Fannec Records - Book 1: Outlaw - Chapter 14

Ace initiated the landing sequence as they approached Zorath. The ship’s engines hummed softly, and the view on the main display shifted from the boundless dark rolling clouds to a sprawling metropolitan expanse that stretched as far as Robert’s eyes could see.

“Wow,” he said under his breath, his hands gripping the armrests of his seat. “I had no idea it was this huge.”

“Indeed. Zorath is one of the most populated and largest planets in the Confederation, mainly because it is a Capital Planet. Quite a change from Mool, isn’t it?”

“Sure is,” Robert agreed, still staring at the display, entranced by the glittering skyscrapers and snaking highways that seemed to go on forever. He thought his home world on Mool was unimpressive but incomparable to the vast metropolis before him.

“Uh, Ace?” Robert tore his gaze away from the view. “How are we affording to land here? This place looks expensive. Why didn’t I think of this earlier? Are we screwed?”

“Ah, an excellent question. Our ship is still operating under the old mining company’s beacons. They have an open account with every system in the Confederation. We’re confident they won’t notice the one craft landing charge fast enough if they ever do.” Ace explained, his soothing voice filled with a hint of mischief.

“Nice,” Robert felt thrilled at the prospect of sticking it to CaelumCorp. He felt excitement and apprehension as the ship touched down on the bustling spaceport tarmac. He was far from home now, and there was no turning back.

“Alright.” Ace’s calming voice filled the ship’s cramped quarters as Robert pulled on a simple maintenance outfit. “As a reminder, our plan has evolved into more of a sneak and peek operation. You will be posing as a maintenance technician.”

Robert adjusted the slightly too-tight collar. He glanced in the mirror, noting his messy hair sticking out from beneath the cap. The uniform was basic, but he hoped it would be enough to blend in.

Ace hovered over to Robert with a small two-way comm unit. “We have created this device to enable us to communicate and keep track of you during the mission.”

“Wait a minute,” Robert furrowed his brow. “I thought you couldn’t connect to networks?”

“Ah,” Ace said, a hint of pride in his voice. “This is not any ordinary comm unit. We have custom-built it to work specifically with our protocols. Quite ingenious if we do say so ourselves.”

“Color me impressed.” Robert grinned, clipping the comm unit onto his belt. The idea of having Ace in his ear guiding him through the operation was both comforting and unnerving. It was like having a guardian angel, albeit a sarcastic one.

“Remember,” Ace reminded him, “the key is to act normal throughout the mission. Blend in and don’t draw attention to yourself.”

“Normal?” Robert snorted. “Define ‘normal’ in a place like this.”

He had to admit, it was quite a sight. Hovercrafts and airships buzzed around in the sky like a thriving colony of bees, their engines whirring in the perpetual twilight. Even during a storm, all the vehicles whirred about like luminescent bugs lighting up the dark skies.

“Use your best judgment,” Ace quipped, his tone light but serious. “Now, let’s get moving.”

With a last glance at his reflection, Robert readied himself for what lay ahead. This wasn’t Mool anymore; he was now playing in the big leagues.

“Alright,” Robert took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

“Mr. Fannec,” Ace’s voice chimed in, “before you leave, we have one more item for you.” From a small compartment in the orb, a tiny computer emerged. “This device will copy the contents of any unguarded system it’s plugged into. It should make researching much simpler.”

Robert pocketed the device. “Anything else I should know?”

“Remember to remain inconspicuous. Now, let’s arrange your ground transport.”

Robert hesitated, remembering the fiasco that had led to his life as an outlaw on an asteroid. “Do we really need to rent a car?”

“Would you prefer to walk, Mr. Fannec? We assure you, this time will be different. We will charge it to the same account as the docking fee.”

Robert grunted, pulling out his comm and arranging a rental car through an automated service.

As they waited for the car, Robert felt a knot of tension forming in the pit of his stomach. This wasn’t another trip to the store; he was on a covert mission to expose a criminal organization. He inhaled deeply, attempting to calm himself.

“Remember,” Ace sensed Robert’s anxiety. “You are not alone. We are with you every step of the way.”

“Thanks, Ace. That means a lot.”

“Time to go.”

Robert stepped into the spaceport, his boots echoing on the polished floor. He paused momentarily, taking in the sights and odors around him. The air was thick with engine fuel and the lingering tang of exotic spices from passing travelers. The sound of laughter and chatter filled his ears as he approached the road where most drop-offs and pickups occurred.

