S2, 22 Getting To Know You (FB) (February 7, 2016)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**28th March 2094**

**Iapra...**

The wind whipped my hair across my face and then blew it back, tugging on my scalp. With one hand I carried a bag full of fresh fruit that I’d just bought at the market and with the other, I clutched my bandanna closer to my face to stop the wind tearing it away.

The sandstorm had picked up just after I’d left town. I didn’t think it had been that bad at first so had decided to push on and come back to the cave rather than turn back and wait it out in one of the shops, but then about halfway home it had gotten worse and now I felt like I was being flayed alive.

I was thankful when out of the sandy blizzard appeared the mound under which our cave was situated.

Just a minute or so later and I was pushing open the door to the cave and staggering inside out of the wind and whipping sand. I forced it shut behind me and it was at that point that I realised I wasn’t alone in the cave.

I pulled down my bandanna and looked over to where Jarred was seated at the table, along with Ghartic and another alien I didn’t know, all looking at what appeared to be a hand-drawn map that was spread out between them, along with several photos.

Frowning, but not saying a word, I took off my hat, setting it aside and placed the sack of fruit on the workbench next to some of my half-assembled scrap parts, all the time casually listening in to their conversation.

Ghartic: “But if we go in from the East, the guard towers are less likely to spot us.”

The alien clicked and garbled a reply in his native tongue. I didn’t understand a word of it but Ghartic clearly did.

Ghartic: “Yeah, but the North gates are more heavily fortified. The East is where it’s got to be, I’m telling you.”

Once again, the alien replied in his own language.

Ghartic: “But stealth is our best bet. Remember what that guard told us! If we go in guns blazing, they’ll seal the mines off straight away and lock down the cargo depot. We’ll get nothing!”

Jarred: “So we take the middle road.” he said, speaking up for the first time since I’d gotten in. “Stealth alone won’t work because to avoid detection we’d have to move too slowly and then we’d miss our window. But full on attacking won’t work either, for the reasons you already said. So, we need a distraction.” He announced and it was at this point that I realised that this was a continuation of the interrogation I’d seen Jarred performing the other night in the warehouse.

They were going to try and rob the local mine!

Jarred: “Ghartic and I will sneak in through the West gates. When we’re in position, Kal-xo, you and four men attack the North gate, giving us a distraction. They’ll lock everything down but by that point we’ll already be inside and that will give us our chance to steal the shipment and then we can open it up again from inside. Easy.”

Ghartic: “Well, if you’re sure.”

Jarred: “It’ll work. We’ll escape with the shipment, then we can sell it on and we’ll be rich! We’ll have enough money to hire more men and then we’ll be able to take the rest of the mine! Soon, we’ll own the whole damn planet!” he grinned and casually embedded the black knife he’d been toying with into the map.

Once again, I felt my heart sink, feeling betrayed. He’d not done anything against me, but for some reason I took his slipping further and further into criminality personally.

**1st November 2095: Present Day**

**Qoter...**

Reporter: “…but surely General Corvin understands that an affirmed truce would mean an era of peace? Think of everything that could be achieved without the system being at war with itself!”

Minister Toed: “The General is sticking to his beliefs, to the goals that we, as a free nation, sill strive for and he is not going to back down.”

I was sat on my sofa, watching the news with interest, as the reporter conducted a live interview with an Aurelian Minister. Apparently, the peace talks between the Aurellians and the Imperium weren’t going all that well – unsurprisingly. But what *was* surprising was that Aurelia seemed divided over the matter. According to the news, if that could be believed, the Aurelian council were pushing for peace with the Imperium while Corvin, the nation’s founder, was arguing for them to continue the war.

Reporter: “But, although Corvin is Aurelia’s founder, he is only one member of the council, correct?”

Minister Toed: “That is correct, but…”

Reporter: “So, surely when it comes to the vote, it will be a case of a ruling majority?”

Minister Toed: “Well, yes, but General Corvin still holds a great amount of influence in Aurelia. Most still look to him as their leader, rather than the councillors. So when it comes to voting, the General has the backing of at least half of the nation.”

Reporter: “Minister Toed, thank you for your time.”

As the news moved onto another subject, my comlink began bleeping and I flicked it on. To my surprise, it wasn’t Mr. Grey! Instead, Governor Boan’s image fizzled into appearance.

Gov. Boan: “Good morning, Tank. How are you?” he greeted.

Tank: “Good morning, Governor. I’m well, thank you. Is there anything I can help you with?”

Gov. Boan: “Oh, please; just call me Judas.” He smiled. “But as a matter of fact, I think there might be something you can help me with. Are you free this afternoon?”

Tank: “Um, yes, I am. Why?”

Boan: “I may have a job for you. Would you mind dropping by my office so we can discuss it in person?”

Tank: “Of course!”

Boan: “Excellent. Shall we say, 2’oclock, then?”

Tank: “I’ll be there.”

Boan: “Good. I’ll see you later then.”

He smiled again and then the hologram vanished.

