’ve had my eye on his profiteering for a little while.’

  ‘He was yours then?’

  ‘Yes, that sum of money you were paid was the figure you were to be offered, that was your first part of the contract, but I can’t ask you to do more without giving you some details, I’ll trust your discretion.’

  ‘Yes, it’s one of my ethics.’

  ‘Good. I’ll pay you, very well indeed, every month the sum of ten thousand credits.’

  ‘Not a bad price, that’s..’

  Giles cuts Alice off, ‘Listen! ten kay every month, for the duration of the contract. It will be a rolling contract and I expect it to take at least three years.’

  ‘That’s some amount of money, what am I to do?’

 
; ‘You’re to carry on as normal.’

  ‘You’re going to pay me ten kay, every month to do what I’ve already been doing?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘What’s the catch.’

  ‘I’ve not finished yet, the catch is, you’re to locate and infiltrate a group of pirates, It’s a very large organised body. You’ll know you’re right when you spot some fishy things afoot. You won’t contact me, I won’t contact you, until I need you out of there. Gather intel and keep it in your head. You’ll verbally pass on details when the time comes.’

  ‘I’m not a pirate!’

  ‘No you’re not, You’ll have to do some nasty things as time goes on, but I’ve every confidence in you, and I know you’ll spend that money on better equipment for Shadow.’

  ‘Where and when do I start?’

  ‘Here and now. This is the last time we’ll speak for at least a couple of years, Good luck.’ And with that Giles walks out ignoring and protesting for more information.

  ‘Damn, now what!’ Alice flounces onto her recliner, ‘I’ve never been this agitated, even when I left home. but ten kay every month, that’s not to be ignored.’ Alice finishes her drink and packs. ‘One