As he walked, Robert noticed the ships docked nearby. Sleek, impressive vessels gleamed under the artificial lighting, their hulls adorned with intricate designs that seemed to dance and shimmer like liquid metal. These were luxury transports built for those who could afford them, and they made his ship look like a cobbled-together monstrosity by comparison.

“Damn,” he swore under his breath, feeling a twinge of envy as he glanced back at his craft. He initially thought the ship was a beautiful piece of spacecraft engineering; however, it was downright shabby compared to some of the yachts and luxury ships.

Arriving at the pickup spot, Robert leaned against a cold metal railing, trying to act casual while he waited for his ground car to arrive. He kept one hand tightly clenched around the tiny computer Ace had given him, reassured by its weight in his palm. The other hand fidgeted with the hem of his maintenance outfit, adjusting it for the hundredth time.

Ace’s voice whispered in his ear through the comm unit. “Act normal. You’re a simple maintenance tech today.”

Robert forced himself into a neutral expression and stance. “Normal. Got it.”

The ground car pulled up, looking every bit as lackluster and unimpressive as Robert felt. Patches of rust marred its dull gray exterior, and the windows were tinted so darkly that it was impossible to see inside. The vehicle hummed quietly, portraying none of the elegance possessed by the ships he had been admiring.

“Your chariot awaits,” Ace quipped in his ear as Robert reluctantly climbed into the back seat.

“Very funny,” he shot back, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach. He had never done anything like this before, and while part of him was excited at the prospect of adventure, another part was terrified of what could go wrong.

Ace murmured. “You’ve got this.”

Robert clenched his fists. “I’ve got this.”

And with that, the simple ground car carrying a would-be maintenance tech sped off into the center of a foreign city, leaving behind a trail of debris and doubt.

As the ground car began to move, Robert felt a wave of tension wash over him. His fingers drummed against his thigh, and his eyes flicked from side to side, taking in every detail of the world outside the window. The taste of bile rose in his throat, and he swallowed it, fighting to control his nerves.

The city on Zorath unfurled before Robert like an intricate tapestry, its gleaming streets weaving between towering buildings that seemed to scrape the very heavens. As the ground car glided effortlessly through the metropolis, Robert marveled at the sheer scale of it all, every edifice dwarfing anything he had ever known back on Mool. The air was sharp and refreshing, a welcome change from the dense, dry environment of his lunar dwelling.

The streets were alive with a vibrant energy, and Robert gaped in awe at the multitude of alien species that mingled here. He saw humanoid figures with spines that glowed like neon stars and four-legged avian creatures with luminous plumage. At one intersection, he spotted a towering purple beast with tentacles for arms, carrying a group of tiny beings on its broad shoulders.

There were no humans in sight, not surprising to Robert. Humans typically stuck to the smaller and less populated planets, having a stigma of being unintelligent and lazy. Many other species considered them barely aware, to begin with.

Robert pondered on the history of his species. They had originated from Earth, a planet they probably would never visit, and now occupied colonies like Mool, often impoverished. Scraping by on the edges of ‘civilized’ society was their way of life, an inheritance from hundreds of years of poor treatment by other sentients.

He felt a twinge of envy towards these other species, who seemed to belong in a world that still felt so foreign and intimidating.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it?” Ace’s voice crackled in his ear, interrupting his reverie.

“Never seen anything like it,” Robert’s eyes widened as he drank in the view. He felt out of place in this pristine world, like a smudge on an otherwise flawless canvas. The tension in his chest grew with each passing moment, and he gripped the edges of his seat.

“Remember to breathe,” Ace chided gently. “Outwardly calm, that’s the key.”

Robert took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs as he exhaled slowly. “Right.” He focused on maintaining a face of composure as the ground car continued its journey.

The car passed hologram billboards glimmering with advertisements; storefront displays lit up with colorful lights and music from interstellar radio stations—announcements in languages from across the galaxy being broadcast over the radio in the car.

The music was high-pitched and off-key, but it was also strangely soothing, like listening to sacidus, an invasive bug on Mool, sing on a summer’s day. The strange patterns broke through his fear and settled around him like a blanket. As the tune continued, he began to feel more human again.

