Keeper Hunter

I waited a further uncomfortable two hours under the watchful eyes of Copper’s friends. I sat on the ground my back against the shuttle while the others wandered around. Out of the Security office Phedra appeared with an assured walk while Copper trailed a crimson blush on her face. They’d certainly made enough noise to make it obvious what they’d been doing. Phedra made her way directly towards me I climbed to my feet ready for anything. She halted in front of me and thrust out her hand. I automatically shook even if I wasn’t sure why.

“Thank you for saving Copper. She had a lot to say on the subject.”

“I did what I could,” I said simply. “I tried my best.”

“If you hadn’t been at your best she could have died or worse.”

Copper blushed redder.

Phedra eyed Copper. “I think she’s crazy to put up with all she has?” Then she glanced at me a sly expression on her face. “I wonder?” she said half to herself. She made a gesture. “Do you think we could talk privately?”

“Sure,” I replied pretending to be unconcerned. “Copper?”

“Ok,” Copper said reluctantly.

“Copper please say here my dear we won’t be long,” Phedra touched Copper’s arm tenderly.

I followed Phedra away from the shuttle and down a narrow track between two ruined buildings. The fire damage was clearly obvious on the remains of what seemed to be two residences.

“This should be far enough away,” Phedra stated as she glanced around. “I want you to persuade Copper to come with us?” she stated without a pause.

“Couldn’t you do it?” I was surprised she was asking me instead of doing it herself Copper was her girlfriend well I assumed she was Phedra’s girlfriend.

“She’s stubborn always talking about duty. I’ve tried for years but she flatly refuses. I believe you will have a better chance. She actually looks up to you.”

“I don’t want to get between you. Rest assured I’m not pushing in on what there is between you.”

“I didn’t think you were the type,” Phedra answered.

“I wish someone would tell Ljufu that,” I said absently.

“Who?”

“Nothing for you to worry about. I can try, to tell the truth I’d rather she’s somewhere safe. The Empire will use her until she’s dead.” I hadn’t wanted to believe that but I was no longer sure of the case. The blue suited man had been happy to use us to achieve his goals. He hadn’t cared if Copper had died and I’d been taken. Which was probably why the Separatists had acted the way they did. “Better she’s with those she loves.” I carefully avoided putting myself in that group. I was an outsider in more that one way.

“I see,” Phedra replied.

We walked back to the shuttle Copper was watching us anxiously. “You’ve been talking about me,” she said stating the obvious.

“Of course, you did know this?” I said to her bluntly.

She winced visibly.

“Copper?” Phedra said placatingly.

Copper folded her arms against her chest a determined expression on her face. “I can’t go. I‘ve got too much to do here.”

“Copper!” I warned her. “Grab your gear and get your butt aboard the shuttle.” I eyed her. “Or do I have to pick you up and carry you!”

Copper made one last gesture. “What about the car. I can’t leave that here I only borrowed if from the department.”

“Department?” I asked her.

“The Bureau of T’Arni, Human Liaisons. It is one of the pool cars we all use. I had to sign it out.”

Suddenly something that had been bothering me since the Separatist attack clicked into place. I could have kicked myself for not thinking of it earlier. “You can and you will!” I stared bluntly. “How do think the Separatists found us so easily?” I was going to kill that Blue Suit the next time I saw him. I quickly shut down the way my thoughts were going that was the Valkyrie in me talking. “The ATV has a tracker on it.” I doubted it was the normal trace my stolen vehicle tracker. I suspected this was a lot more sophisticated. One, which the Blue Suit had allowed to fall into the hands of the Separatists so he could spring his trap.

Copper paled. “You don’t know that?”

“Please Copper listen to her?” Phedra pleaded.

“That actually makes sense,” Frigga added her thoughts.

“It’s what I would have done?” Claudia said.

“The Blue Suit intimated as much,” I mused. I should have paid more attention to his words rather than getting angry, I should have listened. There was a whole subtle sub-text to his words.

