This is a Chapter of the science fiction blog novel.  In this chapter, Whitey makes another enemy.


     Whitey and his men began the long trek back to their base at the shuttle bay.  O'bee waddled along behind holding his bloody face.  "Shouldn't I be on a stretcher, or a gurney or something?"

     Whitey turned and gave the fat man a quick glance. "You'll be fine.  Keep that hand elevated so you don't bleed out."

     "What?  Bleed out?"  O'bee wined.  "You mean I could pass out and die?  Oh, Mother of Joseph, I don't want to bleed to death."

     Bill turned and snarled.  "You're not gonna bleed to death- not if I shoot you first!  Now shut your gob and keep up."

     Whitey leaned over toward Bill as they marched and quietly said. "Bill. When was the last time you slept?"

     "Holy Crap, I dunno. Forty-two hours, I guess. I'm fine."

     "No, I think we need to see that everybody, including officers, are getting rested up. I want you to bunk in the shuttle just as soon as we get back to base.

     O'bee was whimpering.  "Is it much farther?"

     "I said..." Bill snapped.

     "It's O.K. Bill."  Whitey was beginning to wonder if the fat pirate would make the last thousand yards.

     "Bill, Did Red tell you where sick bay was?"

     "It is forward, but we are going aft."

     "How is Red doing?"

     "She'll do just fine with us.  She has more sass in her than a drunken panther."

     Whitey didn't hear the last few words; he sensed that something was wrong.  He could feel it.  Even from the back of the double line of men, he knew that ahead was a threat.  It was in the step of the men or the way they held their heads and the shifting of hands on weapons.  Curling his lip he whistled and as a single creature the two lines of men stopped and took defensive positions hugging walls.

     As the men vacated the center of the corridor Whitey saw them coming.

     "Oh, hell," Whitey swore.  "What now?"

     A woman and three men were running toward their line, with weapons poised for combat.  Whitey felt like shouting, "Friend or foe?"  But the red armor told it all, the red guard was no one's friend and everybody's foe.  He sauntered down the center of the hallway between his men.

     "Where are you red suits going in a hurry?"

     "We were going to ask you the same." She said, "You're Whitey aren't you?  I was told you were here.  What was all the shooting there?  Our scanners told us weapons were used."

     Whitey stood and blocked their way. "Late as usual and with the wrong invitation.  There was an accident with a misfiring taser.  That is all, no one seriously hurt."

     "What about him?" As she nodded with her head toward O'bee a lock of dark hair slid from under her red helmet.  "He looks like he is about to pass out.  He is losing a lot of blood."

     "He cut himself shaving."  Whitey never gave police, guards, or anybody's security the truth- it was a matter of principle.  The same went for lawyers and judges unless they were in his pay.

     "Where is Captain Stone?"  She demanded, suspecting assassination.  "The Supreme Commander will not tolerate it if anyone harmed him."

     Whitey sighed and shook his head sadly.  "Well, I am sorry to report that Stonebutt is alive and well in the common room drinking coffee."

     "You are on board a ship of the revolution.  You will treat its captain and officers with respect."

     "I see,"  Whitey said slowly looking at the ceiling, "That you," he paused, to look down at the woman, "have never met the Captain."  He looked directly into her brown eyes, it was a defiant dare. She turned her eyes away.  Whitey read the slight shudder in her head, he had defied her, it was a little victory.

     "I'm Regga-Aon, and chief of security."  She glared at him.  "You better keep your soldiers of fortune in line, Whitey.  Or else."

     "Ha. Ha. Ha. I and my men do not answer to you or Stonebutt.  We are here on a private commission of The Supreme Commander Herself.  If you have a problem with us, bother her with it.  Now take your pet monkeys and go play cops someplace else.  I have to get the only man who can wake up the brain of the ship to my medic before he bleeds to death."   He pushed past her and shoved the other security persons out of his way.

     "Sure, you can talk big when you have all your boys near,"  She called after him.

     Whitey stopped and turned to face her. "You don't get it do you, Miss Rag-ass.  Stone and his men are all escaped criminals and crazies from an asylum.  They think the Red Book is the Galactic Constitution, Manga Carter and the Bill Of Rights.  It is their law on this ship."

     "I know the red book."

     He took a step toward her.  "Then you know the red book says I can challenge you to combat to the death, the survivor gets the rank and command of the loser."  He drew a knife from his belt. "My men just heard you insult me.  Better than you have regretted that very thing."

     Her hand lunged for her blaster but before she was able to touch it Whitey sprung.  His knee kick to her stomach lifted the small woman off the floor.  Her armor took the knee but she was off balance. His elbow slammed down on her face.  She tried with both hands to grasp the knife but he spun her around and had her pinned.

     "Sorry about your face."  He whispered.  "You are going to be O.K." He brought the knife up so she could focus on it.  "I could cut your throat right now.  It would be legal according to the red book and the laws of the brotherhood.  I'll let you live, but don't ever try to draw a gun on me again."  He shoved her away.

     "O.K. Boys. I reckon Raggedy-Anne and I are even."  Whitey scanned his men.  They had disarmed the other three. "Leave them be and let's go."  Whitey and his men began to march away; several were helping O'bee stand and walk.

     "We are not through, Whitey." Ragga-Aon.said.

     "What's it take to get through to you?"

     "I have a report that you have one of my people, a security agent.  I want her brought back under my command."

     "Go suck on marbles."  Whitey retorted.  "She is a member of the Raiders.  She is my agent and my operative. She was our advance intelligence on this operation."

     "It is reported she is wearing the red uniform of Security Services.  That makes her mine."

     "Like your blaster?"

     Ragga-Aon felt her holster, it was empty.  Whitey turned his back on her.   As he walked away she saw her blaster tucked in the holster belt at his back.

     After marching a few yards Bill leaned toward Whitey, "What's the matter, Boss? You don't have enough enemies already?"

     "I might be a little sleep deprived."


(c) Adron

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(c) Adron

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