Bounty Part XI

I know, I know it is the last day of August and I only posted two post with my story.  Trust me more will come in September and I will make the time.  Without further adeu.
Bounty Part XI

“Your droid is faithful.  That’s hard to find. Have you had him a long time?” Hal asked.

            “We have traveled together for nine years.  I saved him from being scrap, and then I reprogrammed him so he had less security protocols.  It works pretty nice now.  He has no objection to killing someone if it means protecting me.”

            “Wow that is loyal.” Hal raised an eyebrow. “I want to help you destroy the main facility.  What we need to do is get off this road.  We’ll hide the taxi and sneak along the rocky terrain until we get to the plant.  Do you have any objections?”

            “Just one, close your eyes while I put on more respectable clothes.” Ax was reaching into her purse.  It held her simple outfit along with a folding chrome helmet.

            “I’ll pull off up ahead and I’ll get out so you can change.” Hal replied.  He wheeled the cab off the main highway and the car hovered over the rocky pathway until it came to a stop. “The Eco cleansers facility is the only one just over the ridge.  I’ll find some brush to cover the car.” Hal stepped out and started walking toward the bramble.

            Ax found herself staring at his physique.  She shook her head and quickly removed the dress.  She pulled out the armored shirt and plated pants.  Quickly and efficiently she pulled on her new clothes.  Ax twirled her hair until it was up in a bun.  She then unfolded the helmet and fit it over her head.  It felt much better having her identity hidden once again.  Hal knew her identity, but he was coming off planet with her.  Ax stepped out of the car just as Hal came back with several large branches and bushes clutched in his arms.

            “You look different now.  I would never guess there was a beautiful woman under that guise.” Hal started shuffling toward the car.

            “Let me help you.” Ax pulled some of the branches from Hal’s arms.  The two worked to cover the cab quickly so they could get going.  Hal led Ax away from the taxi and they climbed a short hill.  At the crest of the hill both could see the large black building among the green forest surrounding it.

            “Now there is an eye sore.  I think I have the right tool for the right job.  I think even the Eco Cleansers would appreciate my singularity bombs.” Ax spoke through the chrome helmet.

            “Singularity bombs?  Where did you acquire that?” Hal asked.

            “The same place I acquired two sets of my engines.  Where do we enter the building?” Ax kept her focus on the mission at hand. Small talk could be saved for later.

            “There is a short white door to the north of the main entrance of the facility.  It is usually locked but I’m sure we can get in.  Once inside we need to immediately turn left and go down the stairs.  There will be a vast network of hallways and doors.  We’ll ignore those and keep going straight down the hallway to the factory floor. Before entering the door, there are two large panels that lead to air ducts taking us into the factory.” Hal explained.

            “I’ll follow while you lead.” Ax answered.  The two started down the hill through the thick foliage.  Maneuvering through the trees seemed to take forever.  When they left, B4 better be waiting for them.  Ax kept her eye on Hal’s orange skin. It contrasted well with the dark green jungle.

            Soon they arrived at the short white door; it stuck out from the glossy colored black building.  Why was it so clear? Was it meant to be that obvious?  Why didn’t they conceal it like the rest of the building?  Maybe they were concerned they couldn’t find a side entrance and they could be wandering for hours.

            Hal tried the door and as he feared, it was locked.  Ax smiled from inside her helmet.  “Let me handle this.” She pulled out a short green capsule and she placed it next to the lock mechanism.  The lock began to smoke and soon the door cracked open.  The two entered the building quietly.  Hal led the way down the stairs; the lighting was dim which cast many shadows on the walls.  It gave Ax the creeps to be walking down a staircase not knowing where it went.  Hal soon stopped just before hitting the ground floor.  To Be Continued...

Tomorrow is September 1st.  Only 24 days until my wife and I have our 6th anniversary.  Yay!

Bounty Part X

Two hours later the sun was starting to set and the night life started.  Different species of alien crawled out from the cracks in the planet.  ‘For being an environmentally safe planet there were an awful lot of fugitives.’ Ax thought to herself.  She quietly walked down one of the main streets to where she found a waiting hover taxi.  The driver was reading a news pad when she walked up.  Ax rolled her eyes at the indignity she needed to do.  She tapped on the glass of the window and the driver, a Vomall Khan, looked at her.

            “Yeah, you need to go somewhere?” he asked dryly.

            “Yes, I need passage to these coordinates.” She handed him her directions to the electro-chemical plant.

            He looked it over and shook his head. “High Enviro is off limits to anyone.  I can’t take you.”

            Ax leaned over so her breasts pressed together. “I’ll make it worth your while and I’ll pay you handsomely.” The Vomall looked her over and gulped.

            “Well money is always talking, get in.” He smiled.  Ax climbed into the back of the taxi.  “Call me Hal, What’s your name?”

            “My name doesn’t matter. Money matters.” Ax held out a large wad of cash from her small purse.

            “Alright, it should take us about forty minutes to get there.  Is that alright?” Hal asked.

            “Yes, that’s fine.” Ax made the simple reply.  She sat back and closed her eyes for a few minutes.  The driver had very tiny ears, a duel chin, large puppy eyes and a close cropped hair cut, for being of the Khan he was very civil.  Having light orange skin identified him.

            “You still didn’t give me your name.” Hal interrupted Ax’s rest.

            “What are you expecting in return?” Ax asked.

            “Nothing just that, I’d like to know your name.” Hal continued.

            “You may regret that, my name is Ax Darnell.” She prepared to pull out her blaster.

            “Hmmm, that’s an interesting name.  I don’t think I’ve heard it before.  We don’t get visitors from the United Territories; The Outer Rim allows a lot to not worry of their identities unless they are crime lords or military.  Being a Vomall Khan I have had the reputation of being part of the ruthless crime syndicate.  After watching my entire family slaughtered by members of the syndicate, I cut my ties and fled to Elis Prime.”  Hal sighed heavily.

