Devlin's Team # 5: The Aldebaran Stopover

By Lazette Gifford

Devlin and her weary team leave Astrakhan, intent on getting back to their home on Earth and where they can recover from the last case (Devlin's Team #4 -- Missing Persons). However, an unplanned brief stop at the popular Aldebaran Station, unfortunately, leads to a whole new set of problems when they meet up with some of Devlin's old friends, including a Lindy Pirate and his companions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A Conspiracy of Authors
• Release date: Mar 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781936507832

Lazette Gifford

Lazette is an avid writer as well as the owner of Forward Motion for Writers and the owner/editor of Vision: A Resource for Writers.It's possible she spends too much time with writers.And cats.

Book preview

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Bonus Story: Of Monsters and Nightmares

Part One: Monsters

Part Two: Nightmares

About the Author

Preview: Living in Caine's Hold

Timeline

This is a section of the Inner Worlds Council timeline (the full timeline covers over 900 years of events). I've listed some of the important information that will help to explain the connections between the characters in this story (The Aldebaran Stopover) since a few of the people (Palman, Cristobal, Roberto, Ashur, and Marsit) are featured in one or more other published books or short stories.

For those who have missed it or haven't seen the matter covered in one of the previous books, the Regen drug not only turned out to help heal wounds, but also worked into the DNA and created longer life for the people of the later generations. (Gives all the characters more time for even more adventures, right?)

2283 -- Regen created

2293 -- Aldebaran Station built

2300 -- Inner Worlds Council created

2585 -- Devlin Born

2585 -- Cha Hao Chan Born

2592 -- Dancer Born

2600 -- Keri Born

2607 -- DEVLIN'S REPORT: WASTING TIME (Short Story)

The story of how Devlin joined the Inner Worlds Council Security force.

2609 -- VITA'S VENGEANCE

This is the original story that introduces the Lindy Pirates and the Verdi Elite and follows a massive war in the Aquila Fringe, outside of the IWC boundaries. Ashur is one of the minor characters in this book.

2613 -- DEVLIN'S REPORT: DEATH WATCH (Not published at this time)

Devlin and Keri Ibn Karim work together for the first time. The event is mentioned in Medusan Mutation when they meet up again.

2615 -- BADLANDS

The novel about a war on the desert world of Caliente between the hard-pressed port rat gangs and the Altos who are trying to hoard the planet's few resources and destroy anyone who stands against them. This book introduces Roberto and Cristobal, and Lt. Commander Palman from the IWC Whites.

2615 -- RAT PIRATES

Lt. Commander Palman makes a desperate bid to save Caliente by suggesting that the newly reformed Lindy Pirates be allowed to take over the port on the world. Roberto, Cristobal, Palman, and Ashur all have roles, along with Devlin who makes a check of what's going on.

2617 -- DEVLIN'S TEAM #1: DANCER

A 'simple' assignment on the world of Forest has Devlin scrambling for her life and working with two extraordinary men -- Etech Cha Hao Chan and a local young man named Dancer.

2617 -- DEVLIN'S TEAM #2: FAREWELL TO SUMMER

Another easy assignment turns out to be more than Devlin, Cha, or Dancer had expected on world that is closing down before a winter that will last for centuries arrives.

2618 -- DEVLIN'S TEAM #3: MEDUSAN MUTATION

A devastating 'plague' has struck the oldest colony out of the Earth system, and Devlin must find an answer to stop the spread to other worlds. Keri is sent in to work with her. Marsit is introduced in this book.

2619 -- OF MONSTERS AND NIGHTMARES (Novella)

Included in this book (The Aldebaran Stopover), the story of a kidnapping case that Keri goes to handle on his own.

2620 -- DEVLIN'S TEAM #4: MISSING PERSONS

Cha, one of the IWC Science Board's top scientists, is the bait to lure out whoever is kidnapping scientists and their families on the world of Astrakhan.

2620 -- DEVLIN'S TEAM #5: ALDEBARAN STOPOVER

And in this book, everyone mentioned in the previous works come together!

Chapter One

Devlin wanted off Astrakhan before anything else went wrong. She feared if they didn't act quickly, they would be dragged back into this mess, and then Devlin would have to deal with things she could not face with any professionalism now.

Captain Danis of the Mayfair met Devlin, Cha, Dancer, and Keri at the bay door, looking around the busy port with some worry. She was a short, compact woman with dark skin and darker hair that she wore in braids that ended in gold rings. She kohled her eyes and darkened her lips, giving her a somewhat sinister look, especially when her brown eyes narrowed.

