On the small planet of Kittcell, which had fooled space travelers for centuries into thinking that it was a second star that orbited the red giant of the large thirteen-planet solar system. Three individuals were sitting in a small dimly lit, smoke filled room at a table covered with half empty plates of food.
Kurtis Star, a six-foot three inches tall man with sandy-brown hair that spilled over his shoulders, was the successful captain of the space freighter Shootingstar. With him are his best friends, co-pilot Dudkhundi, and Navigator Sintara Atear. Dudkhundi is a massive six foot nine inch individual from the planet Za'faren. This hulking giant possesses the strength and power of ten ordinary men, and is valued greatly by his captain. Sintara Atear, beautiful, intelligent, dedicated, woman of immeasurable value to her captain not only as navigator, but to be looked upon with reverence. Her dark brown hair that flowed gracefully to her waist enraptured all who viewed the five feet, seven-inch beauty, but none more so than Kurtis Star. The three were deep into a discussion of the flight plan for the shipment of Norcom, a very valuable substance.
"Sintara, how long do you estimate, it will take to get from Kittcell to Alphabenjera?" Kurtis asked.
"Well Kurtis, if my calculations are correct, about five hours. Replied Sintara.
"Good, the faster the better. I don't want the Mycellexian to find out we have the stuff. If we have to dump this load I wont be able to repay Lindex for that load we lost and he'll have my hide on the wall." Kurtis replied with more relief than he really intended to reveal.
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's get loaded and get underway. Dudkhundi stated enthusiastically.
"The check is what we're waiting for. Sintara sneered with sarcasm.
"You two get back to the ship and get things moving there, and I'll take care of things here. I'll catch up with you at the hanger. I have some unfinished business to attend to over at the bar with Largon. Kurtis said as he was already headed in that direction.
"Okay, Kurtis, See you later." both Sintara and Dudkhundi replied at the same time.
As Dudkhundi and Sintara made their way to the exit, Kurtis was approaching the strange looking nonhuman Largon, who was drinking a foaming blue drink.
"Largon, my friend, how's business?" Kurtis began with a leering smirk on his face.
"Cut the proverbial human refuse, Star. Just what in the hell do you have to say to me? Get it out, captain, my time is not waste able." Largon was not generally known for his tack, and was displaying no change in direction at this time.
"Look, Largon, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to deliver a message to Lindex . . . " Kurtis began.
"What for?" Largon interrupts.
"Because I need someone I can trust to tell Lindex that I have a charter and can pay him when I get back." Kurtis explains.
"Do I look like your errand boy, Star? My time is limited to other more important things than being your personal messenger . . . "
"Just tell Lindex that I already have a charter that will produce enough funds to repay him when I return to Kittcell. He'll just have to find someone else to ship out his load." Kurtis interrupts.
"What's in it for me?" Largon questions greedily. "Lindex probably knows of your charter, so why should I be bothered to go to him and tell him what he already knows."
Kurtis straightens, and lifted himself to his full height, emanating his power, but to even further impact his statement, he places his hand on the blaster in his belt. "Because I can trust you to deliver the message, or else!" Kurtis voiced to add to the threat already evident in his voice and manner.
"Okay, Star, don't worry, I'll deliver your message to Lindex." Largon soothes with a sudden change in direction.
"Thanks, Largon, I knew I could count on you. Kurtis replied with the knowing power that his threat had come across.
No one stared angrily back at them. No one shouted imprecation or mouthed obscenities. These armed figures moved with the authority of a benevolent gangster named Lindex. Their side arms always boldly displayed and activated. All around, men, not-men, and mechanicals were crouched in waste littered doorways amongst accumulations of garbage and filth. Kittcell inhabitants were more of a nature to basic instincts. The planet's control had long since been overtaken by the greedy, opportunistic, quick to wealth seeking miscreants. They exchanged information and concluded transactions of dubious legality.
A warm wind moaned hauntingly down the alleyway and the men closed their formation. Their precision and order masked a fear of such claustrophobic quarters. One paused to check a door only to discover it tightly locked and bolted from within. A sand-encrusted human shambling nearby visited a half mad harangue on the man. Shrugging inwardly, the henchman gave the crazy human a sour eye before moving on down the alley to join up with his fellows.
