The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Chapter Ten



Flipping a series of switches and observing the ships responses on the display before him, Shade found himself thinking back to performing this self-same task, countless times, as co-pilot to ‘his captain.’



Then the young man turned his head left and any thoughts of his captain were swept aside, as he looked at its current pilot Abe, who was dressed much as he had been earlier, except that now he was barefoot and, according to Shade, “The man has stinkfoot…”



Cat had responded, “You’re being overly sensitive…”



“It’s not me, it’s my nose…” Shade had responded, albeit quietly. The he who was had not learnt to speak as he felt, yet he would.



As soon as he had belted into the captain’s seat Abe’s control of the ship was absolute. And, as the small ship rose, Shade had to admit that he seemed to know what he was doing alright.



Having risen slowly, using the small thrusters located beneath its small wings and beneath the main fuselage.



When it gained the required height, the starship reached it’s optimum speed within a nano-second; then within the space of a sentence being said, the ship moved from where it had landed to where it needed to be, many miles hence, with it’s pilot Abe, cackling maniacally.



And, the ship stopped, floating in mid-air seemingly.



Shade turned to look at Cat, standing in the doorway a mirthless grin on his grim face, “Do you think he’s enjoying himself?”



“Perhaps…” She opined.



“Ship cloaked and in hover-mode… awaiting orders… Sir!” Abe saluted, poorly.



“Okay…” Shade began, unbuckling himself from his seat, “you did alright old-timer. If I get killed, you’ve scored a faithful friend with this ship. Look after her…”



Shade picked a pair of mirrored sunglasses, to wear with his apparel; then having picked up a canvas shoulder-bag of much needed equipment, he found the rifle he liked, then made his way to the transmat.



There was nothing to say to Abe or Cat. Both knew what to do and, so did Shade…



Cat wanted to say, ‘Look after yourself and, bring my father back safely please?’ Yet, by the time she had begun to speak, Shade stood before her no more…

Chapter Nine



Shade walked up the ramp and into the cargo pod. He found the grate marked up for ‘Lockheart’ and pulling the sheeting from it announced, “Found!”



Cat walked to his side and tapped him on his right shoulder.



“Alright Mister Mystery Man everything is back where it was, now will you tell me how what’s in here will help save my father?”



Shade sighed, still peering into the crate he had opened, “Sheesh,” he mumbled, “Nag, nag, nag…”



Then he turned to her with a contemptuous scowl and said, “I did say I’d tell you, but right now… I have ideas to piece together and I need a few minutes of silence. Now do you think you can provide that for me, please?”



A long moment passed; then he spoke again.



“The problem was delivery…” Shade explained to Cat and Abe, a near full glass of whiskey in hand, as he explained what he intended, at last: “You see, once the weapons deployed, someone has to be on scene to ensure that nothing befalls those immobilised…”



“Weapon?” Cat quizzed of him.



“Ah yes, the cargo…” he muttered.



“Aw c’mon…” Cat sighed.



Shade grinned: “Well, your father ordered a consignment of freezeglobes…”



“What are they?” She responded.



“Well, they’re intended for crowd control, amongst their uses. And, what do we intend to do?” He continued to grin and, it annoyed her.



“’Tis easy miss,” Shade assured Cat, “We’re going to control a crowd, ‘ceptin this ones well hidden by several tons of earth and assorted mineral deposits, that mask human signatures when you scan for them…”



“Freezeglobes?” She quizzed.



“Aye,” he replied, “nanite tech in a small sliver ball… But like I said, the delivery of them had been an issue…”



“Why?”



“I told you,” Shade reminded her, “someone has to be on scene to ensure that nothing befalls those immobilised… And, I can’t transport them into the mines and be ready at the mines, for when I’m needed…”



He turned to Abe, “But this man’s presence here ties up a few loose ends for me.”



The older man blanched with the realization that his part to play in the forthcoming scene would be far greater than simply unloading the Banth.



Abe looked from Shade to Cat, then back again.



“I… I haven’t flown in years…” he reminded them, tears in his eyes.



“Well, you have till the pods back onboard to recall how,” Shade reminded him with a mirthless grin, as he downed the remains in his glass, all-in-one.