Omega Force 7: Redemption by Joshua Dalzelle Page B
Authors: Joshua Dalzelle
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, High Tech, Hard Science Fiction, first contact, Galactic Empire, Space Fleet, Space Marine
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is such an emergency you can't go out and enjoy a meal with an old friend."
"Sounds like a plan," Jason said.
****
As it turned out, dinner had a few surprises included with it. The open air restaurant Twingo selected afforded them spectacular views of the city as well as a direct line of sight into the kitchen, something that commanded Lucky's complete attention. Twingo looked questioningly at Jason, who only shook his head with an indulgent smile. Jason didn't at all understand the attraction to cooking by a being who lacked the ability to ingest or even taste food, but it made his friend happy so he chose not to question why and just accept it.
Just as they'd all relaxed and ordered drinks and Jason was about to inquire about who the extra chair at the table was for another familiar voice called out, "Look at this group of thieves and pirates!"
"Kage!" Jason said, so much in shock that he was unable to stop his next comment from coming out. "I thought you were in prison."
"You heard that, did you?" Kage said, shooting Doc a glare. "You know me ... they couldn't keep me locked up if they wanted to, and as it turned out, they didn't want to."
"Kage has been here for the last six months after he called me needing a place to land and regroup after his ... release," Twingo said. "He's running an investment scam in the next city over."
"That's an indelicate way to put it," Kage said as he made his way around the table to greet everyone. "I prefer to call it a creatively packaged opportunity."
"Nice to see some things never change," Jason said with a laugh as Kage slid into his seat. "So are you currently a hunted man?"
"Not at all," Kage said. "Not only was my sentence commuted, the entire record of all my alleged transgressions has been purged."
"I'm not waiting for this story," Doc said. "Spill it."
"Okay, okay," Kage said, waving them to silence as he placed a drink order. "It's possible that I had an emergency plan that automatically enacted should I ever be unable to stop it by, say, being wrongly incarcerated."
"Kage ..."
"It's fairly simple," Kage said. "There were some very damaging images, videos, and documents that I might have procured that certain powerful government officials would rather not have disseminated to the media or the public. When I failed to check in these images were sent to them first with a warning that in a week's time they would be sent to all news outlets unless certain requirements were satisfied."
"Why am I not surprised," Jason said, shaking his head. "How did you come by these supposed documents?"
"It's amazing what I've been able to do with the upgraded wetware Doc installed in my head," Kage said with a smirk.
"Great ... so I'm an accessory to blackmailing the Veran government," Doc said.
"Jason, this is the crew you spoke of in your story?" Kalette said. "They seem like a collection of common criminals ... no offense."
"Some taken," Jason said.
"Common?" Kage said indignantly.
" That's the part that bothers you?" Twingo asked.
"I've never tried to hide what I am," Kage said with a shrug. "So what's good to eat here?"
The next morning Jason, Twingo, and Lucky went back down to the spaceport to look the ship over. Doc had little interest and Kage was still recovering from overindulging the previous night. Jason was surprised at how quickly and easily the group fell back into old patterns and roles. He had to keep reminding himself that after things calmed down it was likely going to be back to him and Lucky, if the battlesynth even stuck around.
"I'll be honest, Jason," Twingo was saying as he crawled back out of a maintenance hatch. "This ship is well past its service life and it hasn't been taken care of very well. Did you know you've got structural spars cracked under the deck here?"
"Sure didn't," Jason said. "Can that be fixed?"
"Anything can be fixed," Twingo shrugged. "But the point I'm trying to make is that this thing is far beyond help. Legally I probably
"Sounds like a plan," Jason said.
****
As it turned out, dinner had a few surprises included with it. The open air restaurant Twingo selected afforded them spectacular views of the city as well as a direct line of sight into the kitchen, something that commanded Lucky's complete attention. Twingo looked questioningly at Jason, who only shook his head with an indulgent smile. Jason didn't at all understand the attraction to cooking by a being who lacked the ability to ingest or even taste food, but it made his friend happy so he chose not to question why and just accept it.
Just as they'd all relaxed and ordered drinks and Jason was about to inquire about who the extra chair at the table was for another familiar voice called out, "Look at this group of thieves and pirates!"
"Kage!" Jason said, so much in shock that he was unable to stop his next comment from coming out. "I thought you were in prison."
"You heard that, did you?" Kage said, shooting Doc a glare. "You know me ... they couldn't keep me locked up if they wanted to, and as it turned out, they didn't want to."
"Kage has been here for the last six months after he called me needing a place to land and regroup after his ... release," Twingo said. "He's running an investment scam in the next city over."
"That's an indelicate way to put it," Kage said as he made his way around the table to greet everyone. "I prefer to call it a creatively packaged opportunity."
"Nice to see some things never change," Jason said with a laugh as Kage slid into his seat. "So are you currently a hunted man?"
"Not at all," Kage said. "Not only was my sentence commuted, the entire record of all my alleged transgressions has been purged."
"I'm not waiting for this story," Doc said. "Spill it."
"Okay, okay," Kage said, waving them to silence as he placed a drink order. "It's possible that I had an emergency plan that automatically enacted should I ever be unable to stop it by, say, being wrongly incarcerated."
"Kage ..."
"It's fairly simple," Kage said. "There were some very damaging images, videos, and documents that I might have procured that certain powerful government officials would rather not have disseminated to the media or the public. When I failed to check in these images were sent to them first with a warning that in a week's time they would be sent to all news outlets unless certain requirements were satisfied."
"Why am I not surprised," Jason said, shaking his head. "How did you come by these supposed documents?"
"It's amazing what I've been able to do with the upgraded wetware Doc installed in my head," Kage said with a smirk.
"Great ... so I'm an accessory to blackmailing the Veran government," Doc said.
"Jason, this is the crew you spoke of in your story?" Kalette said. "They seem like a collection of common criminals ... no offense."
"Some taken," Jason said.
"Common?" Kage said indignantly.
" That's the part that bothers you?" Twingo asked.
"I've never tried to hide what I am," Kage said with a shrug. "So what's good to eat here?"
The next morning Jason, Twingo, and Lucky went back down to the spaceport to look the ship over. Doc had little interest and Kage was still recovering from overindulging the previous night. Jason was surprised at how quickly and easily the group fell back into old patterns and roles. He had to keep reminding himself that after things calmed down it was likely going to be back to him and Lucky, if the battlesynth even stuck around.
"I'll be honest, Jason," Twingo was saying as he crawled back out of a maintenance hatch. "This ship is well past its service life and it hasn't been taken care of very well. Did you know you've got structural spars cracked under the deck here?"
"Sure didn't," Jason said. "Can that be fixed?"
"Anything can be fixed," Twingo shrugged. "But the point I'm trying to make is that this thing is far beyond help. Legally I probably
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