FINANCIAL FREEDOM
A Tech Infantry Novella
by
Edward Stasheff & Marcus Johnston
Copyright © 2011

 

Chapter 11: Cutthroat Competitor
(click here for galactic map)

 

In the Purrfang spaceport terminal, Heth and M'Rowr floated in a pub, lapping buttermilk and watching Midday Market Report newsvid as they waited for their shuttle to arrive.  Durmach Media was showing a special report on the Fed-Ministry merger—and its effect on the galactic commodities markets.

"And this breaking news just in…"  The fluffy announcer paused, glancing at something off-screen, then turned back to the camera looking slightly stunned.  "The… the Earth Federation has just announced that Aisha Ramirez, former Chief Minister for the Ministry of Public Safety, is dead.  She… she was assassinated just hours after signing the reunification treaty with the Earth Federation."

Heth froze in mid-lap.  M'Rowr's ears shot up in surprise.  The pub's background hum of conversation faded away as K'Nes turned to watch the news report apprehensively, wondering what, if anything, this new development meant for the future of K'Nes Llan.

"Chairman Smythe, meanwhile," the announcer continued, "has denied any and all involvement of the Earth Federation in the assassination."

The holoproj display switched to footage of the Earth Fleet Admiral at another press conference.  The Chairman looked subtly different this time; a little worse for wear, with a shadow of stubble on his face and dark circles around his eyes.  "I assure you, I am just as shocked and disturbed by tragedy as anyone," he pleaded in his crisp accent.  "Whoever is behind this terrible crime has jeopardized the peace and stability of half the galaxy!  Today, I vow to make finding those responsible and bringing them to justice my top priority!"

"After defeating the Holy Terran Empire, of course," Heth murmured.

"Smythe'll have his hands full trying to keep his merger together now, that's for sure," M'Rowr said.  "Scat, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the old Ministry systems try to pull out."

"Nor I," Heth agreed.  "But will Chairman Smythe let them go peacefully?  Or end up with another war on his hands—a civil war?"

"We can hope!"  M'Rowr took another swig of buttermilk.  "The longer the apes fight each other, the longer they'll leave us alone!"

"Or try to drag us into their war," Heth growled, less optimistic.  Still, he thought, an alliance is better than an occupation… and we can always do comparison shopping among the human factions...

"An immediate investigation was launched into the assassination," the announcer reported, "and Ministr… er, Federation officials on Midgar have already apprehended two suspects in the murder."

"Well, that was fast!  Assuming they got the right ones, that is…"  M'Rowr lapped his cream thoughtfully, then continued.  "Y'know, I betcha the Fed might be behind it.  First merge with the Ministry, then knock off their leader.  Leaves Chairman Smythe unopposed as dominant male.  Scat, it's what I'd do.  And it wouldn't be the first time a merger ended that way."

"That's… possible," Heth mused, "but very dangerous.  The assassination will cause Smythe enough trouble even if he's innocent—and if the truth ever got out that he was behind it?  The whole Ministry would definitely secede again.  Probably go to war with the Federation, too, leaving Smythe with a war on two fronts.  Besides, Smythe was already keeping the chairmanship under the terms of their merger—so why take the risk?"

M'Rowr shot Heth a sideways glance.  "Alright, short-hair… who do you think is behind it?"

"The Empire," Heth answered.  "Emperor Vin Dane probably found out about the Fed-Ministry merger and tried to stop it.  Almost did, too—apparently the assassins were just a few hours too late… unfortunately..."

The newscast switched back to the fluffy female announcer.  "On a related note, Durmach Market News brings you coverage of the continuing debate in the K'Nes Llan over the Non-Aggression contract proposed by the Federation, and introduced to the Board of Directors by First Patriarch Varrless."  Both cats at the bar fell into silence, watching with great interest.  "Executive Director Gurrmew K'Laek K'Soth, LEO of Gurrmew & Yeomurt, LLP and a former officer in the K'Nes Tor Navy, opposes the non-aggression contract," the announcer continued.  "Long the most ardent voice on Executive Board for K'Nes rearmament, he claims the contract just offers false security."

The holoproj switched to the bargaining floor of Capital Hall.  Shareholders milled around waving datapads and roaring negotiations.  The Executive Directors stood in a raised central kiosk running down the hall, and at the podium floated a stocky calico in a bright red waistcoat that bore a striking (and deliberate) resemblance to an old Tor Navy uniform.  "Apes have no respect for the sanctity of contracts!" Gurrmew yelled amidst cheers and jeers.  "This so-called 'non-aggression' contract is nothing more than a backdoor to re-occupation by the Federation!  It lulls us into a false sense of security!  We no longer have the big, fleetless Ministry between the K'Nes and our former occupiers!  The Federation is now right across the border—with the biggest fleet in the galaxy!  While we just float here, tempting them with our factories and freighters and finances—and nothing to protect them with!  The K'Nes must rearm, and rearm now!"  His speech was met with both boos and applause, the occasional shareholder bellowing "Here, here!" or "Rubbish!"

The holopoj switched back to the announcer.  "On the other side of the debate, Director Miao K'Nhur K'Yawr, LEO of Miao Mercantile, supports the contract, claiming the K'Nes have nothing to lose by signing it."

