“Follow me.”
Canunn left the bay and glanced over his shoulder, not surprised to see the Raggas heading in their direction. The male and female, however, moved back into the ship. A short time later, Canunn, Synster and the bounty hunter entered a pleasure club, just one of many on the planet that catered to delights of the flesh.
Passing several pleasurers that called out to “Catam,” their large host, they eventually sat at a table in the corner.
“You’re Synster,” Catam said, pointing at Synster. “I recognise your voice. Who’s this?”
“This is my associate, Canunn. He has a vested interest in recouping our loss. And I don’t have to remind you how important this is to us.”
“I know. Trust me. With all the money Blue Rim’s put out there to recapture this criminal, I’d be stupid not to realise you want her back, safe and sound. A hundred thousand is nothing to scoff at.”
That amount was supposed to have been kept secret between Canunn, Synster and the bounty hunters they’d previously hired to return their Creations. The many wanted vids circulating through the System listed a much smaller reward for information on their whereabouts. A hundred thousand beks? Now Canunn couldn’t try to bargain the Mara’s Light crew for a smaller fee.
He closed his eyes, hoping he and Synster wouldn’t totally bankrupt themselves in pursuit of their livelihood. If all went according to plan, he’d have Erin and her siblings by the week’s end, the money back in his accounts and this team dead, no longer able to bear witness to any of it.
Opening his eyes, he saw Catam studying him and spoke to cover his silence. “If you find her within the week and return her unmolested and unharmed, there’s an extra fifty thousand in it for you. But she must be returned to Synster and myself, and no one else.” Because no one else yet knew she was missing.
Catam stared slyly. “You gonna have a little fun with her before you give her up to Eryan law?”
“Absolutely not. ” Canunn felt sick at the thought. He noticed, however, Synster’s warped grin. No doubt the scientist would relish taking Erin’s virginity. Despite Synster’s assurances that his dalliances with Anin had done nothing to harm her, Canunn couldn’t be so sure. Sex seemed to foul up the mindset of most humanoids no matter their race or species. And in spite of the fact that their Creations had no nested imperative to produce offspring, due to their manufactured sterility, the emotional bonds sex often created could be a disaster. Erin had a touch of rebellion and a genuine affection for her ‘siblings’. Those reactions Canunn could deal with. True love and its accompanying emotional pitfalls were not on his programming agenda.
“So, you want the woman back for another reason?”
“What the hell concern is it of yours why we want her back?” Synster answered hotly.
“Your job is to track her and bring her to us, no questions asked.”
“Actually, no, it’s not. Mara’s Light is selective. We’re not like the other scum out there eager to make currency. We take a case only if it’s something we think we can handle. And I’ll tell you right now my captain will never agree to accept a job that includes bringing you some female you’ll only rape and torture later.”
“No one intends to rape or torture the girl.” Canunn gave Synster a stern look, and thankfully, the imbecile glanced away. “Naturally, she’ll be subjected to Eyran law. But unlike the rest of the System, scientific mandates are very clear about death and capital punishment.
“The reason we want her so badly,” he paused and leaned closer over the table towards Catam, “is that she took some important documents we want back. She will, of course, be imprisoned for crimes against Blue Rim, and those crimes can be easily substantiated if you require proof before committing to us.”
“There’s something about you that rings true, so I’ll go out on a limb. As soon as I verify that your story’s legit, we’ll be on the case.” Catam studied Canunn, then Synster. “We get fifty up front, the rest when we bring her to you. I’ve already put out some feelers, so I know where she is. The problem will be taking her down. From what I’ve heard, she’s evaded peacemakers and bounty hunters alike, harming several in the process.”
“But you already know where she is? How do we know you won’t just take the fifty thousand and leave? How do we know you’ve even seen the girl? And why are we talking to you and not your captain?” Synster asked in succession, startling Canunn. Sensing this bounty hunter’s obvious bend towards command, he’d thought he was dealing with their captain.
“You called us, so you must know our reputation. We don’t cheat the clients. You start doing that, no one wants to hire you. As for your other concern, Mara put me in charge. If that won’t suit, we don’t take the case.”
He looked to stand, and Canunn hurriedly stopped him. “That’s fine. But I think Synster has a point. How do we know you’ve seen our sub—our girl?”
“You hired two other groups to find her, and she tore through all of them. The only details you gave each of them were that she had some funky coloured eyes and an aversion to touch. You failed to mention that she’s as strong as a Ragga. That she left Blue Rim with the help of a criminal named Wheller, or that her skin has an odd tendency to glitter in certain light.”
Canunn and Synster shared a glance. Wheller, that little bastard. Too bad he’d expired a month ago. Scowling, Canunn turned back to Catam. “I’ll warn you that we have friends in high places.”
“Peacemakers on the lookout for an Eyran criminal fitting your girl’s description. I know. And you should know we never lose a bounty. Ever. So if you want your fugitive, we’re the people you want working for you. I’ll bring her straight to you two, unharmed, in a week’s time if not sooner. Deal?”
Canunn studied people for strengths and weaknesses as part of his livelihood, and what he saw in Catam’s gaze had him nodding. The large male was a definite predator, and the strength of his stare told Canunn he didn’t need to lie. This bounty hunter would succeed where the others had failed…he hoped.
With a sigh, Canunn nudged Synster, who grumbled as he handed Catam a small cred chip. “Check it, the currency’s there.”
“Trust me, if it doesn’t clear, we won’t bring her in.” Catam stood and handed Canunn a small com unit. “We’ll keep in touch via this. You need something, call me. I’m Catam.” And with that, he left them at the table, his frame soon swallowed up by a crowd of lascivious perverts and sexually crazed idiots.
Canunn rubbed the back of his neck. “Wonderful. I just hope Blue Rim won’t miss that currency until we can replace it.” He’d had to ‘borrow’ from the company to fund their search, though he fully intended to replace the missing funds by the week’s end. And once he had Erin, Ryen and Anin back in his control, he’d use them to wipe out the bounty hunters and recollect their currency.
“Blue Rim’s biggest concern is science. They barely know what goes on outside the company in the real world, let alone outside the planet.” Synster motioned to a nearby woman gyrating with such force it was a wonder the planet didn’t tilt more on its axis.
“Look, we have another day before anyone misses us. I’m going to enjoy our planetary ‘vacation’ and you should too. Because it’s only a matter of time before Mathin realises his prized experiments are gone. And then we’re as good as dead.” Canunn frowned. “Actually, we have until next month. I convinced Mathin that we needed an extension on Ryen’s new growth hormone, and that Erin and Anin were coming along quite well. So he won’t miss them until he checks back next month.”