THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 1321 words) [9/15] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 08 2016	Views/Reads: 1796/1333	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 2 - CH 9

NINE 

The following day with the Falcon speeding well away from Modas, Kane
reported in to Tyler. 

He was sitting in the Captain's chair as usual and the small Earth
Monitor flickered to life and Tyler appeared. He was his usual 
immaculate arrogant self and was smoking one of his thin, black cigars. 


“So, I hear you had some fun on Modas,” he said, grinning out at them. 

Kane glared at Talis who was pretending to be absorbed in piloting. “We
lost Sinto,” he told him. “Your spy probably told you all about it. We 
buried him back there.” 

Tyler shrugged. “Sinto's no great loss,” he said. “There are still
enough of you left and you're over half-way to the Black Hole.” 

“You're all heart, Tyler,” said Kane. 

“Yes and you're all cloned,” replied Tyler. “So don't forget it. Did the
Ship suffer any damage on Modas?” 

“It took a couple of minor laser hits,” Kane told him. “The Gyro
Stabiliser needs checking out. I'm just going to see Miller about it.” 

“Nothing too serious then. Good.” 

“Talking about the Ship,” Kane went on, “we found out about the Fleet
markings.” 

Tyler grinned. “You had to sooner or later,” he admitted. “All part of
the plan. Now you're just an unmarked Ship travelling in space. Nothing 
can be tracked back to Earth, regardless of what you get involved in.” 

“Bastard,” muttered Kane, glaring at him. “Any more surprises lined up
for us before we get to the Hole?” 

Tyler blew out some cigar smoke. “Nothing you can't handle,” he said.
“Keep me informed. Out.” 

The Monitor went black. 

***** 

“Forty eight, forty nine, fifty thousand!” Miller said, throwing the
last of the notes on the table. He arranged the UniCredits in neat 
piles and grinned at them. “Fifty thousand UniCreds!” he muttered, 
rubbing his hands together. “Thanks Sinto, thanks a lot!” 

Then he remembered something even better. He brought out a small tin
box, opened it and scattered the contents next to the money. Ten small 
blue tablets rolled over the table – the Dreamtabs he'd managed to grab 
in Kol's mansion. 

“Not a bad haul,” he said, surveying his booty. “Wonder if Kane would
mind stopping off at Modas on the way back?” 

He was putting the Dreamtabs back into the small box one by one when he
heard someone coming along the corridor. He rushed the remainder in 
just as there was a knock and his cabin door swished open. The box was 
going into his pocket as Kane strolled in. 

“Could you check out the Gyro...,” he said then stopped as he caught
sight of the money. “Where the hell did that come from?” 

“I...uh...I brought it with me in case we needed it for an emergency,”
Miller replied shiftily. 

“Balls!” said Kane, picking up a bundle. “None of us had a single Credit
when we left Earth. Must be thirty, forty thousand here.” 

“Fifty.” 



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