Free AGU SCI 1: The Star Brotherhood by Thomas DePrima Page A

stopped in front of him and the rear doors slid down and under the vehicle to allow easy access, Vyx spotted movement inside. He used his left shoulder to knock Byers aside just as a burst of lattice fire erupted from the rear floor area of the cab. Vyx pulled his pistol as he fell and fired before he even hit the ground, but his fall had intentionally taken him and Byers towards the rear of the cab, and he didn't have a clear shot at whoever was lying on the floor in the cab. He had fired only to make the assassin keep his head down.
    Vyx immediately jumped to his feet and ran for the other side of the cab, keeping low to avoid being seen by the attacker. As he reached the rear compartment, he could see a pair of legs. He shifted his pistol into his left hand and fired into where he estimated the body of the attacker would be while only exposing his left hand.
    When screams began emanating from the cab, Vyx knew he had scored at least one hit, so he fired again and again until the screaming stopped.
    When no more sounds could be heard from the cab, Vyx took a quick look into the vehicle, then pulled back in case the assailant fired. His quick look had told him that no more fire would be coming from the cab, so he took a deep breath and stood up straight.
    Byers saw him stand up and followed suit, but he didn't walk to where the assassin could get a shot at him. Instead, he walked around the cab to where Vyx was standing.
    "All over?" Byers asked.
    "Unless someone else opens fire." Pointing to the rear compartment, he added, "This fool won't be trying again."
    "We've got to get off this planet, Vyx. It's gotten way too hot here."
    "We're leaving tomorrow. I just made a contract with the Wolkerron."
    "Tomorrow can't come soon enough."
    Vyx took another deep breath and then moved to the rear compartment opening. After holstering his pistol, he seized the legs of the assassin and pulled the dead body from the cab. He was careful in case the body suddenly came back to life, but he knew that wasn't going to happen when he saw the two laser holes through the assailant's head.
    As the body came clear of the cab, Vyx realized it was a female Uthlaran wearing male clothes.
    "That's a surprise," Vyx said.
    "What?" Byers said, trying to see around Vyx.
    "It's a female."
    "Females can shoot guns. Some of them shoot pretty damn good."
    "I know. It's just highly unusual. Uthlaran society is very male centric. Women rarely work outside the house, except for prostitution."
    "Maybe she lost her meal ticket in one of your previous gunfights and wanted revenge."
    "Maybe. Grab her right arm. We'll drag her over to the curb to await the body disposal truck."
    Now that the action was over, the locals had come out to see what was going on. As the body was dumped by the curb, many came over to see if they recognized her. Her identity didn’t seem important to Vyx, so he and Byers jumped into the cab and gave instructions to proceed to the spaceport where the Scorpion was parked.
    "Is this a new charge or a continuation of the last fare?" the vehicle asked.
    "A continuation. And I want a receipt."
    "Yes, sir."
    At the spaceport, the vehicle printed out a receipt that gave the former passenger's name, address and point of departure. Vyx didn't recognize the name, so he simply stuffed it into his pocket as he and Byers exited the cab. He took the lattice pistol he found laying on the floor and jammed it into his waistband.
    After entering the ship, Vyx tossed the assassin's pistol onto the lounge table.
    "Again?" Brenda asked.
    "Yeah, another one. Let's sit down and I'll bring everyone up to date. Albert knows a little, but I couldn't say anything in the cab because most of them always have their recorders running."
    Vyx spent the next five minutes briefing the team on the details of the contract, the information Ker Blaswetta had passed on regarding the possible reasons for the attacks on him, and the details of the most recent attack.
    * * *
    "It's