After what felt like an eternity, Robert instructed the ground car to stop a few blocks away from their destination, close enough for him to make his way to the warehouse on foot but far enough to avoid arousing suspicion. As he disembarked, he noticed that the area surrounding the warehouse was in need of polishing to bring it on par with the rest of the city. Grime-streaked walls and cracked pavement betrayed a certain level of neglect.

He glanced around warily, taking in the lack of vegetation and the overwhelming presence of technology. The constant hum of lights illuminated the area, replacing the soft chirp of nature he had grown accustomed to on Mool. No trees swayed in a gentle breeze here. Instead, there were towering structures covered with glowing surfaces.

Robert repeated to himself to be an average maintenance tech, trying to project an air of nonchalance as he approached the warehouse from the back. The building itself was a study in beige, its nondescript façade revealing nothing about the nefarious activities within. A standard layout for the city consisted of a large central area flanked by smaller rooms and offices.

“Anything I should know before I go in?” Robert paused outside the perimeter.

“Stay sharp and keep your wits about you. We’re so close to the finish line, we can’t get sloppy and ruin it all now.” Ace’s voice was steady, but an undercurrent of tension mirrored Robert’s own anxiety.

“Right,” he took a final deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

With that, he stepped into the shadows, determined to bring the darkness within the warehouse to light.

Robert skirted around the back of the warehouse, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. The utility area was cluttered with discarded machinery and spare parts, starkly contrasting with the pristine city he had traversed. He wondered what other secrets lurked behind Zorath’s well-maintained facade.

“Alright, Ace,” Robert said under his breath, “I’m in position by the cooling units. What now?” He looked around, unable to hear himself think due to the hum the cooling units emitted.

“Look for the maintenance entry door. It should be tucked away behind those cooling units.”

Robert spotted the nondescript metal door partially obscured by the massive machinery. He approached, being mindful of the need to maintain the ruse of an ordinary maintenance tech. While observing the immediate vicinity, Robert noticed the absence of cameras or guards, leading him to take very minimal security precautions. “Are we sure this is the right place?”

“Minimal security checks out. Sometimes, the best way to hide something is to make it appear utterly unimportant.”

“Okay, I’m at the door,” Robert said, reaching for the handle. “Anything I should know before barging in?”

“Take a deep breath and remember your cover story. You’re here to do some routine maintenance.”

His responsibility was a weight on Robert’s shoulders, causing him to let out a heavy sigh. “Here goes nothing.”

With that, he pushed open the door and stepped into the dark, dusty world of the maintenance halls. Immediately, the air grew thick and stale with old metal and disuse. Cabling and pipes snaked along the walls and overhead, forming a tangled web of infrastructure that seemed to have been forgotten by time.

Robert observed his current environment thoughtfully, noting the dismal nature of the building. The warehouse appeared to be standing due to sheer optimism. “This place is a mess. It smells like feet and medicine in here.”

“Stay focused,” Ace chastised. “We’re on a mission, not a sightseeing tour.”

“Right,” Robert said, trying to shake off the creeping unease that threatened to overwhelm him. “So, where to now?”

“Follow my directions closely. These halls can be disorienting, and we don’t want you getting lost.”

“I don’t get lost,” Robert said, preparing himself for the task.

As he navigated the maintenance halls under Ace’s guidance, Robert marveled at the sheer complexity of the infrastructure. It was as if every conceivable system had been crammed into these narrow passages, each more arcane and incomprehensible than the last. He hoped they would find what they sought amidst this chaotic jumble.

“Turn left here,” Ace directed, his voice calming in the darkness. “And watch your step. There’s likely a cluster of cables up ahead.”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Robert said, stepping gingerly over the snarl of wires. The deeper he ventured, the more aware he became of the oppressive silence that blanketed the area. It was as if the entire world had been reduced to this claustrophobic maze, cut off from the vibrant city outside.

“Almost there.” Robert felt a fresh surge course through him at Ace’s words.

“Let’s hope we’re not too late.”

“Okay, turn right here.”

Robert hesitated, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“No, the other right.”

“Thanks for the clarification,” Robert said, following Ace’s directions. For all the planning he’d done, he appeared to have lost his way in the labyrinthine maze.

“Ah, we see you excel at navigation and subtlety.”

“Guide more, talk less,” Robert said without humor, his pulse quickening. Time was of the essence. He spotted an unmarked door on his left and opened it, hoping to orient himself.

