The Token by Kevin Bird (the little red hen ebook .TXT) 📖

with glee at the prospect. “Call me back in one hour so I can do some research and I’ll give you my terms.” He hung up before Marshall had time to respond and then began his preparations.
First, he contacted his man within the Collector organization through routed lines that made it look as if this plant was taking a regularly allocated call from home. The news was not good. The ships were expected to reach the Teldar system on time to pick up their Token in about two cycles, not much time to do what had to be done.
Second, he talked to one of the hunters paid in the past to do the dirty work for the Suppliers. This man, Cale, was now working on Drake’s ship as his trusted head of security. He was, after all, a mercenary and, as such, worked for the highest bidder and Drake always paid his crew well. When this man had worked for the Suppliers he was called on to help clean out planets so they would be safe for settlement by those producing goods. The information this man had learned in the Teldar system would be invaluable both in Drake’s dealings with Marshall and these creatures when it came time.
An hour later the light flashed and his communications officer told him the line was secure to take. “Marshall, right on time, thank you.”
“What have you decided?”
“I’ll be happy to help you, but I’ve found out some very troubling details from my sources. It doesn’t appear that we have much time before the Collectors will be on your daughter’s world. I don’t like to rush any operation especially one where I’ll be sending some my men to try to kill off an unknown number of Hoppers.” He enjoyed the moment of silence on the other end of the connection and waited for Marshall to come back with the only possible question.
“What’s a Hopper?” his voice was tentative, not sure if he had heard Drake properly and unsure if the pirate was toying with him.
“One of the men commissioned by the Suppliers as a mercenary to help clean out that system prior to colonization spoke with me today. He told me about what they found and by far the most frightening and dangerous lifeform was an animal that they gave the accurate, but misleadingly inoffensive, name of Hopper.” He was ready for the big sell now as he knew more about this animal than Marshall, and so knew he’d be able to dictate terms. Clearly the non-techs were not going to be able to take care of the situation themselves. “Let me tell you why they called them that and then maybe you’ll understand why this will cost you plenty if I’m to save your lovely little daughter.”
“Go ahead,” said Marshall, clearly resigning himself to the fact that this would be one business deal where he’d not have ultimate control.
“These Hoppers were quite a surprise to the Suppliers and those they sent there to prepare the way for the farmers. For quite some time they didn’t even know the Hoppers even existed. These things only came out at night and they tended to stay up in the hill country. Anyway, it became clear that one of the animals that had to be destroyed was some kind of herbivore, similar to a mountain goat, I suppose. It would have been a threat to the grazing land needed for the blues and greens soon to be imported. I guess that even with the special foods they give their animals, the farmers always want good grazing land as a short-term back-up just in case a feed shipment is delayed.”
“Anyway, it seems crazy to me since these grazers were only found in the hills and the farmers wouldn’t have been grazing away from the flat land anyway. You know how wonderful bureaucracy can be even more than I. So they began to go up into the hills and mountains killing off these goats and soon enough they ran into the Hoppers.” He paused for effect waiting for Marshall to respond. He didn’t have to wait long.
“Enough playing around Drake, just tell me.”
“Well, it would seem that these things look like some kind of giant bed bug or flea. They have enormously muscular back legs that allow them to jump like crazy. Their front legs are strong too, but they use them more for balance and holding onto things with their big claws. Yes, they have big claws, four on each foot. They’re set up kind of like an eagle’s talons with three pointing forwards and one back. Once it sinks them into something it doesn’t lose its grip.” He was getting into his description now and thoroughly enjoying being able to enrapture his audience in it.
“My connection says that they kill by sticking some kind of an elongated jaw into their prey,” he paused for effect, “goat or human!” It worked, as he could hear a tremor in Marshall’s voice.
“They killed people?” He was clearly shocked and Drake could almost imagine Marshall picturing his daughter, Carlee, and what might happen to her in a world where those kinds of creatures lived..
“Oh yes, they killed plenty of people. But let me tell you more about this jaw because it scared everyone on the team sent to destroy them. These animals have no mouths and instead have a kind of proboscis that comes out from between their front legs or chest or whatever! It shoots out as long as your arm and faster than you could blink. They got a close look at some of the ones they killed and this thing is just full of teeth. These creatures would just jump onto the back of something, and this jaw thing would shoot down and break straight through the body usually ripping through the spinal column. A quick death, but that wasn’t any consolation to the men that went that way.”