The lead man stopped before a door, tried the latch and found it unlocked. Checking the number above the door, he opened it and motioned for the rest to follow. Shortly thereafter Dudkhundi and Sintara Atear entered the hanger where the Shootingstar was and were greeted by three men.
"What are you doing in here, Orondo? You know better than to be here when Kurtis is not around. Remember what happened the last time you pulled this stunt?" Sintara demanded hotly of the man who stood before her and Dudkhundi, with a little more than a warning in her voice.
"I've come for you Sintara. Lindex has a matter of importance to discuss with you. Orondo answered nonchalantly as he stroked the scar that marred his face from the time he and Kurtis Star last encountered each other in a fire fight that almost cost him his life and left him with the scar but still feeling security of the power emanated to him by his association of right hand man to Lindex.
"What do you mean? What's so important that you would risk your life by coming down here and facing Kurtis?" Sintara questioned.
In response to her question, Orondo made a small gesture with his hand and suddenly the room was alive with activity as men appeared from behind boxes and shipping crates to encircle the two in order to overpower any resistance Dudkhundi may have begun to attempt.
"You see, it's none of my concern what Lindex wants with you. Orondo said smugly. "I'm sure even Kurtis Star would find it a bit one sided to my favor. So, if you don't mind coming with me, it shouldn't take but a few minutes of your time, and you can return to your friends. he continued as he approached Sintara.
Before he reached her, Dudkhundi intercepted Orondo with a powerful blow to his face that sent him reeling back into some of his henchmen. Without thinking, the henchmen began their attempts to take Sintara, but Dudkhundi with his unusually great strength fended off their feeble attack. Unaware of the determination for success of these miscreants, once Orondo regained his senses, Dudkhundi was suddenly leveled powerless by the stun bolt of Orondo's hand blaster. As Dudkhundi falls to the hanger floor with less than grace, and a heavy thump, the group hurriedly bundled and subdued the screaming Sintara before any undue attention was drawn to their efforts to assure her audience with the benevolent Lindex. Orondo looked over his shoulder, and gave an inward nod of satisfaction as he viewed once again the note addressed to Kurtis Star attached to the limp body of the Shootingstar's co-pilot, Dudkhundi.
What could have been an eternity was in reality only moments in the passing of time before Kurtis Star entered the hanger to find his friend and co-pilot just beginning to stir in motion from the stun blast. Any ordinary man would have been out for days, but not so the massive Dudkhundi. Kurtis was at Dudkhundi's side when he finally began to open his eyes and come from the blackness of what was his state from the blast. It was then that Kurtis noticed the note that had fallen from Dudkhundi as he sat up.
"What happened, Dud?" Kurtis inquired with a mix of emotions that were flooding through him.
"Lindex!" stated Dudkhundi with repugnance.
"He sent Orondo and some of his men. Dudkhundi tried to say. The effects of the blaster were still evidently affecting his coherency.
"Take it easy Dud, I need the details, but not as jumbled as they are going to come from you in this state. Let's get you into the ship and give you something to clear your head." Kurtis advised.
Kurtis helped Dudkhundi to his feet and assisted him into the ship, where he got him settled into a chair and gave him a vile of the anti blast snifter tri-ox. While Dudkhundi was bringing himself back to a more conscience level, Kurtis began to read the note that Orondo had left.
"What's that, Kurtis?" Dudkhundi questioned with amazing coherency.
"A note. Orondo must have left it after you were out." answered Kurtis.
"What's it say, Kurtis?" Dudkhundi asked.
"Kurtis star, we have Sintara hostage. The ransom for her release will be the equivalent to the Norcom you lost. Lindex."
Kurtis let go of his temper momentarily and expounded on his feelings. His scream of rage could have raised the hair on the back of even Dudkhundi himself, were he not familiar with such displays from the man who was his friend, as well as his captain. Even the Serian slime-worms would be slithering for cover at the sound should there be any in the vicinity.
"So help me, if he harms so much as one hair on her head, on my life I will see him draw his last breath of life. Kurtis said with undue calm as he crumpled the note and pitched it across the cabin. He stormed out of the ship followed closely by Dudkhundi. No mention had been made as to their destination. None was necessary for either. Lindex would soon be surprised by their appearance.
