It was about
“Well then, by all means!” The guard
hurriedly stepped aside to let them in. After they entered the hut they came to
an inner curtain that the guard pulled back. Clinch, Simon and the guard
entered with Jessica. They all stood at attention. “Sir, Simon’s back and he’s
brought a prisoner,” said the guard. Behind a large desk, a husky, bull of a
man with a scraggily goatee with mustache and a shaved head looked up from the
maps that he had been looking over and frowned at them from his one good eye.
“Who is she? She better be important Simon,” he growled.
“You won’t believe this, Boss,” Simon
began. “But who we have here is the daughter of the District Manager of Base
Camp 3.” Suddenly the pirate leader was interested.
“Oh so she is, is she? Good work
lieutenant! Where did you find her?”
“Out near the southern canyon, boss. She
says that she was out looking for a pet that she lost.”
“What? That far out? I tend to doubt her
honesty. I think she’s got someone else out there that we need to find. Did you
look for some one else while you were out there?” Boss narrowed his eyes at
Simon as he said this. Simon knew the look. Fear flashed across his face.
“W-Well… n-no she said that her negiar was
lost and-“
“What! You imbecile! She wouldn’t have
been out this far looking for a pet! That’s just crazy! I can’t believe she
actually got the better of you. She played you like putty. Give me one good
reason why I shouldn’t demote you to the rank of privateer. Because there’s no
one good enough to replace you. Don’t goof up next time or I will find someone else. Get out there
NOW and look for her friend!”
“Yes, Boss.” Simon hurried out to the
skiff again.
“Oh
no! They’re going to find
“I’m sure Simon has notified you of what
we do to our hostages,” Boss said to Jessica.
“They wouldn’t let me forget it,” she responded.
“Your men are really mean, too. They grabbed my arm so tightly that it turned
it red.”
“Oh you’ll have to excuse my men. We’re
not used to having ladies around. Don’t worry about my men harming you. We have
to keep you in good health if we’re going to collect a good ransom. We don’t
want you to die on us. Somehow Jessica didn’t find that very reassuring. “See?
We are not totally without manners. Oh yes, I didn’t properly introduce myself.
As you may have found out by now, my name is ‘Boss’, but you can call me
‘Boss’, that’s what the men call me, and if you know what’s good for you,
that’s what you will call me as well. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Yes…what?” Boss toyed with a small knife
in his hands and narrowed his eyes at her again.
“Yes…Boss.”
“Very good. Take her to the cell, Clinch,
and place a double guard on her. We’ll contact BC3 shortly. And tell the men
not to touch her.
The guard went with Clinch and Jessica out
towards the box-like shelter, and the pirate captain went back to his maps.
“Come here, swabs!” Clench called out to the other pirates. “Boss wants a
double guard on the prisoner. Who wants to do it?” Two pirates came to join
them. Then they arrived at the shelter. “Hey, you seem to be pretty important
if even Boss wants a double guard on you,” one of the pirates said.
“Yeah, pretty important and ‘pretty’,”
commented Clinch. He uttered that same sinister snicker that Jessica had heard
when she was first captured, and cruelly snapped Jessica’s bra strap.
“Hey
buddy! You heard what Boss said,” objected the guard, putting an arm between
Clinch and Jessica. “Don’t try anything funny. Boss wants her treated well.”
“Aw, come on,
“Do you want me to report you, Clinch?”
“I am the deputy lieutenant! You can’t
touch me!”
“And I am the captain of Boss’s personal
guard and have been for years. You know perfectly well the he trusts me with everything.
Who do you think he’s going to listen to?” Clinch backed down, grumbling to
himself.
“Here,”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“Hey, don’t get any ideas. I’m still
working for Boss. This is as far as I’m helping you,” he answered harshly. He
then leaned over so that only Jessica could hear and whispered, “Don’t tell the
others that I’m being so nice to you. They might get suspicious. I, for one
know how to treat you properly.” He grinned briefly at her and then he
straightened and became stern again. “Put her in the cell, boys, and don’t let
me catch you bothering her. Boss’s orders.”
