Page 15 of Galactic Search and Rescue
She stepped back. “Please come out now while we still have power.”
A sharply pretty young man in tall boots and a stylish corporate kilt under a flowing, layered tunic exited first. A substantial utility pouch hung from his low-slung belt, and he wore a gray hard-shell backpack. His flawless white skin spoke of regular body-shop visits.
On his heels came an older-looking, more distinguished executive-type man wearing an expensive, notice-my-success grey suit and an equally expensive cross-slung, overstuffed messenger bag. His carefully waved bright yellow hair matched the hue of his padded collar and his boots. Someone should have told him to avoid that color altogether.
The third person stood half again as tall as either man and wore solid black that clung to chiseled muscles.
Prodded by instinct Taz had learned to listen to, she had her suit scan the open storage unit while she asked their names.
The young-looking, pretty man hesitated, then pointed to himself. “I am Bagutar Po.” His accent hinted at Mandarin as a primary language. He tilted his head toward the others. “She’s Pelvannor. I don’t know him.”
The executive man smiled nervously. “I’m Xolor Stramlo. What are the odds that Mr. Po and his bodyguard would also be in the facility so early? Very lucky,ja?”
It wasn’t Taz’s business that both Po and Stramlo were mixing truth and lies, but it made her want to get out all the faster.
Pelvannor, who wore a heavy-looking utilitarian backpack, watched both men closely, with occasional assessing glances toward Taz and the now-grounded airsled. Her silver eyebrows and very short dusting of silver hair stood out against her cool brown skin. The bodyguard part was likely the truth, considering Taz’s sifter sense told her the woman was a ramper, a minder who could augment her body’s strength and speed using her talent.
Stramlo’s smile faded to a disapproving frown. “What’s that dog doing here?”
Moyo, wearing her official yellow and red GSAR harness and multi-pocketed utility vest, padded toward the men. She unexpectedly swerved and approached Pelvannor. The woman’s watchful expression didn’t change, but Taz saw the subtle outstretch of fingers toward the dog. Moyo saw it, too, and sidled closer.
Rylando appeared in the airsled’s open doorway. “She’s doing her job, checking for people who need help.” He used the determinedly patient tone he reserved for children throwing tantrums.
Taz struggled to keep a smile off her face.
Po sneered. “We’re fine, and will be leav…” His words trailed off as he looked down the hall. “What did you do to the lift?”
Blame-finders like Po weren’t worth arguing with. “Grounded. We can take you up in the airsled.”
“No.” Po turned and reseated the pack on his shoulders. “We’ll take the lift at the other end.”
“That whole end of the building is a no-go,” said Rylando. He pointed a thumb back to the open shaft. “You’re welcome to climb the service ladder if you don’t want to ride with us.” He held out his arm and keyed his percomp. “Just state your names again and tell us for the record you’re refusing our help, and we’ll be on our way.”
After a long moment, Po’s chin jutted out imperiously. “We will ride.” He waved limp fingers toward Stramlo. “Perhaps you should seal your storage unit.”
“My what?” Stramlo blinked. “Oh, yes, of course. Can’t be too careful these days.” He crossed to the wallcomp and entered two codes and a biometric. The door iris closed. “There. All set.” He slapped his hands together like he’d performed a difficult feat of manual labor.
Moyo trotted to the airsled and jumped in.
Rylando’s tone sounded in her earwire. “I need your help rearranging the crates.”
Taz didn’t like leaving her suit with strangers, but the sooner they got it done, the sooner they could leave. She retracted the armor and stepped down.
Stramlo glanced at the clock display on the wall, then frowned and raised his arm to look at the elegant bracelet-style percomp on his wrist. “The display is slow by seven minutes and nineteen seconds.”
Po rolled his eyes as she walked by.
As she approached the airsled, Taz heard Rylando tell his passenger to stand outside for a minute.
The girl stepped down, clutching her coat, shuffling away from the airsled. She peeked warily at the adults from around the edge of her hood.
Taz turned to look and caught surprise and consternation on Stramlo’s face. Po’s nostrils twitched and his jaw tightened.
Stramlo glanced uneasily toward Po, then focused his gaze on his daughter and swallowed. “Jhidelle. I was worried about you.”
A blind mole rat could have seen that he wasn’t in the least pleased to see her.
“Hallo, Vater.” Her subdued greeting to her father sounded very polite. A tiny ginger-colored head with ears big enough to fly with appeared between the lapels of her coat. “I’m sorry I disobeyed you.” Without taking her eyes off her father, she gently coaxed the little animal back inside her coat.