The journey to Lindex's residence was swift, yet uncomfortable with anticipation and bewilderment of what to expect for the confused Sintara. Once inside the modest exterior, Sintara was amazed at how lavishly adorned the interior was decorated. Relics of other worlds, remnants of civilizations that were no longer known to exist, were evident in every view. She was allowed little time to gaze at the wonders she saw however, as she was prodded on toward the waiting Lindex. She was brought before the grotesquely corpulent character called Lindex, a being who had single handedly overthrown the planets government and was now the true leader of Kittcell. Lindex was the largest supplier of illegal commerce in the quadrant. His greeting to Sintara was congenial and somewhat pleasant.
"Well Sintara, welcome. This is indeed a pleasant surprise. It is a shame that we have to meet this way, but under the circumstances there is no other way. With your Kurtis Star so hard to get in touch with these days." Lindex said with an air of pity in his voice.
"Let me go you fat blob of grease!" Sintara demanded with a voice that would put the oldest of shrews to shame.
I'll let you go just as soon as Kurtis Star pays me for that load of Norcom that he lost. Where would poor old Lindex be if he let his pilots dump their loads and show empty pockets when I ask for my money back?" Lindex crooned.
"Who cares? You don't stick your fat neck out, we do!" Sintara retorted.
"And that is what you are paid for. Lindex said, the warning thundering from his voice. "Take her to a cell for safe keeping until star gets here." he commanded to Orondo.
Orondo motioned to two guards and he led Sintara to the under ground dungeons. Soon after the return of the guards from their task, Kurtis Star and Dudkhundi arrived to meet with Lindex. They entered feeling very uneasy. Lindex and his henchmen waited in numerous quantities. Kurtis and Dudkhundi grew tense and overly alert as they entered the large overfilled room.
"Welcome, come in, come in!!! Make yourselves comfortable." Lindex cockily greeted his visitors.
"I hate it when he says that. Dudkhundi whispered.
"Where is Sintara?" Kurtis demanded emphatically.
"She's in a safe place. Don't worry, she's alright. Lindex replied in his low thunderous voice.
"I'd like to see her if you don't mind?" Kurtis softened his approach, but left just a trace of sarcasm.
"You don't trust me?" Lindex replied in mock astonishment.
"No! I don't trust you, you slob!!!" Kurtis said with complete disrespect.
"Before I bring her here, I'd like to have the money you owe me, and then you, your companion and the lovely Sintara may leave." Lindex stated triumphantly.
"I don't have it." Kurtis answered sheepishly under his breath.
"What?" Lindex roared in enraged disbelief.
"I don't have the money, but I do have a charter. I need Sintara, she's the one who arranged the charter, and the only one who knows who it belongs to Kurtis replied.
"Ah yes! I heard that you had a charter." The underworld connections that he was virtual leader of had let this action slip by him, and it did not please him to feel that anyone could so boldly displace his rule.
"Who is your charter for?" Lindex asked still seeking the information that will give him a clue as to how to stop further profit loss.
"I don't know that's why I need Sintara. So if you would not mind I would like to take her with me." Kurtis replied hoping that Lindex would fall for his simple ploy.
"No!!!" Lindex roared in rage.
"I didn't think he would go for that, Kurtis. Dudkhundi whispered snidely.
"No, you cannot have her, but I am all for getting my Money, so I will let you talk with her to get the information you need. Then you can deliver your load and pay me the money you owe me." Lindex said all business like.
Kurtis and Dudkhundi discussed the possibilities of what could happen if they were to go into the dungeon where Sintara was obviously being held. When they finally came to their conclusion they allowed themselves to be taken to Sintara's holding cell. The three talked for a few minutes quietly amongst themselves so as not to be overheard while Sintara told them the information that Kurtis needed to deliver the shipment of Norcom.
Kurtis and Dudkhundi finally left, promising to return for Sintara. One final warning to Lindex that the safety of Sintara was the only condition there would be for his moneys return and Kurtis and Dudkhundi head for the Shootingstar's hanger. They made immediate preparations for departure to Alphabenjera.