* * *
In the communication room at BC3 it was a
busy day. Peter and Carol McKinley fidgeted anxiously as they talked with the
Director of Communications. “Kurt! Have you found them?” Peter insisted
impatiently.
“As I said, we have been searching all
morning, and we have some of our best skiff pilots out there, Mr. McKinley. We
are expecting reports from the east and south teams any moment now. Please be
patient.” Another man with them spoke up.
“Don’t worry Mr. McKinley. We are going to
find your daughter. As Mr. Mayson has said, we’ve got the best units out there
on the job.”
“Thank you Mr. Commissioner,” said Peter.
“You must have gone to a lot of trouble to come here all the way from Holocomm
headquarters on such short notice.”
“I am always ready to help when there is a
situation involving such an important employee as yourself, Mr. McKinley. We
don’t want any bad media publicity on this incident.” One of the screens
flickered on beside them.
“That should be the report now. Let’s go
take a look!” Kurt Mayson said, excitedly. The McKinleys and the two other men
gathered around the operator seated in front of the screen. They saw the inside
of a skiff seating three men who were scanning the landscape below through
binoculars. The fourth man, the pilot, turned to face the concerned looks from
the people waiting on the other end. “What have you found, pilot?” Kurt asked.
“It’s no good sir,” the pilot answered,
shaking his head. We’ve scanned this entire area within twenty miles of the
Aural Plain and the
“I don’t want to hear that, pilot. Keep
looking. That’s an order.”
“Will do, sir.” The pilot spoke over the
radio to the members of his team. “This is team leader to all units. Begin
searching farther east.”
“All units responding, sir,” came a voice
from the other end.
“Good, we’ll keep in touch. Good hunting,”
said Kurt as he prepared to sign off, but he was interrupted when the pilot
spoke again.
“Wait! I see something!” the pilot
exclaimed. Kurt’s attention snapped back and Peter and Carol also leaned
closer, glimmers of hope springing into their eyes.
“What? What is it?”
“I can’t tell. Wait. It appears to be
another hoverjet. It’s getting closer…I don’t recognize those markings it must
be…PIRATES! Sir, we have pirates and…there is another craft with them. A skiff.
All units fall back and return to BC3! Repeat, suspend search immediately!”
Horror now crossed Carol’s once hopeful face and Peter put his hand to his head
paced back and forth quickly behind the operator.
“Pirates? Are you sure, pilot?”
“I’m
positive, sir.”
“Those pirates were reported gone and done
with. What are they doing here?”
“I don’t know, sir but they’re coming
right at us and they don’t look very lenient at this moment.” He turned his
attention to some activity on his radar. “Yellow squad! What are you doing? I
told all units to fall back!” A voice answered:
“I think I see a place where the kids
might be! I see what looks like bits of metal on the ground just a few hundred
feet ahead. I think I can just outrun these scoundrels and get to it.”
“Yellow squad leader! Fall back now! You
can’t make it. It’s too dangerous!” The pirate ships turned off to chase yellow
squad’s skiff and began firing at it. Yellow squad broke off the attempt and
turned towards Base Camp 3, engaging full afterburners. “Mr. Director! Yellow
squad is taking fire!”
“Tell all units to take evasive action and
get out of there.”
“We’re trying, sir! We’re trying! We’ll
report back soon. Out.” The screen flickered off. Carol sighed and sat back in
a chair. “I hope and pray that they haven’t been taken. Do you think they have
been taken, Peter?”
“Jessica has always been very
resourceful,” Peter replied confidently. “She could outwit those pirates any
day. I’m sure she’s safe and sound. And as long as Norm is with her, I’m sure
he is too.” Carol put her arms round Peter, hugging him affectionately. “We
just have to keep on persevering. Whatever the situation, God has not left them
or us.”
