Space Interlude - Dark World Dealings

Dark World Dealings

Tokugawa Hazo stepped over the cooling remains of what had once been the Sablelight Maximum Security Prison’s airlock doors, taking care to keep his coat from dragging over the cherry red slag. His transport had weathered the rather abrupt entry quite well, but the same could not be said for the  inmate processing area nor the outer security outpost.

Already the path inside had been sealed away behind the emergency bulkheads and the facility would be teeming with action as the wardens responded to the breach. In about fifteen minutes the path would be crammed with trainers and pokemon hiding behind fortifications that telescoped from the walls and floors, all with their guns, batons, and fantastic abilities pointed outwards and the locked down high security cells firmly at their backs. The wardens trained extensively for facing assault from within or without, and it would truly be a hellish slog to make it past them.

It was a good thing that Hazo never intended to do so in the first place.

He sat down on a low sofa within the portable lounge his men had prepared a bit away from the rubble watched through the translucent barriers as they led today’s target from the carefully undamaged holding cell adjoining the processing area.

The tall, dark-haired woman in the frumpy orange prisoners jumpsuit walked with the stately air of one that ruled all they surveyed and the wrists bound in front of her wore the plasteel handcuffs like a fashion accessory. Her gaze hardened as she entered, promising swift retribution for any slights against her person. The effect was somewhat diminished by the bulky breathing apparatus that had been forced upon her for her brief jaunt through the vacuum of the breached hangar.

“Abigail Nostrom, captain of the Odeon, feared Pirate Queen of the Jupiter lunar trade lines, and most recently, convict. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” Hazou began

The woman glared at him and slowly reached up and pulled away the unwieldy mouthpiece. She tasted the air in lounge with a deep inhalation and after a moments contemplation left the apparatus out, apparently finding it satisfactory

“What, do you want?” came the belated reply.

Hazou grinned and leaned backwards, spreading his arms across the sofa’s back for support.

“Don’t be like that,” he chided, “There’s no reason for hostility. We are both professionals, are we not? We know how this works. Besides, I am your friend here, and I come bearing gifts.”

The latter portion of his statement was punctuated with a wave of his hand that caused two of his guards to enter, dragging a weakly struggling dishevelled man between them. The man gasped loudly as he was dragged through the barrier, taking deep breaths as he was unceremoniously dumped on the floor. Then he sprung up to his feet in a quick motion casting bloodshot eyes around the lounge as he braced himself for a surprise attack.

When no attack was forthcoming the man drew himself up to his full height and held up a sternly shaking fist... that quickly paused as he caught sight of the only woman in the space. His face lit up with joy and in a motion that was far too smooth and refined to be unpracticed, lept at the Pirate Queen with an excited cry of “Boss!”.

With the smooth motions of one that has done an action many times before, Abigail Nostrom caught the man’s face on the bottom of her raised foot and shoved him into the ground with enough force to shake the low table between her and the lounges owner.

“Your men were so worried that they began asking for help to make a raid on the prisons to get you out. They were about ready to charge in here with a lifeboat and a handful of freshly caught pokemon.” Hazou continued in a calm voice. “Naturally, a man of good character like myself couldn’t sit by and let the loyalty of your crew go unrewarded.”

Abigail twisted her heel, grinding the happily gesticulating man on the floor further into the steely panels below. Her eyes were lidded now, like a cat who had caught the mouse and had it marinated in cream.

“What do you want?” She asked again, her tone lacking a bit of the edge from before.

Hazou gestured at her languidly and a guard broke away from the walls to rest a chest of black lacquered wood on the low table between them, opening it to reveal a cluster of softly glowing glassy orbs sitting on a plush cushion.

“A cousin of mine has resurfaced after a long time laying low, and hasn’t even come to greet me. As  he is a mutual acquaintance I thought you would be able to pass on a message for me.”

Her eyes closed completely, then, and she twisted her heel sharply in the other direction, drawing a pleased groan from her footrest as she spoke.

“The Dirge.”

“He’s taken up work with the Federation after his recent successes,” Hazou acknowledged, “in the Galactic Explorers Initiative of all things. Any one of those keys should get you through the Gate, and I'll leave the rest in your capable hands.”

A soft beep sounded out as Hazou finished speaking, and he glanced at his suddenly insistently flashing wristwatch with a sigh.

“Well, it seems the Federation has finally caught on to their missing stockpiles, so I believe I will cut this short before they begin looking for me. Think upon my request, getting your Odeon out of the Federation’s impound would be challenge for yourself but not so much for me.”

He rose, then, and strode briskly through the barrier in the direction of his awaiting transport. His entourage followed after, leaving the portable lounge behind and the two remaining individuals alone.

Minutes later as the reinforced luxury transport rose from the rubble and began leaving through the hole it had made less than an hour ago, the prone pirate mustered up his courage and cautiously asked the question on his mind.

“What are we going to do, Boss?”

“I believe,” Abigail began as she lifted the orb from its soft housing, “that we will be paying and old friend a visit... but first, I am going to get my ship.”