I don't take passengers normally, she admitted, the same words she'd said when Devlin had contacted to her just a couple of hours before. The exorbitant number of credits offered had seemed to win her over, but now she looked uneasy again. I don't know if you really want to go with me.

Devlin could see the four pieces of luggage they'd sent ahead just inside the bay door, not taken farther into the ship yet. The captain of the Mayfair clearly wanted Devlin to change her minds about taking the puddle-jumper, but Devlin had paid a lot of money to make sure she wouldn't easily turn them away. Doubt showed in the woman's face, though. Time to add another reason to take them in, and soon.

Do you want off this world before the martial law hits or not? Devlin asked. She hadn't slept much lately and felt more than slightly annoyed at the delay. She wanted to be done with this mess. This Captain and her attitude began to make Devlin --

Uneasy, to be honest. Hell. Was there a reason she and her companions shouldn't be traveling on this ship? Devlin had only done a quick check. This ship had only recently come in --

Keri? she said, looking at the one person who might be able to give her an answer.

Keri looked tired, too. He shrugged at Devlin's unasked question. We can go with her, he said.

The woman looked Keri's way, frowning, but Devlin didn't give her time to think about the exchange. She was also not going to give up this chance to get off this damned world.

We will leave your ship at your next stop. That's Carstairs, and only five days away. After that, you don't see us again. You get paid well, and you get off this world before the IWC doesn't let anyone off.

I only have your word that is going to happen, you know.

Devlin started to get really, really annoyed, but Cha's hand on her arm calmed her. She looked into the woman's face and decided to get straight to the point. Are you a gun runner?

No!

Slaver?

Absolutely not! the woman said with an angry shake of her head.

So, it was likely some other kind of contraband. The local drugs? Oh, now that might annoy her and be a reason not to go aboard. They'd end up taking over the ship, and piracy was not something she wanted to attempt. Damn --

We should get aboard, Devlin, Keri said softly.

That was his way of saying this wasn't the drugs then. And saying, in fact, that it was safe for them to go aboard. Devlin glanced back at the city and snarled in anger just to see it still at her back. This puddle-jumper was their best way off the world. Devlin had done her best to find the most trustworthy of the few craft still left in port -- most everything large enough to send shuttles down had already gone. Besides, with the larger ships, they wouldn't know if they were safe until Keri boarded, and that would be too late to back out.

He said they could trust this one.

Devlin looked at the woman who still stood in the way.

I don't care what kind of black-market goods you are dealing in, she straight out said and watched the woman shift from one foot to the other, but not reach for that blade in her belt. I don't care what you do on the rest of your runs. It's not my job to come after you. Maybe it will be at another time, but not this trip. I want off this damned world and so do you.

But --

The Captain stopped and looked towards the port tower where the doors had opened, and streams of tan uniformed port guards suddenly began streaming out.

The woman looked at Devlin again. You really mean it. Martial Law. Damn! Let's go.

Devlin gave a nod of agreement and relief. She waved her three companions in ahead of her. Dancer looked as though he really needed to sit down soon. Keri wasn't any better, but that was likely because Keri walked with Dancer. Cha just herded them ahead of him. They grabbed at the luggage, letting Dancer take the smaller one.

Devlin and Captain Danis stood at the open airlock door for a moment longer and stared out at the port grounds.

This looks like a damn mess on top of the other trouble they've had here. Two of my crew aren't back, Captain Danis said. Then she shrugged. I told them to get their asses back here right now. They decided not to. Their loss. I assume I won't be charged with abandoning crew?

I'll make certain it doesn't happen.

She looked at Devlin, her eyes narrowed again, but then she waved to the interior. Let's go.

The bay was not particularly full, though what was there was neatly packed and the area clean. That was a good sign about the ship in general. Devlin wondered if she shouldn't have waited for something she could get more info on and less likely to be working outside the law.

There hadn't been a lot of choices left.

Which made her wonder why Danis had still been on the world.

I hope I have not ... upset your work too much.

Danis cast her a quick, measured look. Then she shrugged. Nothing was going to come of this trip anyway, giving that the IWC Whites are taking over. You are probably saving me from something rather difficult, in fact.

Devlin gave a little grin. I am a high-ranking Inner World Council Security agent.

Shit.

I still don't give a damn why you are here. I have just been involved in a horrific case of slavery and mind control that involved some local IWC Whites and the OWMS. You are not, I hope, a member in good standing of the Old World Morals Society?

The woman gave a barking little laugh. No, I can guarantee that's not a problem you'll have with me.

Then we're fine. Your next stop is only a few days away. My friends and I will find a passage heading earth-ward from there.

Fair enough. And thank you. I think you really are getting me out of a mess.

