Higgs & Soap: Galaxy Delivery

Chapter 16

With her skin wound sealed, Soap was in the cockpit preparing for take off. Higgs and Barty stood at the gate to the landing bay. Since the incident, the station had been a hive of activity. Security staff were busy running back and forth, escorting engineers and medics to where they were needed. Despite the chaos, there appeared to be a renewed sense of purpose about the station and Higgs could only smile as Barty scratched at a bandage on his face.

"... and as soon as our engineers force their way inside their ships, I'll pass on any information we find on these guys. Some real dangerous people were after that data: Grey Dragons, The Beat Mob, that cyborg fella, not to mention Swift Fred/Rick, wherever the hell he's gotten to."

"Don't worry, he can't have gone far. In any case, the data is secure, that's all that matters right now. And I'm sure you'll find something we can use to track his employer."

"Oh we will. Don't you worry Mr Moss. He's still on this station somewhere. It's only a matter of time."

Barty excused himself for a moment to point two guards in the direction of the weapons room.

"I see you're all tooled up now?"

"Well, what good is it confiscating all these guns if you can't use them at your own discretion now and again?"

"You know Barty, I've spoken to Alpha Command about your situation..."

"Did you tell them what I've done for you? About helping your mission?"

"I did. They are incredibly impressed with your flexibility and resourcefulness. Not so impressed with my work, but that's a disciplinary I will have to deal with when I get back."

Barty looked horrified. "But that wasn't your fault, he was a master criminal!"

"It doesn't matter. That data was my responsibility and mine alone. I take the fall for that one. Just as your service has been recognised and will be rewarded."

"Rewarded?" said Barty, almost hopping on the spot with delight.

"Command has decided to grant you 'Morley Station Special Operative' status."

Barty looked confused. "What... what does that mean? I had always hoped to go after bandits on the outer rim. They're on the news every day, a scourge on the colonies out there. With these guns..."

Higgs put a hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Trust me, we have that situation well in hand. Half of them are our people, just biding their time, waiting for the right moment." Then he gave Barty a wink.

"Really? Wow. I see, so what do I need to do here?"

"Use these guns to keep your station secure. We need you for intel gathering. No-one else is so well placed in this sector to monitor the movements of smugglers. Command needs you to carry on as normal, as if nothing has changed. But you will be secretly providing us data on all shipments you deem suspicious. You know your job. You have the skills. You know what to do."

Barty smiled. That was the phrase from Space Unit Alpha. He couldn't believe they actually used the same one in real life.

"You know, I always knew I was destined for more than sitting on this space station for months on end. And it turns out I was! We do what we do best."

Higgs smiled back. "We do what we do best. Oh and, as an extra bonus, while I'm still on operational duty for our undercover delivery company, anything you need delivered, anywhere, any time."

"Anything?"

"Anything at all. First one's free, but I will have to charge you after that. To maintain cover you know. It would look a bit suspicious to have too many free deliveries on the books."

"No, no, I understand completely. And in return, you will have free passage through here. Any time you need, no boardings or checks."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. Barty will take care of it. It's the least I can do as a fellow operative!"

They shook hands, then Higgs strode off through the docking gate out of sight as Barty watched on.

"Damn. That's one hell of a guy."

***

An engineer removed the broken door from the kitchen and laid it on a large trolley at the back of the restaurant. It would be a while before they replaced it.

Inside the kitchen, the head chef shouted at his staff to help the waiters and get tidying out front.

"The ring may be closed but we need to be ready for when it's reopened. No slacking!"

It would be a while before they would have any customers back in.

As the staff gathered mops and buckets, grumbling to themselves, the body of Swift Fred/Rick slowly chilled inside the large chest freezer by the back door. It would be a while before anyone found him.