**Later that day…**

Just before our arranged meeting time, I piloted *The Viper* over to the senate building and set it down in one of the hanger bays. I left Tracks back home… I was still getting used to saying that. Home. It’d been so long since I’d had a home, it still felt strange to say the word. But anyway… I’d left Tracks back home in the apartment, seeing as how I wasn’t expecting any trouble and if there was any, there was plenty of security around the senate.

However, as I very slowly made my way through the building, I wished that I’d got him with me, because the senate security were the ones causing me the problems! Pretty much every guard I passed stopped me and demanded to know where I was going. Without any sort of ID or security clearance though, they had to contact the Governor’s office every time and somebody there had to assure them that, yes, I was really going for a meeting with the Governor!

When I eventually made it to the Governor’s office, a good half an hour after we’d agreed to meet, Boan was waiting for me.

Boan: “Oh, Tank, I’m so sorry!” he apologised, leaping up from behind his desk and coming over to greet me in the doorway. “I should have thought about the security and everything!”

Tank: “It’s okay, honestly.” I replied truthfully. It had been a bit of a pain, but other than that I wasn’t sure why he was making such a big thing out of it!

Boan: “Well, I apologise all the same. I still haven’t quite gotten the hang of being Governor yet! I used to simply arrange a meeting and that would be that! Anyway, I’ll have Riley make you up a security pass so that you can come and go with ease next time.” He informed me as he guided me into the room.

Tank: “Thank you!” Okay, so he was effectively giving me free run of the senate building! Sweet!

Boan: “You’re more than welcome. Please.” He indicated to one of the chairs on the opposite side of the desk to his own comfy desk chair. I sat and he sat in his and after moving a few sheets of paper aside, turned his attention back to me.

Boan: “Firstly, I’d like to thank you again, Tank. I know I’ve said it before and I know I’ve rewarded you, but all the same, thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You saved my life. And that…. Well that means literally everything to me. I don’t take a single day for granted any more. Knowing that there are those out there who would wish harm on me and that next time, I may not be so lucky as to have somebody like you there to save me. So, thank you. Once again.” He said with sincerity.

Tank: “Governor, I…”

Boan: “Judas, please.”

Tank: “Oh yes, sorry. Judas, I simply did what all of your guards would do. What any decent person would do, in fact.”

Judas: “Although we seem to be in short supply of those these days.”

Tank: “Yeah. And if anything, I should be the one thanking you! I was merely doing my job and you rewarded me with an apartment! A home! I haven’t had a home for…” I quickly did the math in my head. “10 years. A decade! But now I have a place that I can return to every night and relax in. It’s something that everybody deserves, but something that’s taken for granted unless you’re the one without it.”

Judas: “Indeed. Well then, let’s just agree we are thankful of each other. *For* each other.” He smiled and I couldn’t help but smile back and nod in agreement.

Riley: “Judas, Mary says that she’s got Major McCarthy on one line and Minister Sopec on another, both waiting to speak to you.” Riley, Judas’s secretary announced as she entered, looking at a datapad in her hand. She looked up. “Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you had company.” She apologised, noticing me.

Judas: “That’s alright, Riley. Last minute appointment.” He explained.
She caught my eye and we held eye contact for a couple of seconds. Not long, but enough to make me smile without even realising it. A flicker of something crossed her face, but I couldn’t read what it was.

It took me a few more seconds to realise that she was having a full conversation with the Governor and I hadn’t been paying a word of attention to it, but by the time I’d mentally gotten focus, they’d virtually finished their discussion.

Judas: “…and I’ll contact the Ellisters first thing tomorrow.”

Riley: “Very good.” She nodded as Judas handed a couple of data cards to her. She nodded once again to him and then smiled politely at me, before leaving the two of us alone again.

Judas: “Sorry about that. Being Governor means that I don’t get a lot of private time!”

Tank: “No, that’s quite alright!” I assured, dragging my eyes and my attention away from the doorway through which Riley had just left, and returning them to Judas.

Judas: “And it’s especially busy at the moment because, now that we are at peace with The Collective, we are adopting their galaxy numbering system. As I’m sure you’ll have heard on the news, according to them, we are not the only inhabited system in the Universe; there are many more out there. Apparently, we are System 54.”

Tank: “Sounds complicated.”

Judas: “It’s pretty simple really, but it will get some getting used to. Now, anyway, to business.”

Tank: “Yes.” I agreed, adjusting myself in the chair.

Judas: “You mentioned that when you saved my life you were ‘just doing your job’. What exactly is it that you do? I remember when you were last here, you said that you worked for information and I didn’t press you further for details and I won't do now, but I’m intrigued as to how you spend your time. What your expertise are.”

I thought carefully about what I was going to say before replying, so as not to incriminate myself or make it blatantly obvious that I am an escaped convict.

Tank: “I’m an odd jobs man. I do a bit of this and a bit of that. Taking work where I can find it really, although as you rightly remember, my usual employer pays me with information. Information that I sorely need.”

Judas: “That still sounds like blackmail to me, but I won’t press you for the details. I owe you that at the very least. So, do you have a particular skills set?”