Devlin nodded and felt herself starting to relax a bit.

You really are IWCS? the woman asked, still looking troubled at the idea.

One of the top five agents.

Ah. Oh.

Let's get off this damned world before I am tempted to go back out and take over.

And that is not a joke.

Not much of one, I'm afraid.

Ah. Oh.

They walked the rest of the way across the ship's bay in silence. There were not many crates. Whatever this woman carried, it sold dear. And Devlin really, seriously, didn't give a damn.

They went up to the control deck, following a narrow, curving hall that worked its way from lower bay to upper command center. No lifts on this one, though some puddle-jumpers had them. Many of the smaller ships -- the ones small enough to land on a planet -- had this kind of configuration, though. Danis and Devlin didn't take long to reach the command center where a young man and another woman of indeterminate age sat at the controls. Keri, Dancer, and Cha had made it this far and stood at the side of the room. Keri gave her a go-ahead nod. Good.

We're leaving, Captain Danis said.

What about Bob and Selvon? a woman asked. She eyed the four strangers with as much distrust as her captain.

They were told to get back three hours ago when I realized we would be leaving. They aren't here. I assume you noted the trouble heading out of the port?

Yeah, the younger man said. He didn't look nervous at all. More bothered. What the hell is going on?

The world is about to get hit by a big case of Martial Law. We're going before we get held up, too.

Damn. We'll never get clearance --

I'll get us clearance, Devlin said. The young man gave her a measuring look. This was someone to keep an eye on, she thought. I'll need to use your comm.

Captain Danis nodded. The other two looked like they were going to argue, but some signal -- Devlin didn't see it -- backed them both off and quickly. Well. She went to the comm equipment while the man there gave up the seat. Devlin typed in a personal code that went straight to the port center.

I want clearance, and I want it now, she said to the third person who had come to deal with her. She was running out of patience.

We cannot just --

Please hold on a moment. She put that one on hold and keyed in another link. Time to stop playing games.

A face appeared on the screen. Devlin heard the others give a slight sound of shock, almost all of them as one. Fabroni was only slightly less known than his immediate boss, President Pellin.

Devlin? Fabroni asked. He looked worried.

"Fabroni, I want clearance off this world immediately, or I swear I am going to come back and take over, and no one is going to be happy if that happens."

Hold on.

She heard Danis give a little bark of laughter and looked to see her sitting at the pilot's computer station. Something popped up on that screen. There it is. We have clearance, Danis confirmed and still sounded more amused than surprised.

Thank you, Fabroni.

Oh, any time. He sounded harassed. I want you away from here.

We're going. It's all yours now. She shut him down and went to the poor harassed person on the other line. I believe I have my clearance now. Thank you.

Yes ma'am, the man said and sounded half-panicked himself. His head bobbed several times as though he were bowing to royalty. We've cleared all lines, and you can leave as soon as you like. We'll hold everything else until you are gone.

Thank you.

She shut down that line and leaned back for a moment, looking at Danis. I suggest we leave quickly.

Yes, Danis agreed. She waved a hand at the comm. I'm already picking up news that there's trouble out on the streets. I'm closing down the bay. We'll lift in ten minutes.

No one argued.

Devlin moved off to take a seat by the wall. Cha settled by her while Dancer and Keri took the other spot a few steps away. She glanced at them, marveling again at what an exceptional job both had done in this damned stupid case -- the one she had messed up so badly.

She did wonder, though, if grabbing this ship out had been the wisest thing she'd ever done. Something was going on here, but Keri didn't seem to think whatever the crew dealt with was severe enough to worry over. Fine. She didn't dare wait for another ship anyway, or else she was bound to get involved again. It was the nature of her work and part of her still wanted to make things right.

She'd leave that to someone else this time. They were going on this ship.

Now or never, she thought.

Danis warned that they were lifting.

And they did. Going. Devlin watched the screens as Astrakhan finally slid away below them.

About damned time we were off that world, Cha said.

Chapter Two

Danis took them to a small single room. It had been the lost crew's rooms, and she'd quickly cleared out their few belongings to put into storage. She didn't seem particularly worried about losing them. Two of the bunks were already turned down from the wall, but two others showed pushed into the lock position. It was a small room, but good enough for them.

Danis also didn't introduce Devlin and her companions to anyone else on the ship. Fine. Devlin didn't care. She went over to the wall and pulled out one of the four beds in the room and sat down, too weary to care what went on outside the door once it closed.

Only that wasn't true, of course. It was both Devlin's nature and her job to wonder about what the crew might be hiding and if she would have to step in at some point. Devlin didn't want to take those actions. Now that they'd managed to get away from Astrakhan, she only wanted to rest.