“Blue Suit?” Vesna asked.

I found myself explaining what I’d been told and that we’d been bait in a trap.

Phedra looked angry and more determined. “That seals it you are coming with us.”

She pointed directly at Copper. “Too long I been on edge wondering if you are ok. To hear this, to know you could have been killed. Copper this is not your life. Damn the Terrans you owe them nothing. And what there is between us that means nothing?”

Copper said nothing her face pale.

“We’ll grab Copper’s things from the car,” Vesna said with a gesture to the others.

“I’d check her gear in case there is more than one tracker?” I warned them. I’d found that out the hard way on Saros. The Valkyrie had put a tracker on my comms and the Alliance one on my clothes. I was grateful for the latter it saved me from dying.

“You think there will be?” Phedra looked at me.

“I know so.” I didn’t want there to be one but I wasn’t going to be surprised if there was.

“Right!” Phedra clapped her hand together. “Let’s get moving people.” She turned to Copper. “Well?”

“You win,” Copper answered with a sigh.

Phedra winked at me. “I always do my dear.”

I put my gear aboard the shuttle while Phedra’s crew emptied the ATV.

I watched Claudia wave her medical gauntlet over Copper’s gear.

“What are you doing?” I asked her curious.

“It’s the quickest and easiest way of finding those trackers.” She gave me a look. “You are certain there’s something to find?”

“Put it this way I hoping there isn’t. I don’t like my theories being justified.” I glanced at her gauntlet there were differences to the one Kelli wore. “Why a medical gauntlet?”

“Oh this isn’t just a medical glove I’ve had a few extra additions added to it. When you’re a trader you have to be an all rounder. It should detect trackers and other things.”

She continued on to the next item a worn canvas bag. I’d seen Copper with it on a number of occasions. It had originally been black but the sun had faded it to grey. It had a number of stitched patches. Claudia’s gauntlet beeped as she waved her hands over it.

“Oh shit!” Claudia uttered. “If I wasn’t worried about having a tracker on board the ship I’d like to have time to study it.”

I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.

Claudia continued as if I wasn’t there. “Shame I can’t have Ultanassi trace it back to source.”

That sounded like an Ezaran name probably one of the crew I hadn’t met yet.

“What’s going on?” Phedra interrupted. “That’s Copper’s favourite bag. She takes in everywhere she goes.”

“P this has a tracker attached to it,” Claudia told her.

“Someone knew that and placed a tracker in the only item she wouldn’t leave behind,” I said.

“Damn it I was hoping you were wrong,” Phedra replied. She turned to Claudia. “Find it’s exact location and cut it out.”

Claudia nodded and took a medical box from the shuttle and pulled out a scalpel. She carefully cut round a section of lining that had been re-stitched and extracted a round disk the size of my thumbnail from it.

“That’s it now back to work.” She tossed the bag to me.

We found three more devices all in Copper’s gear. I was glad that Phedra had taken her off somewhere quiet.

“Here!” Frigga called out throwing me a metal box the size of my hand.

I had to drop Copper’s bag to catch it. “What’s this?”

“A tracker from the vehicle,” she replied.

That worried me they sure went through a lot to keep tabs on Copper. “Anything in my gear?” I asked Frigga.

“Yours is all clear.”

I was thankful for that at least. “So what do we do with all these trackers?”

“I’ve got an idea,” Vesna remarked with an evil grin on her face.

“And that is?” I said.

Vesna tapped the side of her nose. “You’ll see.” She turned to Frigga. “Up to do a little hunting.”

Frigga straightened a hungry look on her face. “Certainly.”

I recognised that face I’d seen it on the faces of many Valkyrie. The desire to fight, to win.

“I’ll need fresh meat. Not too big through just enough for what I have planned.”

Frigga looked a little disappointed. I was confused as to what Vesna was planning I couldn’t see the link between meat and the trackers.