Tally Road Original Story- Chapter 30

Siertes saw the ship first. "That didn't take them long. Why haven't they radioed us, though?"

As if in answer, the station was hailed. "This is Dene Tieschtet- request permission to board."

"So formal, my sweet?" replied Siertes. "What's bothering you?"

Dene didn't respond for a second. "Sorry. Can we board now?"

"I should hope so!" said Ka. "First person to ask such a thing in years. Come on!"

Siertes narrowed her eyes, but said nothing as the ship docked. Then, the reptilian assassin said, "Let me loose."

"Not a good idea, dear, in such a public place. People would get upset..."

"Let me loose NOW."

"Well, what's bothering you?" said Ka, and the airlock opened.

Dene looked very unhappy. The reason was clear. The rangy, lean Runge-wolf behind her had her arm twisted behind her back, controlling her. His eyes shot back and forth, appraising the situation with wary skill.

Siertes' bonds creaked. Considering that they were steel cables, this was startling.

"Steady, Angel-dee." said Finn.

"Let her go." said Siertes flatly.

"What do you care?"

"You'll find out."

Finn glanced quickly at her. "I think I'd better not. You come along- wup! No you don't, you'll break an arm that way..." Dene had unexpectedly tried to break free, but Finn wasn't letting her go. It revealed strange expertise on Finn's part, as the station was weightless and this made hostage-holding less convenient.

Boodins whined very faintly, and Finn's darting eyes picked him out with no pleasure. "Angel-dee, control him."

"Look at me, asshole. How am I supposed to do that?"

"It's a kid. They're trouble and you know it. If you like this girl you better control him because you will be very unhappy with the results if he jumps me. He's fidgeting. Control him!"

Siertes glowered. "Asshole."

"Would you be joking if it was you doing this, instead of me?"

Siertes glowered worse. "Boodins, you hold still. Don't even move your eyes. I promise you, I'll see to this later..."

Ka poked her feathery head around the corner. "I'm seeing to it now. We don't have much in the way of police, but the Runge have been notified."

"Won't help." said Siertes. "We never cared much what they did."

"How does he expect to get out of here?" said Ka. "I held all flights to this station. There aren't going to be any ships coming."

Finn looked smug. "You'll find out."

"You didn't." said Siertes.

"Oh, right, I'm just going to sit here waiting to be killed..."

"I have some questions I could ask you, Finn. Doesn't mean I was going to kill you. Not right off, anyway."

"Dee, you may not believe this, but I have a lot of questions myself. I also have favors I can call in."

"You didn't."

"She was my best chance."

"She's a psycho!" snapped Siertes.

"I am not!" protested Dene, and winced as Finn wrenched her arm up. He noted Siertes' reaction, and eased back the pressure.

"I didn't mean you. And I'm not going to hurt you, but I think I'm going to take you along, as insurance against Dee. You leave me alone, Dee..."

"Never." said Siertes flatly.

"C'mon, you know me, Dee..."

Siertes's snakelike face twisted, and then she spat fiercely at Finn, who twisted aside, pulling Dene out of the way. "Dee, cool it, Dee!"

"Let her go now!" insisted Siertes, while Ka squawked with dismay and fluttered to an intercom, where she actuated it with one claw and snapped, "We've got a hazmat situation up here, send.. yes, I know, I know, okay? Send someone up to deal with it but not right now. No, not right now..."

"What the hell's the matter with you, Dee?"

"Let her go."

"Oh, by the Mystery and the Harmony! Enough! That's enough!" exclaimed Ka, turning everyone's heads with her vehemence and her odd curse. She flapped her wings fitfully, as if to blow off steam, and then flew over in front of Finn, who tensed. She came to a floating stop with a few beats of her wings, and spoke.

"Look, it's like this. We let you get away for, oh, half an hour before giving chase or filling in the police about your henchman who's coming to get you. In exchange, you're leaving Dene with us, unharmed, and you can spend a few minutes answering Siertes' questions. Now then!"

Finn stared dumbfounded. "Amazing. Amazing. What gives you the idea that... okay, for starters, why am I going to leave this girl with you? She's my hostage."

Ka replied, "Siertes has some kind of relationship with her..." and was instantly interrupted by Siertes and Dene protesting loudly. Finn stared this time at Dene, and then turned his gaze to Siertes, not without sympathy.

Siertes shrugged a tiny bit, inside the steel cable bonds. "Can't blame me for trying."

Finn spoke carefully. "Why does this not make my hostage even more effective?"

"You've obviously been friends with Siertes for a long time. Isn't it obvious? You're not going to hurt her."

