Bane Sollar walked along in the middle of the crowd working its way through the pedestrian gate at Port Gate Three. His Dragon Within rumbled cautiously as the Star Trader casually glanced around at the large group of spacers, workers, and merchants split into multiple streams as they cleared the gate, some going directly across the busy Spaceport Boulevard for the bars. Others turning towards the long rows of warehouses that lay to the north of the busy port gate. Some continuing up the hill towards the High City and the city’s financial institutions.
Sollar tagged along at the back of a large group that hurried across the street towards the bars and entertainment of the Port District. He wore simple clothes, black military style trousers with large cargo pockets and a dark blue long sleeve jersey against the chilly spring night air blowing off Conborine Bay. He wore soft, crepe soled shoes that he favored when he was in space on the Sollar Star. All were dark colored to let him blend better with the night as he followed along with the crowd until he could turn up a narrow side street into the depths of ‘the gut’, the slang term used by many spacers to describe the unsavory area where they roamed to slake their thirst and other needs. While many spacers wandered the area without any real destination – one place was as good as another for most – Sollar had a definate destination in mind. But he did not go there directly, choosing instead to allow himself to wander about, peering into this bar or the next, as if he was undecided as to where to spend his credits this evening.
Some of the “establishments” had bouncers stationed outside their doors. Their demeanor was friendly enough, their presence telling potential customers that only a certain amount of foolishness would be tolerated here tonight. Others had more friendly attendants; barkers talking a mile a minute as they hawked the benefits of their establishment over others. Sometimes the barkers were accompanied by girls – a majority of the spacers were male – in various costumes designed to further entice the spacers who many had more credits than common sense.
Sollar watched the byplay, pausing from time to time to watch the exchange of comments between the denizens of the Port District and the spacers, as they discussed the merits of such places as the Reactor Room, the Launch Pad, Space Dog’s and a favorite destination of many spacers, the Astro Lounge, which was well known for its nightly fights and brawls. But Sollar did not linger in one place too long. He had plenty of time before he met his contact. Never the less he did not want to get distracted from his task.
In addition to the spacers and others looking for a good time, there seemed to be a larger than usual number of police on the street these nights since the big fire at the terminal. The local Prefecture seemed to be anxious to keep order in the Low City and the Port District in particular. Where he was used to seeing two person teams, there were now three or four officers to each team patrolling the streets. The police seemed to have a lower tolerance for spaceport foolishness than usual. They were quicker to step into an establishment and restore order when the rowdiness started. Usually they stayed outside and did not get involved until the fighting made its way into the street.
Of course Bane Sollar knew what was bothering the police. Particularly the Prefect and his Deputy. In the ten weeks since the fire at the terminal, there had been no clue at all as to the presence of Annie Tolen, the niece of Manchor Tolen, head of the Tolen Star Traders and leader of the T&B teams that were planning to convert the old immigration terminal into a starship repair facility for the busy Conborine Spaceport.
The Tolen and Blom Star Traders were still sifting through the wreckage of the fire. A lot of the debris had been removed and fed to massive mass converter T&B had assembled to handle the melted steel beams and warped plating. It would all be recycled but from what Sollar had heard, T&B had to clear the site before they could start construction. And all of their plans had to be changed as well. The original plan had utilized much of the old terminal, but that was all gone now. Some thought the Star Traders might pull out. But Bane Sollar knew Manchor Tolen would never leave Conborine until his niece was found and returned to him.
Maybe I’ll find a real lead tonight! Sollar thought, Orion rumbling in the back of his mind as he turned into a dark, narrow alley. Up ahead he sighted the yellow light from a small lantern over the large round door came into view. He allowed himself to relax a bit as he approached the door and saw that the lantern light was supplemented by a friendly yellow glow from the shop’s windows. Orion rumbled, a low gutteral growl, as Sollar reached for the simple handle and pulled the old fashioned wooden door open.
There were three couples sitting at the tables under the windows which looked out on a different street than the alley entrance he had used. They glanced at Sollar, their gaze lingering for a moment before returning to their own tea and conversation.
“Good evening friend!” Benouk called out as Sollar approached the counter. “Welcome to Benouk’s!”
Benouk was a short, round human, barely a metron tall. Sollar did not know where his family came from, but he suspected the little man had some Trann heritage in his background. The pastries and goodies that he sold along with his teas were certainly of Trann quality.
He wore simple, brown trousers of a local cut and weave that flowed loosely around his legs. His off-white shirt was cut long and was worn outside his trousers. It was an old, stained thing that at one time might have been white. A dark green apron that hung below his knees was draped over his short body and tied loosely around his expansive waist, festooned with pockets that bulged with all manner of things.
“Hello Benouk.” Sollar said with a grin. “Nice to see you are still open.”
“Bane Sollar!” Benouk said, his voice filled with surprise. “It is good to see you!’’ The tea merchant – and brewer extraordinare – pulled a large metal mug out from under the counter and began placing ingredients around it.