He took a breath and readied himself for his closing arguments that would allow him to ask for the fees he wanted. Years as a pirate had trained him to negotiate, as well as fight, with skill. “Those Hoppers were something the Suppliers hadn’t expected and it took them a long time to clear them out. Problem is, it looks like the guys they hired might have been just a little too keen to get out of that system and go home. Obviously the Suppliers didn’t get their monies worth, since the Hoppers are back and they seem to be very hungry again.”
There was silence on the line for a while and then Drake heard Marshall clear his throat. ‘Here we go’ he thought.
“Drake, can you and your men take care of these things once and for all?” It was a simple and direct question for which Drake had a similar style of answer.
He did not hesitate. “Yes.”
“Very well. I don’t believe Carlee’s husband that she’s in no danger. What would a non-tech know anyway? Tell me what you want to get the job done immediately.”
Drake knew that Marshall was as confident in the bargaining arena as he was, but he also knew that the older man would still be ready to acquiesce to just about anything if he could stop the horror his daughter seemed to be mixed up in.
“This isn’t just a fun-filled bug hunt as you described it to be. It’ll be a costly job, as I’ll have to outfit several men with the latest in weaponry...”
“Don’t worry about weapons or even personal armor for that matter,” Marshall interrupted. “I can pull some favors and get you the latest upgrades, the kind being sent to the frontlines.”
“Good. For payment I need enough of your newly perfected ship shielding for two attack class vessels and one transport ship for which I’ll send you specifications. That’s all.” He sat back in his chair and only then did he realize that his deck crew had stopped all activity and speech, so engrossed were they in the unfolding negotiation. He gave them his slightly lopsided grin, but kept silent waiting for the reply.
Marshall hesitated for a second in shock at the huge request. “Drake, that’s virtually impossible and you know it. If I give you that much shielding I’d be unable to meet my own next Token. Please, can’t we reach a compromise?”
Drake knew Marshall well enough that he believed him. What good would it do to have one of the best buyers of his black market goods and the supplier of under the table military hardware, in the bad graces of men with even more power? Maybe he was being a little greedy, but he did need that shielding. What else could he do?
“Marshall, my friend, I’ve a proposition that I think you should at least consider.” He went on in some detail and finally got his answer.
“Very well, I’ll do it, but only on condition that I hear from my daughter when you’ve succeeded in your mission. Do you agree?” He was tired and wanted this to be over so he could get on with his side of the bargain.
“That’s fair. I’ll need proof you’ve completed your little task when you hear from her. If not maybe your daughter might still be in danger,” there was menace in his voice. This was a time to be firm with so much at stake.
“You don’t need to threaten me, Drake. Once my word is given I don’t back out,” he was clearly biting back his anger. He didn’t want to upset this pirate as, like it or not, Drake was his only hope.
“Then we have a deal.” Drake went on. “Make sure the small arms and body armor we need are in the Teldar system within two days and then wait. I’ll contact you as soon as I’ve something to say. Till then goodbye.” He hung up and immediately gave directions to the helmsman. This job would be worth a tremendous amount, so why delay?


Ten


Pain, loss, death, sadness and a horrible finality were the thoughts and emotions washing over us. Images of our fellows in their dying agonies pierced our minds as we sped up the hillside towards safety. Would it remain our sanctuary or would it, like the rest of our world now, become a deathtrap? We had been through this before. After a futile attempt at defending ourselves, we had become resigned to what had to be done and then done it instinctively. It seemed we were now in the same situation again. So soon?
With arms full of food we entered our caves and our comrades, young and old, rushed up to get their share of our kill. Even as they ate, we all communicated as our situation was clearly a dire one and we felt our time was now limited. Those who had remained in the caves already knew of the two deaths at the hands of the two-legs. What we had seen they had seen, as though they had been there with us, and they were saddened too. Our communal loss was not only for those who had not returned to the caves, but also for our way of life.
Again we were at a crossroads not of our making and a decision must be made. We did not want to make it, but the choice was being forced upon us. Some of our elders could still remember the time this same situation had arisen and now in their own lifetime it was happening again! In times of severe weather, food shortage, or widespread disease we might have slept, but very rarely in our history and only then for short periods of time. Now it seemed we would be forced into