“So what is it?” Adrian asked. Narateth had been acting as his people’s agent of sorts, setting up meetings with the interested guilds, spreading the word that they were interested in information about the Ra’a’zani and the Shara Daim and that they were willing to trade for it. Obviously they’d had a few come to them trying to scam them, but so far Narateth had proven very good in weeding out them.
“The people from the Loksi Corporation have reached out,” she said as she finished with her drink. She removed her trunk from the glass, then put a hand in one of her pockets, brought out a small chip, and paid for the drink using the small computer on the table.
“Finally,” Adrian said. “Do we know what they want?”
“No, they have invited you to their headquarters. Only you,” Narateth said. “It was much faster than what I anticipated; they rarely deal with new races unless they have funds to purchase their time. Something about you has intrigued them.”
“When?”
“In five days’ time. You may bring your companions, but they will not be allowed inside the building itself,” Narateth answered.
“And you have no idea what they might want? They do know that we will not trade in technology?” Adrian asked.
“They are not interested in that. Technology inevitably finds its way; you will not hold it secret for long. As to what they do want, I don’t know; you will have to find out on your own.”
Adrian sighed. “Very well. Can you try and find something more? We have a bit more time.”
“Of course,” Narateth said.
“Good. Then meet us at our dropship in five days.”
Aileen and Gotu walked the merchant streets of Tarabat. All around them were stores and businesses that sold a wide variety of things, from clothes that could be adapted on the spot for your species to ornaments and art. But they were here to look at weapons. There were many stores that sold handheld weapons in small amounts, just as there were stores that were fronts for much larger enterprises that could produce enough weapons to arm the entire population of Sanctuary.
Aileen and Gotu entered one of the stores that sold weapons for personal use; they were here to buy samples. With their fabricating technology, they didn’t need vast amounts; once they knew all the components, they could make them themselves.
They were met with an alien of a species that neither Aileen nor Gotu were familiar with, and he, she, or it took them to the section that had weapons designed for use by the races similar to Nel or human. Then he left them alone to browse. There were holograms that explained each weapon above them, which included footage of them being used.
“I don’t see any projectile weapons here,” Gotu noted.
“No, it looks like other races prefer energy weapons,” Aileen said. “Which isn’t really surprising, they are more price effective. You don’t need to manufacture tons of ammunition.”
Gotu reached down and picked up a handheld weapon. “A sonic stun gun. Effective against a majority of known races. Great for use by security forces or for nonlethal control of the population,” Gotu read off the hologram above while a video played of it being used against a group of people that had apparently been protesting something.
“It is effective,” Aileen said as the video finished and restarted from the beginning.
“That it is,” Gotu agreed.
They moved on, looking at other weapons. They didn’t really find anything that was more advanced than their weapons. Different, yes, but most of the weapons available were weaker than what the Empire had. They moved on to the armor and suits section, and found that all of their armor and suits were designed to protect from energy weapons. The Empire’s projectile weapons would cut through them like they weren’t even there.
They did find a couple of small deployable energy shields, which they purchased. But in the end, they left disappointed. The Erasi had little that was far more advanced than the Empire’s technology, at least from those that were available to the public. Aileen was sure that their best stuff was reserved for their military, but what they had available for the public was a reflection of their doctrine and weapons focus. And both Aileen and Gotu agreed that the Empire had far more extensive weapons technology.
After visiting a few more shops, they decided to go back to the ship. There was nothing else for them to check out.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Five days later – Tarabat
A violet flash of light announced the arrival of three Shara Daim vessels. Anessa watched as the space around the Bloodbringer, Deathcall, and Unbowed changed as they arrived in the Tarabat system. Immediately, the three large vessels were noticed by the large defense station protecting this entrance point. Anessa’s people sent their identifications and announced their intentions. Almost immediately, they were given permission to proceed to the planet.
Anessa studied the system, looking at all the arrays of ships moving about it. Her ship, the Bloodbringer, was the largest in the system, outmatching the two Erasi protectors. Her escorts, the Deathcall and the Unbowed, were smaller than Bloodbringer by almost a half, but it didn’t matter—all three were ships made for war. Part of a Legion of the Shara Daim, and none would dare take them on lightly.
Anessa accessed the Tarabat net, searching through lists of Erasi corporations that were most likely to have the information that she needed, and found only one that fit her criteria—the Loksi Corporation. She would need to pay an insane amount of credits just to get an audience with the Gatrey, the Erasi race that ran all their information-gathering agencies. But she was confident that they would have the information she was seeking.
Seeking the aid of the Erasi would cost her more than just credits, though. Aid from outsiders would erode her standing among the other Dai Sha. But she did not have the luxury of searching for the Ra’a’zani system by system, not when the Elders had ordered her to locate the Human homeworld. The times when they had been Dai Sha were long gone; they cared little for personal honor. Dai Sha could understand their eagerness to get their hands on the Human device, but she would not have been willing to abandon her blood call in order to do it. But their order had made her desires meaningless. She might have held almost as much power as any one of the Elders, but when they spoke for the good of the Shara Daim, even a Dai Sha bowed.
She composed a request and sent it to the Loksi offices. By the time she arrived at the planet, she would have an appointment. She would finally be able to finish the quest the Elders had given her, and then return to her true mission: wiping out the Ra’a’zani.
Adrian and his people walked over to the Loksi headquarters, which was relatively close to their location. The six of them were led to the building by Narateth. Once they arrived, Adrian was allowed in, leaving his people behind. Akash and Sora took positions close to the entrance and watched him enter with Narateth.
Once inside, Narateth led him to an alien of a species he was not familiar with, and then he was led the rest of the way by it. They arrived to one of the private rooms and Adrian entered. The room had no furniture and was completely empty. As the door behind him closed, the door across from him opened and a short alien entered the room. Adrian recognized the species as Gatrey, one of the founding members of the Erasi. As it entered, Adrian felt a shiver pass over him.
He had a large, bulbous head with big, round eyes, a short mouth, and two nostrils. Its skin was sickly green, and its body looked very weak; its limbs were thin, as was its body. The top of its head came to Adrian’s nose level. It wore a loose robe-like piece of clothing, and had no weapons that Adrian could see. Adrian had not been allowed to carry weapons inside, although they didn’t comment on his Sentinel suit.