            “I’m sorry about your family; I know how it feels to lose someone to a disaster.” Ax felt for Hal in a personal way, her own father was killed by assassins who used bio weapons to destroy his labs and him along with it.  Maybe that was why she felt so strongly on this mission.

            “The one thing I don’t like about driving here on Elis Prime is the bio-chemical compounds here.  There is a constant state of fear, can you feel it?” Hal asked.

            “I noticed it when I arrived here, the aliens that greeted my passenger and I was too formal and they weren’t even military.” Ax rolled her eyes at the indignity of the aliens that greeted her and Howard. “So do you have ties here or are you just drifting here on Elis Prime?”

            “I want to leave, but there’s so much traffic with bio-chemical materials I haven’t wanted to go with them.  It disgusts me.” Hal made a face.

            “What if someone could take you away and you could be helpful to others?” Ax asked.  She couldn’t believe she was asking but there was something about this Khan that made her responsible for him.

            “What did you have in mind?” Hal asked.  He started slowing the taxi down.

            Ax braced herself for the next conversation.  This took courage for her, asking someone to join her, however this man seemed trustworthy.  “I want to blow up the facility we are traveling to.”

            “What?!  Do you realize that blowing up the electro-bio-chemical compound would cripple the terrorists?” Hal expounded.

            “I do realize that.  Their next target is my home planet, Earth.  I can’t let that happen.  Crippling terrorists is something I can live with.  Honestly, I am really a bounty hunter.  I merely am out of costume for it.” Ax answered.

            “That explains some things.  I think I can help you.  I know that facility quite well, I used to work there before driving this cab.  I know a way in where we won’t be detected.  It’s risky, but I believe we can accomplish your mission…Although, how are we to get away?” Hal nodded.

            “Let me take care of that.  How soon before we arrive?” Ax smiled.

            “Ten minutes, why?”

            “I’ll have our transportation taken care of.” Ax opened her wrist communicator. “B4 are you ready?”

            “Yes, the coordinates are plotted and ready to go.” B4 stated.

            “Take off and land somewhere close to the building.  You know the routine.” Ax answered.

            “I understand; I will initiate the cloak once I take off.  You won’t be long will you?” B4 asked.

            “No, I won’t be long.  Once you see two people running from the facility open the hatch and then we can get off this green horror.”

            “Two people? Alright, I’ll be ready.  Out for now.” B4 finished.

Wait There is More! To Be Continued...

Bounty Part IX

           Ax threw her helmet off. “Dammit! I had him, I was this close to killing him, and then he has to pull a stunt like that. B4, where did he go?”

            “Master, he is leaving the system by means of a private freighter.  It is registered to Holst, uh and Multar…” B4 finished.

            “Multar! Dammit, why did he have to get involved in this bounty?  You know what he did to us.” Ax was now tromping up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

            “Yes, he left us both stranded on Lavortak. No water, no food and definitely no way off the planet.” B4 continued.

            “Not only that B4, he's seen my identity. He is also one of the few people that got away knowing it.  If I hadn’t been so careless on Kringnak, he wouldn’t have found out, but no, I had to be impulsive and trust a strange alien, not to mention one of the few aliens with mobster connections.  I don’t know what to do now.” Ax arrived back at the cockpit looking out at the bustling city. B4 remained silent for a moment and then spoke.

            “May I make a suggestion?”

            “Anything B4, anything.”

            “Why don’t we continue on the same course to the facility and destroy it anyway.  The planet they are destroying is Earth so it means a lot if we destroy it.  We could be given metals on Earth if they knew.” B4 gave convincing evidence. 

            Ax smiled again and soon laughed heartily. “B4 that is really good news, if we are going to pull this off, we need to go deep undercover to get to that facility.”

            “Deep cover?  Will I need to come along?”

            “No, B4D6, you are staying with the ship so you can pick me up after I set the bomb.  I’ll still acquire transportation to the laboratory and then we’ll be off planet before it explodes.  Sound good.  I’m going to change into a dress and be out of disguise for awhile so I can get there unimpeded.  You prepare the ship systems and I’ll let you know when I’m ready to go.  I’ll leave through the underbelly so I won’t be seen.  I contact you in a few minutes.” Ax exited the cockpit and hurried downstairs.

            B4 turned from where she had talked and started adjusting the data for where he would pick Ax up.  Ax in the mean time changed from her armored plating to a black dress with a high slit in the side, its sleeves were short with a V-neck line.  She wore a black bra that pushed against her and helped her fit easier into the dress.  Ax took a final look at herself in her mirror – her high cheek bones, neckline and other facial features were of prime importance if she was going to pull this off.  Ax brushed her hair thoroughly and then sprayed it with stabilizer for hair.  “Ahh, my outfit is now complete.” She smiled and started back up to B4D6.

            “Ax, how long will you be gone?”

            “I shouldn’t be more than three days.  If I can help it, I’ll get this job done in one and we can blast our way out of here.  I’ll be in touch with my communicator band, should you need me just signal the lights on the band.  Don’t activate voice code; it will give away my position.  Alright, B4 wish me luck.” Ax smiled at her robot companion.

            “Good Luck, Ax Darnell.” B4 looked at her blankly.

            “See you soon, B4.” Ax replied.  Without another word she left the cockpit and went down once again to the underbelly exit. She opened the hatch and slipped away from the space port without incident.  There were not many guards from the spaceport to the main city.  Ax tried to remember its name. Shalak Prime on a planet Elis Prime had no significance, but that was the name and she made a mental note of different landmarks to return to the spaceport as quickly as possible.

To Be Continued...