The hangar in New Vitriol could have fit a ship twice their size and three times their length, but the docking clamps and boarding tube hooked into place without difficulty.
“Connection isn’t very good,” Urle noted. “Just above the minimum standards. Air quality is pretty poor, too. Nothing toxic, but a much higher level of bacteria and chemical compounds than I would call healthy for long-term exposure.” He glanced to Brooks.
“Keep your kids on the ship for now,” the Captain said. “And you stay here for the time being. I’ll take Dr. Logus and Cenz and we’ll go meet their welcoming party.”
“Aye, sir.”
They went down the tube. On the other end, the airlock door opened, and a man who could only have been the governor was awaiting them. Along with him were a handful of officials and several guards, only the leader of whom had his face visible.
His grin was surely meant to be friendly, but nothing about it conveyed warmth. His outfit was a mix of sensible and faded grandiose, with a high collar that appeared to have been cut down after some of the ribbing had folded.
“Welcome to New Vitriol, gents.” His eyes went to Cenz, and for a moment his smile faltered. He didn’t seem to know what he was looking at.
There was no gravity on the station, and Brooks floated himself forward, drawing the Governor’s eyes back to him. “I’m Captain-Mayor Ian Brooks,” he introduced himself, before gesturing to the others. “Dr. Arn Logus and Commander Cenz.”
“What is he, a fancy drone?” the governor asked, eyes going back to the Commander.
“I am what your people call a Coral or Polyp,” Cenz answered. “From the Dulea system.”
“An alien,” the man said. His smile had faded, and he gave Brooks a glare.
“We welcome outsiders, Captain-Mayor, but things aren’t free on New Vitriol. And prices are higher for some.”
“We’ll be happy to take you up on your hospitality and pay you for your services,” Brooks replied. “So long as it’s safe for my people here – all of my people. It is one of the most important laws of interstellar trade – that all travellers can expect welcome and safety.”
“Everyone’s safe on New Vitriol,” the Governor replied, his tone turning a little sour. “As long as you don’t plan to stay – we don’t promise that. We got supply problems and we don’t want population in here that’s not going to help us get more population.” He was looking pointedly at Cenz, then shrugged expansively. “More bodies means more workers and more workers means more resources. Surely you understand.”
“None of us are coming to stay, Governor . . .” Brooks trailed off. “Perhaps a proper introduction is in order.”
“Nec Tede,” the Governor said, then gestured to the guard without a helmet. “This here’s my Chief of Security and second-in-command, Hoc Rem.”
Brooks nodded to the latter, who regarded him coldly, saying nothing. He didn’t look like a local; his neck was thick with muscle, as if he’d come from a place with much higher gravity.
But Nec Tede was still talking. “I’m not just the leader of New Vitriol, but the Rightful Governor of this system – though you wouldn’t know that by talking to that Judas, Ban.”
Brooks wasn’t sure who Ban was, and the Governor must have noticed. “I heard you just spoke with him – the head man over at Old Vitriol. Ban is a crotchety bastard who hates meeting face to face.” The man slid a thumb across his throat. “Paranoid, ya see, about assassins.”
“Oh my,” Cenz said. “I was not aware there was a substantial risk of such violence in this system.”
Nec chuckled. “Just in his mind. Man is the reason we were banished. He doesn’t trust anyone with a claim on the Tede line.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Brooks said. “Governor, we’ve come to speak to you about-“
“I know who you’re looking for.” The man grinned and tapped his head. “Word spreads faster than light in this system. I know the freak you’re looking for – and she’s here.”
With how unfruitful the trip had been so far, even this kind of response made Brooks feel like this was going too well. “Can you arrange a meeting? I would like to talk to her.”
“Sure,” the man said. “That’ll be no problem. Except you might not live to get a word out.” The man chuckled, an ugly sound. “Seein’ as she likes to kill people just by lookin’ at ’em.”
Other Terrestrial 