Keri crossed to the desk in the corner and tapped the screen and then tapped his ear. Devlin grinned, a little more intrigued. So, they were listening in, were they? Did she want to be blatant about this, or subtle? Hell, she hadn't been subtle so far, so why start now? Besides, it might be wise to let the crew know that they were not easily tricked.

I am a top IWCS agent, and these three are my team, she said aloud. I still don't give a damn what you're doing on this ship as long as it isn't hurting others. I think not. Nonetheless, you aren't going to listen in.

She went over to the computer, typed in a code, checked, and nodded.

Well? she said finally turning to Keri.

He had already crossed to the bed where Dancer had settled, both looking worn but relaxed for the first time in days. Devlin had been so focused on getting them off-world that she really hadn't even considered if Dancer was up to the journey. Cha would have stopped her if he had thought it wise, so that was something else she didn't have to worry about now.

She waited on Keri. He frowned slightly, and that worried Devlin again, now that they were up and there was no way off the ship.

I've just never made that kind of decision before, Keri admitted with a little wave of his hand. Not for all of us. I had to decide if these people were dangerous, and they aren't, Devlin. They're worried about you and the rest of us, of course, but --

What are they into? she asked, wondering why he kept dancing around that part.

Mostly jewels, he said, which took her by surprise. Nothing wrong with jewels. Ones that did not originally belong to them. Many come from Earth -- some of the sort of things the Earth Antiquities Board would have fits over if they knew they were off world and being sold by --

He stopped and gave a little shrug.

"Being sold by the damned colonists, Cha finished. He snarled, but Devlin knew it wasn't about the crew. I've had to deal with the EAB in the past, and their current director is the worst of the lot. They got their hands on some jewels?"

They've made a career out of collecting jewels, gems, gold, and a few small statues. They have a very elite clientele, and that made the captain nervous with an IWCS team on board. Danis really thought you were coming after her, you know. It wasn't until Fabroni pretty much kicked us off world that she realized you were legit -- but maybe too dangerous for a passenger.

They were going to make a sale here?

Several, most likely. Aldebaran is a perfect world for this sort of dealing, you know. The wild world out on the edge. However, the captain figures she can come back when things settle down, and better to be off to somewhere else for a few sales rather than sticking around here and risking the IWC suddenly deciding to check through her ship and maybe stumbling across something.

Sounds like a wise woman, Devlin decided. She took the other bed and patted the mattress for Cha to join her. He smiled and sat by her with a sigh of relief.

How do they get their items? Dancer asked. Do they take it from earth? Wouldn't that be hard?

Very hard, Cha said. But it is done.

Not by Danis and her group, though, Keri said. They pick up stuff that they find on other worlds. There is often stuff at markets that people don't even realize is worth anything. She also makes private buys from destitute families who have items that left Earth generations ago.

So, she's mostly legal, Devlin said. She doesn't steal, just sells items the Earth Antiquities Board wants. They should be out hunting for this stuff themselves, then. That's fine. We'll not worry about her. We are going to rest today.

They didn't even go out to find food until the next day.

Dancer had nightmares that night. Keri, who had been in a bed of his own laid down with his friend instead and calmed him. Cha checked him out.

Fever, but not a surprise, Cha said softly when he crossed back to his bed. I gave him something to help him sleep a bit better tonight. Let me know if the fever gets worse, Keri.

I will, he said softly, pulling Dancer into his arms.

Devlin watched them for a moment and glanced at Cha, thinking it would be nice to have his arms around her. But ... no. They were not ready yet. The time in the cells alone, the entire mess they had walked into afterward -- no. Devlin felt as though a wall still stood between them, and she feared she had put it there. She would not let it stay. She just needed to leave Astrakhan behind, first.

She went back to sleep, alone.

The next day they finally wandered out, all four of them heading up to the Crew's lounge where they made some tea and soup. Danis soon joined them. She looked less nervous, at least.

About a quarter of the way to the next stop, she said. I can't say the four of you look any better than you did when you came aboard. And a nice trick with the computer, by the way.

Sorry about that, but I just have to be careful, Devlin replied. She got five cups and a pot of tea and came back to the table. And I do apologize if we have unsettled things for you.

We'll survive it, Danis said and seemed to be more at ease. The rest of the crew are not happy, but they'll get over it.

Once we're gone, Cha said.

She did give a quick smile and a nod. But it is easy money. You do pay well. And I am kind of assuming that you might not have had to pay at all if you didn't want to.

Oh, I could have ordered one of the IWC White's ships to take us off-world, Devlin said. She did not look at Keri. "But there are complications. And they get so