* * *
* * *
Everyone waited for the rescue party to
return, wondering whether the crew was safe. The Commissioner paced nervously
to and fro. The minutes passed slowly as no one said a word, each buried deep
in his own thoughts except for the communications operators, who had to be on
constant alert. The main screen at the front of the room came on suddenly. The
words reading “Incoming Transmission” appeared on the screen. “Peter, Carol,
Kurt,” the operator called. We’re receiving a message on the main channel. I
don’t recognize the frequency but it appears to be coming from…the middle of
the wilderness? Who would be transmitting from all the way out there? You might
want to check this out.” Everybody hurried over to the main screen to take a
look at this new development. The Commissioner had already been looking. The
operator pressed the “receive” button on his control panel and the image of a
rough-looking man appeared on the screen.
“Ah, yes,” the man said in a sly voice. “I
see that I have reached the communications room itself. I’m glad I got the
frequency right. Wouldn’t want to get the wrong house or something. Anyway,
we’ve got something here that you want, and you’re going to have to pay a lot
of money to get it back.”
* * *
Another pirate approached the cell where
Jessica was being held. “Hey, we’ve hooked up with Base Camp 3 and Boss wants
the prisoner to brought out for proof,” he said. Jessica sighed. “Here we go
again.” She stood up as the guards turned to unlock the cell door. “C’mon you.
We’re going to the Boss. It’s the big moment, girly and it’s time for you to
shine!” The guard opened the door, pulled Jessica roughly to her feet and led
Jessica to the entrance of the Boss’s cabin. They came into a side room filled
with communications equipment where Boss,
* * *
“Peter and Carol McKinley, I presume,”
said the pirate, looking at Peter and Carol. The two looked at each other but
said nothing.
“Who are you and what do you want?”
demanded Kurt.
“Very straight forward, Mr. Director. I
like that.”
“How do you know I’m the Comm. director?”
“Oh we know all about the crew at Base
Camp 3. Certain persons in your own beloved company have kindly provided us
with an extensive personnel database. They have been richly rewarded.” The
Commissioner frowned and looked intently at Boss.
“What? Whom?” he demanded. Boss ignored
him and continued to talk to Kurt.
“As for your original question, I just so
happen to be the leader of the ‘Four Corpses’. I’m sure you’ve heard of us. You
can call me Boss. What do we want? It’s simple, really. We have here Mr.
McKinley’s precious daughter and we want seventy million dollars on the double
for her release.”
“Jessica!” Carol whispered.
“Deny everything!” the Commissioner
warned, leaning close so that only the McKinleys would get the message.
“We’re going to need a little more proof
than just your word if you want to get any kind of response from us,” Kurt said
skeptically.
“You mean you don’t trust me, Mr.
Director?” Boss asked. “I’m hurt. Oh. Very well then. Clinch!” Clinch took
Jessica and thrust her before the screen. Both Peter and Carol pretended to be
uninterested.
“Tell me, Mrs. McKinley,” Boss continued.
How much do you care for your daughter?”
“That’s not our daughter,” Peter said. “I
believe you are terribly mistaken.”
“Not the right response!” Boss reached at
his side and pulled a pistol in a flash, pressing the muzzle into Jessica’s
neck. “Whose daughter is whose now, Mr. McKinley?” he yelled angrily.
“Jessica!” Carol screamed. Everyone in the
room started and Peter stood, staring in shock.
“Ah! Now we’re getting somewhere! Perhaps
you will be more cooperative now?”
“Jessica, have they hurt you,” Carol asked
her.
“Mom dad I…” she began but Boss jerked her
back out of the screen before she could continue.
“I think that’s enough reunion. It’s time
to start talking!”
“Look here! If you hurt my daughter I will
hunt you down and shove that pistol down your throat!” Peter threatened.
“I guess that means no-“
“Wait!” the Commissioner broke in. “I'm
sure Holocomm is ready to give you whatever it will take to get Jessica back.
But I need to talk to my superiors first to arrange the transaction. Give us
time!”
“Come on, Commissioner. Surely you can
reach into your fat pocket and come up with the money we need.”
“Most of the azurestone that we had in
stock has already been sold and the profit distributed between the employees
and stock holders. But our newest azurestone stock has not gone through the
refinery yet. It’ll be at least two days before we have that kind of money on
hand. I believe that the most we can give you is ten million at this time. As I
said, I need to talk with my superiors.”
“Ten million? I’m afraid you will have to
come up with a bit more than that if you want Jessica back. You have one day.
No more. Contact on me on this frequency, I’ll be waiting.” Boss ended the
transmission.
“Wait! We need more…” But it was too late.
* * *
Jessica was led, struggling back her cell.
“Wait! Please! Let me talk to me parents,” she protested. “I have to let them
know that I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry little lady,” her captor said.
“You are being held incommunicado from here on out, Boss’s orders. Now get in
here and be quiet!” He shoved her into the cell and slammed the door. Jessica
sighed and heavily and sat back down in a corner of the cell, dismayed and
disheartened.
* * *
The Commissioner turned back to the
McKinleys. “This is out of my hands now. The only way to even come close to the
pirate’s demands, we may have to pull funds from our distribution centers and
company bank accounts. But in order to do that, I need authorization from my
superiors at main Holocomm headquarters on New Mars. I’ll get that set up now.”
He went into the next room in order to speak on a secure channel. He returned
about twenty minutes later with a report. “I’ve spoken with Holocomm and told
them about the situation. They have agreed to send a negotiator. They must
believe in the importance of this situation too because the negotiator is the
Minister of Planetary Affairs herself. She will be here within the hour. We’ll
resolve this situation yet, don’t worry.”
* * *
The lieutenant’s skiff landed in the
middle of the pirate’s base. Simon stepped out of his craft and went directly
to boss. “We didn’t find anyone else, out there Boss but we did encounter a
flight of Holocomm skiffs. It looked like a simple survey mission, sir.”
“Very well, Simon,” answered Boss. “She
must have just been lying to stall for time. Don’t think you’re off the hook,
though. My threat still stands.”
“Yes sir.” Simon left to go to his
quarters.
* * *
At length, a large transport craft touched
down at the landing pad outside the main BC3 building during the waning hours
of the afternoon. Everybody waited at the perimeter as a tall, authoritative
looking woman with short, red hair emerged from the open door of the transport.
She wore a smart gray business suit and she was followed out by a three-person
entourage. Peter and Carol moved to greet her. “Thank you so much for coming,
Minister,” said Peter, shaking her hand. “I am Peter McKinley and this is my
wife, Carol.
“How do you do, Minister,” Carol said,
extending her hand as well.
“I’m pleased to meet you two,” the
Minister spoke. “My name is Kelly Schmidt and these are my associates: Mr.
Bentley, my secretary. Mr. Milton, my advisor. And Mr. Harris, expert on the
various pirate groups.” The three men exchanged greetings with the McKinleys
also. “I hear that these roughnecks are holding your daughter hostage,” Kelly
continued. “I assure you, Mr. and Mrs. McKinley, I will do everything in my
power to negotiate her release.” Next she shook hands with Kurt and the
Commissioner.
“Right this way, Minister,” said the
Commissioner. “We should hurry, we don’t have a lot of time.” The group
proceeded across the courtyard and into the communications room.
“Operator,” Kelly said. “Please contact
the pirates right away.”
“Yes, Minister.” The operator tapped on
his keyboard and pulled up the screen. The pirate boss was sitting in a chair
talking with Clinch when he noticed that his payers had returned.
“Are you ready to talk again?” he growled.
“Yes we are,” replied the Commissioner.
“We have the Holocomm Minister of Planetary Affairs, who will be negotiating
with you from now on.” Boss looked toward the woman whom the Commissioner
indicated, unimpressed.
“And what does that mean?” Kelly chose
this time to speak to the pirate leader herself.
“Let me get this straight Mr. Uh…”
“Boss. Call me Boss.”