The room that greeted him was bathed in a sickly green-blue light, with rows of cells lining the walls, each containing a motionless figure hooked up to medical equipment. Their faces were pale and gaunt, their eyes closed as if in deep slumber. With a start, Robert realized that he was looking at humans and aliens alike, entombed in medical pods.

A chill ran down his spine as he processed the scene before him. Here were living victims, kept in such mysterious circumstances. Who could do something like this to so many people? His mind raced at the thought as questions ran through his head. What kind of person would be capable of orchestrating such a heinous crime? Was it one person or many? How long had they been held here for?

“Sweet mother of mercy,” horror rose like bile in his throat. “Ace, there are people in here… unconscious, or worse.” He noticed some humans, but most pod occupants were of a species foreign to Robert.

“Stay focused,” the AI’s voice was strained. “We need to find a terminal or workstation we can use.”

Gulping back his revulsion, Robert scanned the room, his eyes falling upon a computer that seemed to serve a purpose beyond monitoring the victims’ vital signs. He hurried over to it, feeling a cold sweat on his forehead. As he drew closer, he could make out an array of blinking lights and symbols on its control panel.

“Found something,” his voice was barely more than a murmur. “It doesn’t look like it’s for medical stuff. I’m going to copy the data.”

“Excellent. Be quick about it.” Ace’s tone was clipped and professional.

As the copying device whirred into action, Robert glanced back at the rows of pods, his heart aching for the lost souls trapped within. The grim reality of their situation gnawed at his gut like a ravenous beast.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him: what if Pete had been taken to a facility like this? It wasn’t out of the question. It was highly likely. The idea filled Robert with fear and dread.

“Two minutes,” each second went dragging by like a lead weight. “That’s all we need.”

“Let’s hope so. That’s all the time we have,” Ace said, a hint of urgency creeping into his voice. And with that, Robert braced himself for the difficulties that were waiting.

Suddenly, the connection with Ace was lost; his voice snuffed out like a candle in the wind. Panic clenched Robert’s chest like an icy fist as he stood alone and vulnerable.

“Damn it,” he said under his breath, trying to quell the rising tide of fear threatening to overwhelm him. He couldn’t afford any distractions now, not when so many lives hung in the balance.

The copying device beeped, signaling its completion. With a shaky hand, Robert retrieved it and closed the maintenance door behind him, leaving the eerie silence of the prisoner-filled room behind. He had to trust his instincts now, with Ace’s guidance gone.

Robert navigated down the darkened maintenance hall, the air thick with dust and smelled of stale grease. The walls were lined with pipes, some rusted and leaking, others humming ominously with the power coursing through them. The floor was a patchwork of grime, crushed insects, and discarded tools, a testament to the neglect that seemed to plague this place.

He continued, his footsteps echoing around him like whispered accusations. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck.

As Robert rounded a corner, he found himself outside the office he’d been seeking. Through the thin metal door, he could hear the murmur of two men deep in conversation. One voice struck a chord within him, a familiar timbre that sent shivers down his spine.

“…transporting people from all over the Confederation. It’s a delicate operation.” The words were spoken with a casual cruelty that made Robert’s stomach twist.

“Indeed,” the other man said, his voice oily and sycophantic. “Our clients expect the highest standards.”

Robert pressed himself against the wall, his breath catching in his throat. He realized they were talking about the prisoners, and a cold fury rose within him. His priority was survival until he could bring these people down; only this thought quelled his rage.

Robert’s heart thudded in his chest; each beat reminded him of the danger he was in. He needed to gather more information without getting caught. Spotting a vent nearby, he decided to take a peek at the men inside the office.

“Shipments are coming in on schedule,” the familiar voice said, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction. “Our suppliers have been very… accommodating.”

“Excellent,” the other man said, a sinister grin in his voice. “We’ll be able to meet our deadlines with ease.”

As Robert watched them through the vent slats, he noticed one of the men looked hauntingly familiar, though he couldn’t quite place him. A chill ran down his spine as their conversation continued.

“Say, what about that unauthorized maintenance tech?” the oily-voiced man asked, causing Robert’s breath to hitch.

“Ah, yes. We’ve increased security measures, in case. They won’t get far,” the familiar man said in an assuring tone, his confidence unsettling.

