FREELANCERS

By Larry Payne

When Quentin Magnus and his Freelancers are hired to retrieve the kidnapped wife of Owen Clayton from the criminal organization Black Fist, it seemed like a simple find and snatch. Then the notorious bounty hunter, Mondo Kai, seized control of Black Fist and hijacked a Galactic warship.
The simple find and snatch quickly evolves when the Commander of the Galactic Navy enlists the aid of the Freelancers for a find at all cost search with the fate of the Galaxy in the balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Apr 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9783736885912

Book preview

Chapter 1

Sando Pandel slapped his neck as he trudged along the winding trail of the hot, humid jungle on the planet Targus. 

Damn bugs, he complained, looking at the red spot in the middle of his palm that was once a skeeto bug. I could be in a cantina with a cool drink and a beautiful female on some exotic planet He adjusted the backpack straps cutting into his shoulders.

Quit complaining, responded the gravelly, baritone voice behind him.

The big man trailing Sando stood a shade under seven feet tall. He wore an open vest over his chiseled torso and massive arms. Black pants, stuffed into knee high black boots, hid his equally massive legs. A holstered blaster pistol was buckled around his waist with a bandolier of power cells hanging diagonally across his chest. The low, dense jungle canopy caused him to walk with a forward lean. I thought you liked adventure.

Sando grimaced and slapped his neck again. My idea of adventure doesn’t include being eaten alive by bugs in the jungle of some God forsaken planet.

The big man shook his head and smiled. His shoulder length hair hid a badly scarred face that turned the smile breaking across his face into a sinister sneer.

If I never came back to this bug infested hell hole, it would be too soon, said Sando, dispensing of another skeeto bug.

Rays of sunshine sneaked through the thinning canopy as they approached the clearing ahead. The big man’s light tug on Sando’s arm stopped him before they emerged from the cover of the jungle.

A fenced compound, patrolled by two sentries, stood in the middle of the clearing ahead Starcraft, including a number of starfighters, dotted the area around the compound. A flourishing tent city resided inside the fence line.

Quite a layout, said Sando, looking around the clearing. But why didn’t we fly in here instead of hiking through a bug infested jungle?

That’s the way Brietta wanted it, said the big man.

Since when did you start letting people dictate to you how you move around?

Curiosity, my friend, curiosity. Besides, you needed some exercise. Now, let’s go see what our friend wants.

The two companions emerged from the cover of the jungle and strode across the clearing. The two sentries, meeting at the near corner of the compound, waited for the approaching strangers.

That’s far enough, warned the younger of the two sentries. Both leveled their blaster rifles at the new arrivals.

We’re here to see Raxlon Brietta, said Sando, making it a point to keep his hands clear of his belted blaster.

And who might you be? asked the young sentry.

I’m Sando Pandel and the big guy here is Mondo Kai.

Do tell and how do I know that?

Kai stepped from behind Sando and slowly approached the sentry, stopping when the barrel of the young man’s rifle pressed into his stomach. The sentry began blinking rapidly as sweat ran down his face and into his eyes. The big man stared down at him for a moment, then leaned forward.

Look, he growled, we’ve been walking all day through this hot, humid, bug infested jungle and I’m tired. When I get tired, I get irritable. When I get irritable, I get very, very nasty and you wouldn’t like me when I’m nasty. So, just let us pass through and we’ll all live happily ever after.

The young sentry’s wide eyes stared through the veil of long hair into Kai’s scarred face and cold stare.

Luka, let them pass, urged the second sentry. The young sentry’s gaze never wavered from Kai’s trance like stare. Luka!

Luka swallowed hard, lowered his rifle and stepped aside, allowing the big man and his companion to file past him. Kai nodded to the guard holding the gate open as he stepped into the compound ahead of Sando.

Chapter 2

Activity outside the tents that lined the high chain link fence ceased when Kai and Sando strode down the center of the compound.

There’s a fortune in bounties living in this place, said Sando, recognizing a number of the humans and aliens that were standing outside the tents watching them as they passed.

They approached the far end of the compound where two houses appeared out of place among the tents and wooden shacks. A guard, armed with a holstered blaster, pulled his feet from the porch railing of the larger house and rose from his chair. He positioned himself in front of the house entrance and leaned back against the door, folding his arms across his chest. Afternoon, what can I do for you?

Kai and Sando stopped before they stepped up on the porch. The big man couldn’t remember seeing the young face on any of his bounty posters. We’re here to see Raxlon Brietta.

The guard straightened up and reached behind him to crack open the door, keeping watch on the two strangers out of the corner of his eye.

You expecting visitors, Mister Brietta? A voice answered him from inside the house and the young man pushed the door open. After you.

The two companions stepped up on the porch and the guard waved them through the door. He followed them in and closed the door, positioning himself in front of it.

Welcome, Gentlemen, said Raxlon Brietta from a chair in front of the dormant fireplace. Come, sit down. It’s not much, but it’s home.

Sando stopped inside the door and took a spot next to the young guard. Kai continued on into the room. Not wanting to restrict access to his blaster, he stopped at the fireplace and rested his arm on the mantle. I’ll stand.

Suit yourself, said Brietta, shrugging his shoulders.

So, what’s this all about? asked Kai.

Brietta rose from his chair, his bright colored robe flowing around him, and stepped over to the window. He lifted a large yellow snake from a glass case, carried the reptile back to his chair and set it in his lap when he sat down.

This is my friend, Lucious, he said, and we have a proposal for you.

Kai watched the big yellow snake slither up Brietta’s right arm and come to rest across his shoulders. Lucious lifted his head and waved his forked tongue at the bounty hunter.

I’m listening, said Kai.

Up until now, said Brietta, my little organization, if you will, has operated on a strictly planetary basis and has made me a lot of credits. But, now I need to widen my base. There is so much more to make by going galactic. But, I need someone who knows where to go and what people to see to make that happen. That’s where you come in. In your travels, I’m sure you’ve come across many of those people. You’ll get a healthy cut of whatever we make.

Kai stood silent at the fireplace looking at the smug smile on Brietta’s face. After a moment, he looked over at Sando and then back at Brietta.

We have a couple of problems here, said Kai.

If it’s credits… started Brietta.

The big man shook his head and waved his hand. It’s more than that. First of all, I don’t work for anybody. I work for myself. Second, this little organization, as you put it, isn’t going anywhere with you running this group of small time petty criminals you’ve assembled.

Sensing trouble brewing, the guard at the door reached for his blaster, but Sando grabbed the guard’s wrist and pulled his own blaster, sticking it in the young man’s ribs.

I wouldn’t, he whispered, relieving the guard of his weapon.

Third, continued Kai, I personally know that the people you need won’t have anything to do with a small time operator like you. Now I, on the other hand, would have no problems dealing with these people if I was running this outfit. Do you catch my drift?

Brietta started to bolt from his chair,