Tank: “Um, no, not really.” I replied honestly. “I’m good with mechanics. I’ve always made things. I love scraps of metal. Gears and engines. That sort of thing. My best friend is a droid I created just last year in fact. He’s made completely from scrap.”

Judas: “Wow!” he grinned, genuinely impressed. “I’d love to see him, he sounds awesome!”

Tank: “He is.” I couldn’t help but grin. “I’ll bring him along next time I come to see you.”

Judas: “Yes, please do!”

Tank: “Uh, but other than that, no, I’d say my skills are pretty ordinary.”

Judas: “I see. Well, as I said when I called you this morning, I have a job that needs doing and I think you’d be perfect for it. I have a suspicion, which you don’t have to confirm or deny, that you’re rather down-playing your abilities.”
He was right of course. I hadn’t told him that I could shoot or that I was adept at breaking and entering or any of the other felonies that I’d committed while working for the Brain.

Judas: “Now, usually, as you’d imagine, I’d go to a professional to do this for me, except…” and now he lowered his voice, which intrigued me. “I’d rather like this doing off the books. What I need doing isn’t exactly legal. In fact, it’s completely *not* legal, so I’d like to keep it a secret, and I think that you’re just the sort of man for the job. Am I right?”

This surprised me quite a bit. The man running the most populated man in the system asking me, of all people, to commit a crime for him. But then, as I thought about that, it didn’t seem that odd at all. In fact, I felt a little let down that he wasn’t as different from all of the other politicians as I’d thought he was.

However, my thoughts must have showed on my face because he quickly continued.

Judas: “Oh no, please don’t think badly of me. It’s nothing soul-destroying. I’m not going to ask you to kill anyone or anything like that. No, please, let me explain.” He assured. “Recently I’ve had my suspicions that a certain high-ranking member of the party, who shall until you accept the job remain nameless, has been spending Government money on personal items. His accounts haven’t been adding up properly, however, he claims it is simply a clerical error. But it’s been happening too frequently for it to repeatedly be a mistake.”

Tank: “So, you want me to find out?” I asked, checking to make sure I’d got the right end of the stick.

Judas: “Exactly! I’m almost certain of what he’s doing, I just need proof so that I can call him up on it.”

I gave it a quick think but there didn’t seem to be that much too it. I’d simply have to get into the man in question’s home, take a look around for anything expensive, photograph it and then bring the evidence back to Judas. Straight-forward really.

Tank: “Okay. Yeah, okay, I’ll do it for you. It shouldn’t be too hard.” I nodded in confirmation.

Judas: “Oh, thank you so much! Here.” He slid a data card across the desk to me. “You’ll find his name and address on there, along with his pay grade. So, anything you see that looks like it should be too expensive, take a photo and bring the evidence to me.”

That was already what I’d been planning on doing, but at least I knew we were thinking along the same lines.

Tank: “Sure thing.” I confirmed and dropped the data card into my pocket. “I’ll let you know when I’ve done it and we can go from there.”

Judas: “Excellent. His work schedule for the next two weeks are also on there, so you should be able to get into his place without worrying about finding him in there. Oh, and I’ll make sure Riley adds your com to the list of cleared numbers so that you can call me directly.” He smiled.

Tank: “Okay, thanks.” I smiled in return. “Is there anything else?”

Judas: “No. That was all. Thank you, Tank. I look forward to hearing back from you.”

Tank: “No worries.” I replied as I got up. “I’ll be in touch.” And with that, I left the office.

**Elsewhere…**

Superior #1: “…that is why, after much consideration and deliberation, we have decided to approve your plans.”

Col. Ramson: “Thank you, sir.”

Superior #2: “We believe that code-name ‘Beta Squad’ could prove most useful.”

Superior #3: “Your team will be a trial run. If successful, in the future we could roll the program out system-wide and have numerous teams of prisoners who work for us.”

Col. Ramson: “The beauty of the idea is that, if I can get them working together, a small team working in unison can be much more devastating than a full army. They can sneak into places a legion cannot while also being able to defend themselves and each other.”

Superior #2: “Indeed. In your file you mentioned various ideas for ways in which you could keep them under control. Have you firmed up your method?”

Col. Ramson: “I have. Nerve implants. Each chosen participant will have a nerve package inserted directly into their spine. If they step out of line, all I have to do activate their package and their entire nerve system will go into overload, effectively shutting their body down, which then enables us to retrieve them and bring them back for reconditioning.”

Superior #1: “Excellent. Very well Colonel, we look forward to seeing the progress of you and your team. But remember, you are still on your last warning, Ramson. Do *NOT* fail us again.”

Col. Ramson: “I won’t, sir. I shall work on the roster of potential candidates immediately.”

Superior #3: “Dismissed.”

Col. Ramson: “Sir.” He saluted.

**BONUS IMAGES**

The image used during the episode of *The Viper* flying towards the Senate building is actually a remaster. This is the image that was used in the original episode. At the time, I hadn't decided which building was the Senate building and there were a few early inconsistencies which I will rectify as I re-upload all my episodes here.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE