Always on Time

Part 1

She had picked up her prisoner from the bounty hunter on Wembleca just as the sun was setting. Now, as they were coming in to land on Fifica's third moon, there was another setting sun. As she set the runner down, Ropo Emie looked up at the sky. She was still thankful every time. The inky blackness was as silent as death, and such was the fate of many who ventured out. Though gazing at the expanse she had just left, she did not take her eyes off her prisoner. Her implants gave her a 360-degree view at all times, an ability that came in very useful in her line of work.

She let out a deep breath, "Not far to go now."

The woman sitting beside her looked up confused, "Where's the shuttle?"

"Not too far from here. We're taking the scenic route."

After flicking the switch for the shuttle door, Ropo motioned for the woman to disembark. She followed her out into cool air. They walked over to a cave. They descended into a set of tunnels. The tunnels were maze-like but Ropo knew the way, or at least she had downloaded the route and she could follow the arrows projected by her implants, super-thin lenses that gave her access to information and processing power in the blink of an eye. After a while, they were heading above ground again and found themselves in a secluded spot, beside a port where a huge shuttle was docked. As they drew close to the end of the shuttle, an airlock opened and a tall old man jumped out.

"Well I never, I don't think we've had a cyber marshal this far from Earth before."

"I go where the work takes me," Ropo answered nonchalantly.

"Well, your pod awaits."

"I take it that you're Larren."

"At your service."

"Right at the back of the shuttle?" she said with a questioning tone.

"You specified that no one else could be admitted to your pod," noted Larren. "That would not have been possible in a more central pod. We had other offers for this cargo pod, you know; people who actually had cargo to transport."

"OK Zedka, you head on in."

The woman was twice Ropo's age, but where Ropo had opted for tech mods, Zedka had opted for cosmetic mods and still looked like she was in her early twenties. Zedka's hands were bound together by a graphene fibre restraint. She climbed the steps up into the pod.

Ropo swung herself up into the pod and had a quick look around. It was empty, apart from the platform in the middle of the floor space, with cargo restraints strewn across it, and two rows of seats.

"Who's in the next pod?" asked Ropo.

"It's a domestic pod: a family, mum, dad and two kids," Larren answered. "They're just coming back from skiing on Lija. "They seem exhausted, so I doubt there'll be much noise."

"And all the passengers have been scanned?"

"Yes, no one onboard has a hint of a criminal record and they are all cleared for interstellar travel."

"Is there a pre-shuttle probe out ahead of us?"

"No," Larren was growing frustrated. "This route is jumped several times a week we don't need a probe.

"This isn't a normal transport."

"Maybe for you. The rest of us are taking an inter-stellar shuttle home, or to work or just to have a good time," said Larren. "And as for you, well, you have your prisoner, you have a secure compartment. In a few clicks you'll be at the Lunar Prison."

"Yes, but the fat lady won't start singing until she's in the cell they've assigned to her." Ropo said' "So, I'll stay on job until then."

"Well, law enforcement is not my game," replied Ferro. "I can give you a pod, a seat, some food and some amenities, but when it comes to her, you're on your own."

"Of course," Ropo replied. "But I'm just reviewing security measures, it's standard protocol."

Zedka Zedka had been harbouring a smirk as she watched the marshal and the shuttle attendant converse.

"She's scared there might be a rescue attempt," she winked at Ropo. "Don't you have confidence in your little plan?"

"What does she mean?" Larren asked.

Though Larren had addressed his question to Ropo, Zedka answered.

"They're attempting subterfuge," Zedka said gleefully. "An armed convoy of runners took off from Wembleca with a decoy prisoner, whilst our brave marshal here secretly took me all by herself."

Zedka laughed in a manic way that indicated that either she or the plan was crazy.

"Really?" said Larren.

Ropo nodded, "That's the plan."

"Is it advisable for your prisoner to know so much about said plan?"

Ropo shrugged, "She doesn't leave my sight, so she sees what I see and hears what I hear, for the most part."

"Seems a bit dangerous if you ask me," remarked Larren. "Just one woman escorting the Butcher of Bezalis."

"This has been a long operation,"Ropo sighed. "Her associates who are not dead or already in prison are in hiding. This is a final lap three months in the making."

Larren coughed, he was clearly intimidated by Zedka, but he mustered up the courage to speak to her directly.

"What I don't get is why you killed someone who was helping you."

"And who might that be?" Zedka asked bemused.

"Jani Fizon," said Larren.

"She was cleared of Jani's murder," interjected Ropo. "A witness testified that someone else committed that particular crime."

"I saw her sister on the news. She seems pretty convinced that it was you."

Ropo was getting annoyed.

"Grieving siblings aside, let's focus on today. The decoy convoy is well on its way by now. We'll set off shortly. Our focus is getting Zedka across the galaxy without incident. We have a plan, let's just stick to it."

Larren was annoyed now. "Let's calm down with that 'we'. I'm a shuttle attendant. I've made arrangements for you, but when it comes to her, you're on your own."

Ropo sighed. She blinked and swiped the air.

"I've just given you access to move my runner, it's on the landing pad," said Ropo "If you could stow it in the shuttle bay onboard, I'd be much obliged."

"Now that, I can do," replied Larren.