There was a pause while Finn thought, and Ka didn't rush him. Finally, he said, "Why would I answer her questions, and how did you know about Mags?"

"I don't. You told me, just now. Not the infamous Magarce? It's a good thing our Rairate isn't with us. Did you harm him? Finn?"

"No, I left him stuck in an Aintar perch and stole his ship."

"My ship, you mean." said Ka.

"Whoever's ship. Anyway, why should I answer anyone's questions?"

"Because Siertes wants you to, because you're being allowed to get away for at least a head start, and because you wouldn't have fled here unless something had gone very wrong. We're not exactly the big city, Finn. You were trying to hide out, and that implies you don't have anywhere else to go to- but you don't act or seem like a person without resources. What on earth happened to you?"

Again, Finn paused. He looked discouraged.

"I'm guessing politics." said Siertes. "Who are you working for?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Why are you trying to exterminate my people?"

"I'm not!" said Finn angrily. Then- "I quit. When I figured it out."

"What the hell's to figure out? Special weapons, poisons, against Tompar. Gee, that's hard to figure out. Why, Finn?"

"Look, I'm through with that! I won't play anymore. She's crazy!"

"Magarce, you mean?" interjected Ka.

Finn was silent.

"You'd better tell me." threatened Siertes.

"Or what?" came a not totally unfamiliar voice. Nerre, strangely innocent, lilting with a hint of madness. Magarce.

"Mags, we've got to get out of here." said Finn.

"Ooooh, who's your toy?"

"She's staying behind, Mags."

"How come?"

"It's complicated."

"I hate complicated." purred the diminutive outlaw. "Why's your friend tied up with steel cables? It looks uncomfortable."

"It is." replied Siertes, carefully, her eyes not moving from Mags' tiny form. One couldn't blame her. Magarce had a massive gun on each almost nonexistent hip, and her hands never moved far from them, even as she chatted with mad gaiety.

"Whyn'tcha take them off then?"

"The birdies wouldn't like that." said Siertes dryly.

"So what? You could come along with me. Didn't I see you hanging under a truck at that stupid headquarters place that got blown up?"

"Mags, just only me, okay?" protested Finn.

Suddenly a gun was drawn, and pointed at Finn. "You don't tell me what to do! Didn't you know that? Know that about us? Why only you? Huh?"

Siertes' glance as good as said 'I told you so'. Finn's look, in return, suggested 'I'll handle this', and then his attention was drawn to the visitor again.

"I thought you'd want me all to yourself."

Magarce cackled. "You lying fuck. Listen to you." She gave herself a push and drifted softly over, stretched up to lick Finn's throat. "Lie some more. Now."

"Not here." suggested Finn.

"What? Why not? Look, I'll kill all these people, okay? Then you can go ahead..."

Siertes tensed, then tried not to look as though she had. Magarce's eye caught her, and the diminutive Nerre's ears began to go back, when she was interrupted from an unexpected direction.

"Now just a minute!" objected Ka. "You can't possibly kill them!"

Magarce blinked. "Why not?"

"They are my guests, and it would be impolite." explained Ka. "Kill your own guests."

Magarce considered this, astonished. She began to speak, stopped, earflicked, and then lowered her gun, disarmed by nothing more than complete surprise.

"You know, I have done just that. You do know that?"

"Yes," said Ka, "which is why I'm so grateful to you for not killing mine, please."

"You've got a lot of nerve. You know that, too?"

"Why not? What have I got to lose? What exactly is wrong with me asking you and Finn to be on your way, now, before anyone else turns up to ruin our little party?"

"I'd kill you for telling me what to do." said Magarce, seriously.

"I'm asking, not telling." said Ka, gently. "Isn't that what you'd rather?"

Magarce looked at her for a long moment. She blinked, blinked again.

"There need to be more of you. Come on, Finn."

Finn was taken aback. "What? I mean, sure, okay..."

"Now!" wailed Magarce, and she flung herself back the way she'd come. Finn glanced around, and then he was gone too, following his mad rescuer.

Very soon, the sound of rockets firing spoke of Finn's arranged departure. They faded into renewed silence. Siertes broke it.

"That is one messed up kitty."

"She cried..." marveled Dene.

"She'd have shot you just as easy. I've seen her do it. Don't waste your pity." said Siertes.

"Oh, I don't know, now that we're safe..." said Ka, but she was interrupted by the radio- Rairate's voice.

"Did you catch Finn up at the station?"

"That," said Siertes carefully, "would be a 'no'..."