Pay Me, Bug!

Chapter 18

WHEREIN Our Hero Attempts a Graceful Exit

The ward was sealed, as Amys had said, and every other room in the ward was empty. While convenient, it wasn't something Grif found particularly reassuring: empty rooms were rooms that didn't make money, and Grif was fairly certain MediCorp could fill the rooms with little difficulty. If a ward was empty of everyone but one patient, it was done so deliberately. The important question was "why?" The first answer that sprang to mind wasn't one Grif liked very much.

They slipped into a room near the sealed door. Grif could see the nurse's station through the door's window, and a bit of the bustling hallway beyond. He sighed.

"We really need to get out of here."

Amys' mouth curled into a crooked half-smile. "Brilliant. That's why you're the captain."

"That and my sterling moral character," Grif said. "Where's the nearest exit. Where's the easiest exit?"

Amys thought. "Hangar one floor up. That's where they brought you in. Exit to the first city is ten floors down."

"Ten floors down is easy?"

"Easier than the hangar," Amys said. "Unless you have access to an official hospital transport. Or Station Authority credentials."

Grif shook his head. "First city exit it is. If we can get down there. Steal me some clothes, will you? There's no way I'll make it wearing pajamas and boots."

"You do sort of stand out," Amys agreed, handing Grif her rifle. "I'll be back soon." Grif heard the ward door unseal and reseal as she left, then all was silent.

Grif slung Amys' rifle across his good shoulder, leaned against a wall, and rubbed his weak arm gingerly. It almost felt normal until he tried to do anything with it, then his arm erupted into spasms of pain. He could almost, but not quite, raise his arm level with his chest before the pain became too much to bear.

The ward door hissed as the seal broke and the door opened once more. "Grif?" Amys called softly.

"Here," Grif said.

Amys poked her head into the room. "We've got help," she said, and threw him a bundle of clothes. She stepped into the room, followed by a very perplexed Bennet Jax.

"Bennet!" Grif placed the bundle of clothing on the empty patient's bed, unslung the rifle, and handed it back to Amys. "Welcome to the part where we seriously piss off a corporate barony."

Bennet stared at Grif blankly. "Exactly what the hell is going on?"

"Long story," Grif said, and kicked off his boots.

"Station Authority wants to hand Grif over to a Sword," Amys said.

"OK," Grif said, disrobing and reaching for the bundled clothes, "apparently not a long story. It feels like a long story, though..."

"A Sword." Bennet stared at Grif, no expression on his face whatsoever. "You're sure?"

"Yep." Grif slipped on a pair of pants. "They do show up in Trade Baron space from time to time. Not very often. Barons get twitchy around them, because... well. You know. They're insane telepaths."

"So this Baron has seen fit to overcome her innate twitchiness to hand you over to a Sword?"

"Sounds stupid, I know, but we've got five dead men in a back room laid out as a testament to the willingness of governments to do stupid things."

"Right..." Bennet nodded. "Well, that won't do. We've got to get you back to the Fool's Errand and get the hell out of here. I better contact the Major..."