“Tycho?” He suggested, studying the Star Trader.
Sollar nodded,watching carefully as the Tea Master began the complex process of brewing the Tycho Trader Tea. Not many Star Traders were capable of properly brewing the finicky Tycho Trader Tea, much less a NonTrader. But Benouk was a long-standing member of an elite class of coffee and tea merchants of Conborine, veritable wizards when it came to their brews.
“Those who want to know something know how to find something.” Benouk observed as he effortlessly worked the ingredients. “Especially when the Prefect’s Office is in such an uproar.”
Sollar nodded as he watched Benouk, reminding himself that information was a viable commodity in the Low City. That was part of the reason he always enjoyed visiting with the old TeaMaster. His shop was a favorite for the more discrete of Conborine’s Traders, which made Benouk one of the best informed merchants in all of the Low City.
“Yeah,” Sollar said as he watched the gently boiling water suddenly turn a bright shade of blue, darkening a moment later to a deeper indigo. A small cloud of vapor arose from the tea filling the air with its spicy, cinnamon aroma. Benouk smiled and handed the mug to Sollar, who lifted it to his nose to enjoy that special aroma of home. “A lot of cops patrolling the gut tonight.”
“Well, can you blame them?” Benouk offered as he finished the tea and passed the mug to Sollar. “It’s been what – eight, nine weeks since the fire?”
“Ten.” Sollar said as he held the mug with both hands, raising it to his lips for a first tentative sip. The Tycho Trader was perfect. With a sigh, he took another sip and closed his eyes.
The old Tea Master sat his own battered mug on the bar and poured some of the Trader for himself. He stared at Sollar for a minute and then continued in a more subdued voice.
“Let me tell you some things I have heard lately,” He began. “There is a woman, her name is Bionsi, Systein Bionsi. Ever heard of her?”
“Can’t say I have.” Sollar said. “What does she do?”
“This is the Low City,” Benno Benouk snorted. “What do you think she does?”
Sollar drank his tea and nodded for the Tea Master to continue.
“She is different from – the others.” Benouk explained. “Came out from the InWorlds a couple of seasons ago. Brought a bunch of girls with her.” The old Tea Master paused. “All expensive, high class.”
Sollar set his tea down and stared at Benouk. “What do you mean expensive?” He said. “Here in the Low City?”
“Not the Low City.” Benouk explained. “Well, maybe on the edge of the Low City you see?”
Sollar thought for a minute and then nodded. “So all her clients are…?”
“From the High City,” Benouk jumped in. “All VIPs. Bankers, politicians. Conborine’s movers and shakers.”
Sollar glanced over as one of the couples rose from their table and headed for the door. Benouk put a big smile on his face and called out to them.
“Thank you, folks!” He said. “Please come again.”
Sollar returned his attention to Benno Benouk. “So what does she have to do with the missing girl?”
Benouk glanced at his other customers and took a big sip of his tea before he answered Sollar.
“I heard she got into trouble with somebody high up.” He finally explained. “Don’t ask me who!” He said forestalling Sollar’s next question. “I don’t know and I am not going to guess. All I heard is that she was in trouble with someone who backs her place financially and was being blackmailed to help some others.”
“What others?” Sollar quietly asked, his Dragon Within rumbling ominously as he sensed the sudden tension and fear in the Tea Master.
“Some Reska Star Traders.” Benouk finally said. “Her place has been closed for some time now, ostensibly for remodeling. But these Star Traders have been seen coming and going, mostly at night. Since about the time of the fire.”
“Interesting.” Sollar carefully replied as he sipped his tea. Orion growled uneasily as he contemplated the Reska Star Traders being involved in the kidnapping of Annie Tolen. To what end? It did not seem to make any sense. Yet this was the best lead he had heard in some time…
“And Bane?” Benouk said, interruptinghis thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“There’s somebody leading them that looks like a Reska Star Trader but I don’t think he is.”
“What do you mean.” Sollar asked.
“Well, he came in here the other day with a couple of Reska Star Traders.” Benno Benouk asked. “He asked if I could blend an old tea that I have only heard about but never tried to make.”
“What kind of tea?” Sollar asked, not sure what was bothering his old friend.
“Its called Black Dragon.” Benouk said. “Its supposed to be old. As old as Tycho Trader, maybe older.”
“What did you tell him?” Sollar asked as Orion growled in muted anger.
“I told him I did not have the ingredients.” Benouk said. “Nor was I sure of the correct blend.” He paused for a minute and then continued.
“Bane, this guy scared me. He was polite and friendly. But there was a – darkness about him that was frightening. I was shaking with fear by the time he left…”
Sollar nodded, reaching over to place his hand on top of Benouk’s. Clearing his mind, he called to his Dragon Within and sent a surge of dragon magic flowing to his friend. Benouk looked up in surprise and then sighed, as if a heavy load was lifted from his shoulders.
“So you know this – person?” He asked Sollar.
“No, I don’t” Bane Sollar said as his Dragon Within growled. “But I know what he is.”