Robert’s fingers twitched as he realized they were talking about him; a jolt of adrenaline shot through his veins. He knew he needed to act fast to make it out alive.

His eyes darted around the room, searching for anything useful. That’s when he spotted it: a router tucked away in a corner, its blinking lights a beacon of hope. It might not yield much, but it was better than nothing.

With a silent prayer that the men wouldn’t hear him, Robert carefully slid the little computer Ace had given him into a port on the router. The device whirred, almost silent, as it began copying data, each passing second feeling like an eternity.

“Imagine the nerve of breaking in here, thinking they can snoop around unnoticed,” the familiar man scoffed, clearly amused by the audacity of the intruder.

Robert swallowed the bile rising in his throat as the copying device beeped to signal completion. He needed to get out of there as quickly and quietly as possible, but his legs felt heavy, and his thoughts were hard to put into a coherent order.

“Remember,” the familiar man said as Robert extracted the little computer from the router, “we can’t afford any loose ends.”

“Of course not,” the other man said, a sinister edge to his voice. “We’ll take care of it.”

Robert’s hands shook as he pocketed the computer. His body tensed for flight. With every fiber of his being screaming at him to run, he steeled himself and started retracing his steps, praying that luck was on his side.

He moved through the cramped maintenance hallway, each step deliberate. The air felt thick with tension, and he struggled to steady his breathing. He couldn’t afford any slip-ups now. Not when they were aware of his presence.

He muttered, criticizing his foolishness for ending up in such a predicament. The urgency of the situation left no room for panic.

He pressed himself against the cold metal wall as he rounded a corner, avoiding the various cables and ducts that snaked through the narrow passage. The last thing he needed was to set off an alarm by tripping over something. His thoughts raced, trying to devise a plan to avoid capture.

As he continued his trek back to the door where he’d entered initially, Robert felt like a rat scurrying through a maze, desperately seeking an exit. The walls seemed to close in on him with every step, making breathing increasingly difficult. He shook his head, dispelling the thought. This wasn’t the time for vivid descriptions of his doom.

He mustered determination, clenching his teeth as he encouraged himself. Maintaining composure was crucial; he was almost at his destination.

Robert reached the door, his escape tantalizingly within reach. He resisted the temptation to rush, knowing that carelessness would lead to disaster. Instead, he carefully turned the handle, wincing at the faint creak it produced, and peeked out into the corridor.

Robert’s pulse quickened as he slowly shut the door, feeling the cold metal handle dig into his palm. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and glanced around the narrow alleyway. Damp garbage and stale air hung heavy in the atmosphere. So far, so good; he seemed to have escaped undetected - well, uncaptured at least.

He tried to focus on retracing his steps, but his mind kept racing back to the horrifying sight of the people in those cells. Their lifeless eyes haunted him, and he could practically feel their despair creeping up his spine like icy tendrils. But he couldn’t afford to dwell on it now; escape was his top priority.

As Robert crept along the alley, he felt the weight of every shadow, as if unseen eyes were tracking his every move. A chill ran down his spine, and he shook his head, dismissing the paranoia. He had to stay focused.

With the uneasy feeling growing in his gut, he tried to reassure himself that he was almost there. “A little further.”

A sudden flash of headlights caught his attention, and Robert’s heart skipped a beat. He pressed himself against the wall as a sleek, black vehicle pulled up to the warehouse entrance. SLPS agents emerged from the car, their uniforms crisp and authoritative.

Robert’s lips curled into a sardonic smirk as he muttered to himself, unable to contain his frustration. This turn of events was far from ideal, and he couldn’t help but lament the unfortunate circumstances he found himself in. Robert knew he had to act fast as the agents approached the warehouse. He couldn’t risk getting caught when he was so close to freedom. With one last glance at the imposing figures, he slipped further into the shadows, moving like a ghost.

His breath came in ragged gasps as adrenaline coursed through his veins, propelling him forward. The alleyway seemed to stretch on forever, a labyrinth of darkness and despair. But Robert refused to give in, his determination fueled by the memories of those trapped within the warehouse.

He reached the mouth of the alley and paused, surveying the street before him. It seemed muted enough, but appearances could be deceiving, especially on a planet like Zorath. Robert hesitated for a moment longer, then prepared himself.

“Here goes nothing.” He took a deep breath and stepped out.