Free Dark Vengeance by E.R. Mason Page B

information desk.
    “So did you get anything out of Jabba the Hut?”
    “I have a Tolien chess match with him tonight. I’ll take the rest of the day to learn it, then I’ll let him win in such a way that he thinks he’s a genius who just beat a grandmaster and has to be humble about it.”
    “Where is he on our list of suspects?”
    “Well, obviously he will never qualify for Special Forces, but he travels with a body guard who fits the bill quite nicely. We’ve seen the ambassador walking alone out there, what we didn’t know was that the body guard is somewhere nearby watching at all times. It allows the ambassador to give the impression he’s not afraid of anyone or anything.”
    “Is he?”
    “I’ll know a lot more tonight. How did you do? Managed to end up with babes in the pool as usual, I noticed. How come you didn’t take off your shirt?”
    “The Crystal sisters have no plans to do anything, never did, and never will.”
    R.J. laughed. “Ah, The Thinkers then, eh?”
    “I am somewhat surprised they are able to construct complete sentences.”
    “Now, now, all creatures have a purpose, remember?”
    “Right.”
    “Did you catch up with anyone else?”
    “Yes, I seem to enjoy a mutual respect with the Golian ambassador. I tested him a bit. He’s either an exceptional actor, or the episode in security was no more than an act of great honor by security officer Ree.”
    “But he fits the bill nicely, doesn’t he?”
    “Yes, he does. And, I’d much rather do battle with him side by side rather than head on. What about you? Catch up with anyone else?”
    “I got to see the Ancient go by on her way to the medical center for her supplement treatment. I tried to make incidental contact but her two staff members kept between me and her, not that the woman is capable of doing anything at all. I’m not even sure how alive she really is from the looks of her.”
    “Glad I didn’t see that. The nightmares might start again.”
    “I also knocked boldly on the Tagon’s stateroom door.”
    “Are you kidding? You tried to barge in uninvited to the blood drinker’s room? Are you crazy?”
    “He owns a small moon which he is interested in selling to someone wealthy enough to purchase it, someone who has plans for it that he approves of. I represent someone who wishes to use it for a remote living facility. It would need to be relocated to a different star’s system if both gravity variances can be arranged.”
    “Where did you get that?”
    “It was posted in the ship’s free classifieds.”
    “So how did that go?”
    “No one was willing to answer the door. Apparently an appointment is required.”
    “They were probably asleep in their coffins.”
    A tone from the guest information monitor called our attention to an incoming message from Captain Mars.
     
    Tonight’s meeting canceled. New problems to deal with. I will contact you both tomorrow. –Mars
     
    So we amused ourselves for the rest of the afternoon by perfecting R.J.’s understanding of Tolien chess. When he was finally satisfied he could lose on his own terms, he finished his drink and headed for the door.
    “Just don’t get shanghaied, boy, okay?” I suggested.
    “It would more likely be a hustle, but okay,” he replied and disappeared out the door.
    On my information center console, I called for evening mode then vaulted face-first onto the bed intending to reflect a bit about our luxury, carefree cruise to the planet Enuro, a cruise that had suddenly become something akin to Murder on the Orient Express. Somewhere along the way my mind took a wrong turn to the third star on the right.
     
    Bleeping from the com monitor awoke me. Artificial morning light beamed through the curtains nearby. I fumbled blindly with one hand and slapped the com controls on the night stand. A screen appeared. It was R.J.
    “Hey! Come to the dining area so we can talk. I’ll buy you breakfast.”
    “Okay, I don’t much feel like working out