“Let me get this straight Mr.…Boss. You
have the daughter of our district manager. And you want seventy million dollars
for her release.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s a lot of money, Mr. Boss. It’ll
take time to process all the paperwork. A difficult task, seeing as you have
given us…Ahem. One day to respond.”
“I’m a reasonable man, Minister. I can
probably spare you a few hours…depending on how cooperative you are.”
“I have an alternative, Mr. Boss. The
company offers twenty million right now. All the paper work has been done and
we can deliver it soon. It’s a very good offer, I suggest you take it.”
“That’s all? That’s not even almost half!
You’re not getting away with that. “
“Just a moment, please.” Kelly turned from
the screen and turned to the McKinleys. “I’ll have to contact HQ briefly to see
if they’re ready to offer more.” She went into the next room for a few minutes
and then came back out. “Okay Mr. Boss, the company offers thirty million.
Final offer. Take it or leave it.” Boss turned to Clinch.
“Clench, go to the prisoner and make our
position a little more…convincing. You know what to do.”
“Yes I do,” Clinch answered slyly. He spat
into a pan at the doorway and left the room.
“Await us for a second while we consider
your offer.” Boss pressed a button, and the screen went blue while the words
“Stand By” appeared across the screen.
* * *
Jessica heard footsteps approaching once
again. “Open the door!” Clinch commanded. The guards obeyed. Clinch went inside
and jerked Jessica to her feet. He led her outside and made her stand before
him. “Your company is not being very cooperative, so Boss has ordered me make
an example of you. Jessica looked at him blankly. Clinch reached back and
punched Jessica hard in the face. She fell to the ground, stunned. “Get up!” He
pulled her to her feet and punched her again. She yelped as she fell down
again, holding her bleeding nose. Clinch kicked her repeatedly where she lay,
flipping her over.
“Ow!” she cried again. “Please…,” she
began. Clinch pulled her up again and reached back but he didn’t throw the
punch. Clinch lowered his arm and shoved her to the ground. She sat there,
panting as sweat and tears fell from her face but she kept silent.
“That’ll do. Come on.” Clinch pulled her
back into the building where Boss waited.
“Get BC3 back on line,” Boss ordered. The
screen came back on and Clinch shoved Jessica in front of it. “Look! Is this
what you want?” Boss yelled angrily at the Minister as he held Jessica there.
Kelly gasped and turned away, and the others exhibited a similar reaction.
Carol and Peter looked in horror once again at what these cutthroats had done
to their daughter. Boss turned Jessica to the side to show the bruises on her
arm where she had been kicked and the cuts on her cheek. Carol couldn’t take any
more and turned away. “You will give us what we want and you will give it to us
now! Or else we will do something much worse next time! Think about it. You
have twenty-four hours, no more.” He ended the transmission again.
“I thought we weren’t going to harm the
prisoner!”
“I’ve changed my mind,” he answered. “It
seems that Holocomm needs a little more persuasion. Why? Is there a problem?”
Boss narrowed his eyes at him.
“No sir, no problem.”
Jessica sat, in the dimly lit cell,
thinking about home, and especially her brother. She stared at the ceiling,
hopelessness etched on her face. She was deep in thought “My friends and
parents have always said that I am resourceful, clever, and caring. Yet with
all my ingenuity and attributes, I can’t save my own brother or even get two
hours in the wilderness without running into impassible barriers. They say I’m
quite the athlete, but I’m already exhausted. Why don’t I have more energy than
this? I’m supposed to be Jessica McKinley. I persevere. Well, what do you
expect? You’ve just had the stuffing beat out of you.” (she said this to
herself She sighed heavily. “Being reduced to this, I…no Jessica. Remember what
you have to do? You have to get help for
“’Night Boss.”
“Ahh…fiiiine. Just fine, Har-vey! Got me a
niiice drink go’n ‘er. Fiiiine as fawg hair split tree ways all tell ya!”
“Very nice, Phil.”
