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The airlock opened with a hiss. Noah kept his hand resting on his pistol’s grip even after he verified that the corridor leading into M-21 station was empty. He stepped onto the station and moved as far as the first intersection. When, again, he didn’t find anyone waiting in ambush, he felt a little disappointed.
Easing up on his grip slightly, Noah glanced back at the ship and frowned, “Captain told everyone else to stay on the ship.”
“That was before I pointed out that I speak Echani,” Olivia said, coming to stand beside him.
“Most everyone speaks universal here.”
“If it’s anything like the Hub, that’s definitely not true. In the marketplace, sure, but we’re looking for an Echanic doctor. The ones who only speak Echani will probably be the best ones to help Vlasa.”
“I can manage.” Noah gave a slight shake of his head at the girl.
“Captain’s orders,” Olivia said with a wicked grin.
She then started walking down the corridor to their right. She made it several meters before she noticed that Noah had not followed her. Stopping, she gave him a savage eye roll.
“You just going to stand there and pout?”
“No. I’m just wondering what kind of doctor you expect to find in the red light district. Vlasa doesn’t have VD. Well, I assume he doesn’t.”
The startled look in Olivia’s expression gave Noah a brief feeling of victory. Satisfied he turned in the other direction and started walking, making sure to keep his gait small so Olivia could catch up. If he let her get separated, it would probably not end well for her.
They walked in silence for a while, passing a few individuals the closer to the center of the station they got. Every time someone approached, Noah tightened the grip on his pistol. Most people they passed did the same. It brought a feeling of comfort every time.
“Why are you so paranoid?” Olivia asked, after a six-legged Manta skittered past them. “You grab your gun anytime we pass someone.”
“Why are you so trusting?” Noah shot back.
“Because I’ve met plenty of bad people, but far, far more good people. I don’t live in a world where everyone is out to get me. Besides, the captain’s a trusting person.”
“Yeah, and she trusted Javi. That’s not working out so well for her.”
“She also trusted Squee and you. Squee has proven himself.”
“Until he gets mad,” Noah said with a shudder at the memory. Then more quietly, he added, “And her trusting me is going to come back to bite her one of these days. Possibly even today.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow at him, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Never mind. Let’s just focus on finding a doctor.”
They turned a corner and passed through a pressure bulkhead. The deck beneath began to slope slightly, and by the time they were through the next pressure seal, they had turned ninety degrees and were walking on what would have been the wall of the previous corridor.
They emerged into a large, open chamber. Above them, a few hundred meters away, they could see the opposite side of the station. People walked on what looked to be the ceiling of this hollowed out shell. The gravity kept everyone on the opposite side looking like they were upside down to each other.
“It’s nice to have some open space again,” Olivia remarked.
“Uh. I always hate these rooms. I prefer the stations that put something in the middle, so you can’t see the people standing above you.”
“But that’s what makes it so cool.”
Noah just shook his head and kept his eyes down. They walked through the market looking for any Echanic stalls. As they walked, they came across one of the raised platforms Noah had been hoping to avoid.
“Do they do performances out here in the middle of the market?” Olivia asked studying the platform.
“Those are for slave auctions.”
“Are you still trying to convince me of that?”
“You’re the one who called me paranoid. You’ll trust these random strangers not to be out to kill, rape or capture you, but you won’t trust me when I warn you about this place.”
Olivia glanced at him and the platform a few times. The curious look slowly faded to a frown. She pulled her arms closer around her, and it made him feel a little bad for being so harsh on her.
With a gentler tone he said, “Come on. There are some electronic booths this way. Should be some Echanic vendors there.”
They walked through the crowd. Noah made his expression fierce, and everyone gave them a wide berth. He doubted anyone would try anything in the middle of the market. The people here weren’t complete savages. But you could never be too careful.
After a few minutes, they found a stall run by an Echanic. Unlike Vlasa, this one had two cybernetic arms, but no obvious facial implants. It looked rather odd to see the unmarred, grey skin of a natural Echanic face.
“Hey, we’re looking for a doctor,” Noah said, interrupting the merchants opening spiel.
“Doctor level seven.” The merchant answered with a frown.
“Not the infirmary. We need a real Echanic doctor.”
The merchant kept his expression blank. He studied the pair of them for a minute, and then repeated, “Doctor level seven.”
“Don’t play stupid with me,” Noah said leaning in close.
Behind him, Olivia started making a series of what sounded like clicks and beeps. The Echanic merchant responded with the same type of sounds to her. This continued for several minutes, interrupted only by the Echanic turning to look at Noah before laughing.
When they finally stopped, Olivia turned around and started walking away. Noah followed her, not saying anything. Languages had never been something he could grasp.
After walking for several minutes, Olivia stopped, “Aren’t you going to ask where we’re going?”
“I assumed to an Echanic doctor.”
“Yes, but don’t you want to know what he said?” She said with a mischievous grin.
“Not particularly.”
“Oh. You don’t want to know where we’re going?”
Noah shrugged, “You talked to him. I’m trying out this trust thing.”
Olivia let out a frustrated sigh, looking up into the air before saying, “He gave me directions, but I don’t know what any of them mean.”
“Well then, why didn’t you just tell me you didn’t know where you were going?”
“Because you were following me?” Olivia said sheepishly.
Noah smiled, “You’ll make a good officer one day. All right, tell me what he said.”
Olivia relayed the first set of instructions, and Noah turned them around. They walked until they found a pressure hatch that led away from the central market. They followed the twisted corridor until they returned to an orientation that matched the docking decks.
“Okay, now where?”
“We’re supposed to follow the corridor down to the bronze head and turn, and follow it to the rust bucket?
“Ah, now I know where he’s sending us.”
“So, you understand what all of that meant?”
“He’s sending us to a bar that caters to Echanics. I didn’t think a dive bar would be the best place to find a doctor, but this is M-21 after all. Should have known better.”
When they resumed walking, Noah got an uncomfortable feeling. His fingers started to get twitchy, and a sensation of something pushing down around him settled in. It was a feeling he had gotten a few times before.
As they neared a turn, he shoved Olivia around the corner while twirling around. Drawing his pistol as he turned, he leveled it at the figure who had been following them. Instead of fleeing, as he expected the would-be thief to do, the figure stepped out from the shadows and approached them with a confident stride.
“Always quick on the draw, Noah.” The figure, a female Echanic said with a wide smile. A single cybernetic stretched across her eyes, leaving her mouth the only organic facial feature capable of expressing any emotion.
“Goddamn it.” Noah growled, “Serene, I should shoot you right here.”
“Probably. I should do the same. But I’ve never liked killing my old lovers.”
“What we did, that wasn’t love.”
Serene shrugged, “Either way, it’s too late now. Gerald knows you’re here.”
“I didn’t think that fact would get past him. But I was hoping to be gone before he found out. In fact, I was just on my way out. How about you wait just a little while before telling him? For old times sake.”
Serene’s smile widened, “Oh, how I would love to have you owe me one like that. But it’s already too late. Both you and your little girl toy will be coming with us. It’s time to pay back your debt.”
Behind him, Noah sensed the approach of several more people. He turned to see a large Rokma grab hold of Olivia. They were surrounded.