“Fine. Jus’ fine Harv! Got me a nice
drinks now ta’ end it with, too!”
“Yes, I think you’ve really established
that by now, Phil.” He turned to look at the stars. “Hey Phil, you ever feel
like you’re stuck in a rut with a “nowhere job” sometimes? I mean sure I’m the
captain of the guard, but I’ve served Boss so long I reckon I should be a
4-star officer by now. What do you thi-Phil? Phil?” But Phil was fast asleep upon the counter. A thin stream of
saliva dribbled from his open mouth.
One of Jessica’s guards brought a platter
of food to the door and stepped inside. “Here’s your supper, girly,” he
announced as he placed it at her feet. Jessica could smell the awful stench of
beer on his breath. She held her nose.
“Whew! Somebody needs a breath mint and a
bath,” she thought to herself.
“Hey, Bubba,” called the other guard in a
wavering voice. He tripped over the bottle that he had just finished drinking
out of as he approached Bubba.
“Yeah, Krock?”
“I got a good idea! Boss don’t seem to
care about keeping the prisoner safe no more…I say we make her life a little
more miserable. What do you say?”
“Hey, You got a point there… but are you
sure Boss won’t mind?”
“Dead sure. Besides, who says he should
ever know?”
“Rrrright. Let’s get ‘er.” He stepped
close and reached for Jessica. She tried to cringe out of his reach.
“Let me do the honors.” Krock pushed
Bubba’s arm out of the way and reached for Jessica himself.
“Hey! Why do you always have to have the
‘honors’?”
“Because I’m older than you, Bubba and
besides I don’t always have the honors.”
“You do too!” He pushed Krock.
“Hey why’re you shovn’ me?”
“Cause you deserve it!”
“I’ll show you what you deserve!” He
punched Bubba square in the nose. A furious fistfight erupted as the men threw
punches back and fourth. Krock reached back and slugged Bubba. He fell to the
ground, out cold. “He he he! Showed him! I’ll bet-" Krock felt a tap on
his shoulder and turned around. All he saw was a huge fist coming towards him
and then stars. He fell over Bubba on the ground. Now he was out cold.
A shadowy figure picked up the rifle that
Krock had been holding and moved to Jessica’s side. She could see that the
figure wore a backpack and a utility belt but could distinguish nothing else
about it. It spoke to her in hushed tones. “I’m glad I found where they were
holding you! I thought maybe-uh Jessica? Is that you?” Jessica was startled for
a second and then stiffened up.
“Yeah, that’s my name. Who are you?” she
demanded. It was almost completely dark except for a sliver of light coming
from the side window. In their drunkenness, the two guards neglected to put up
a night-light.
“It’s me, Sean.” Jessica started with
recognition.
“Sean! Sean Westcliffe? How did you get
out here?”
“It’s a long story, but we need to get you
out of here.” He carefully helped her to her feet and handed her Bubba’s rifle.
“Follow me.”
“Where will we go?”
“I left my skiff just beyond the rocks
outlying the base. If we’re careful, we will be able to sneak back to it before
the pirates know that we’re gone.” Jessica followed Sean to the other side of
the holding cell, and they were about to continue when a voice boomed from
behind them.
“Hold it right there!” it commanded.
Jessica and Sean turned to see
“You
are animals!” Jessica blurted in rage. “Your guards were so drunk that an old
man could escape them! You are vulgar, heartless beasts!”
“Maybe so, but you’re not exactly in the
position to throw insults right now. Now listen up! If I wanted to, I could
blow both of you away right now. Or I could show you back to your cell,
Jessica, and shoot your friend for trying to steal seventy million dollars. But
I’m not going to do either.”
“Why are you letting us go?”
“We’ve never had such a valuable prisoner
before, and it has gone to their heads. It’s a hard choice, but I have seen
enough. This is not how you treat helpless kids, and especially a young girl!
Now go!” They picked the guns up that they had dropped and started to run in
the direction that
“How’s it gon’ Phil,”
“Jus’ fine Harv…”