Once again the holoproj switched to the bargaining floor, the camera zooming in on the fat black cat in the purple waistcoat and silver jewelry, pointing defiantly up at the Executive Directors in the raised kiosk.  "This debate is pointless!  We've already signed a Non-Aggression contract with the Ministry—and the Federation has agreed to honor it as part of the terms of their merger!  Signing the Federation contract now is just a formality—it changes nothing!  But refusing it is an insult and a challenge, inviting unnecessary ape aggression at a time when the K'Nes can least afford it!"  Yawr turned to face his fellow shareholders.  "Of course we must rearm!  But that will take time!  Now is our chance, while Smythe is busy fighting the Empire—not to mention the pro-Imperial revolt on New Tokyo!  For now, peace with the Federation is more than just a wise investment—it's a matter of survival!"  Yawr's words were met with the usual mixture of boos and applause—but, Heth thought, more cheers than jeers.

The holoproj switched back to the announcer.  "Coming up next, the Terran Republic's recent successful liberation of the Wolf system from the Holy Terran Empire—what does it mean for the galactic economy, and how can the K'Nes profit from it?"

"Tsk, tsk," a voice behind and above them said.  "And here I thought the Miao were supposed to stay out of international politics from now on.  Guess your LEO didn’t heed our warning.  Such a bad kitty…"

Heth recognized the voice in an heartbeat.  His reaction was visceral and uncontrollable.  He spun around, deflating in an instant to land on all fours, back arched, fur bristling, claws out, ears back, and hissed—loudly.  The slim, dark-haired ape in the black business suit looked supremely unimpressed.  "I'd say it's a pleasure to see you again, Heth, but… well, frankly I find lies require too much effort."

M'Rowr deflated, landing between them.  "Hey, calm down!  Heth, what's going on?  Who is this ape?"

"Zechariah McNeilly," Heth hissed.  "The Imperial sales rep who bought the power armor."  He was the one who had sabotaged the suits by infecting them with Horadrim nanobots, sending Heth's career into a tailspin.  It meant McNeilly was almost certainly a Horadrim—and very, very dangerous.

"Oh."  M'Rowr glared at McNeilly through narrowed eyes.  His claws were out now, too.  "That ape."

"You cost me my position, my assets, and my mate, you rat!" Heth growled as he slowly stood.  "Why did you do it, McNeilly?  How did you profit from ruining me?"

"You?" McNeilly sneered, then rolled his eyes.  "That was never about you, you egotist.  My, you're such a typical cat—vain, selfish, and stupid."

Now M'Rowr was growling as well.  "What are you doing here on Purrfang, monkey?" he demanded.

"The Empire has other business associates in the Llan besides the Miao, you know," McNeilly scoffed, then shrugged.  "Besides, my boss won't let me work with humans anymore.  I have a bad habit of killing them."

All at once the pieces fell into place in Heth's mind: he suddenly knew exactly who those "other" K'Nes associates were—and who the empty chair in Varrless's office was for.  Heth swallowed hard, but narrowed his yellow eyes.  "Let me guess, McNeilly—you're here to warn the Miao to stay out of Varrless Financial's way again… right?"

"Oh, no, it's far too late for that."  McNeilly shrugged.  "You were warned, you didn’t listen, and now you pay the price.  But I'm getting ahead of myself."  He took a step forward, towering over the two cats.  "I'm here for a more… personal reason."

Heth's heart was pounding, but he glared back up defiantly at the Horadrim.  "What do you want, McNeilly?" he spat.

"Y'know, a funny thing just happened," McNeilly began casually with an undertone of sarcasm.  "I contacted Miao Mercantile about another smuggling run for the Empire.  Turns out they won't deal with me anymore.  Oh, the Empire, sure—just not me.  Something about breaking a contract, sabotaging merchandise, litigation pending, blah blah blah.  Didn't know what they were talking about at first, let alone they thought I'd wrecked some cargo… but then I remembered."  He leaned down and narrowed his black eyes at Heth.  "You still owe me a suit of power armor, cat.  I'm here to collect my property."

Heth knew exactly what he was talking about—and why he wanted it.  "My property, I believe you mean," Heth retorted.  "According to the settlement agreement, that sixteenth suit is mine!"

"Then I'm changing the agreement," McNeilly said, low and dangerous.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that!" Heth spat.  "You already signed the contract!"

McNeilly sighed and looked bored.  "Is that supposed to mean something?"

Heth growled, and M'Rowr had to push a restraining paw against his cousin's chest.  "Why do you even want that suit?" Heth challenged the Horadrim.  "It's broken, worthless!"

McNeilly merely smiled, smug.  "If it's so worthless, then why are you so determined to keep it?"

"Because I don't deal with CONTRACT-BREAKERS!!"  Heth bellowed the words.

The pub suddenly grew quiet.  All the cats turned to stare at McNeilly.  Twice as tall as any K'Nes, he already stood out on Purrfang—but it was the accusation that drew attention.  For humans, the word "contract" meant words on a page, nothing more.  But in the K'Nes language, the meaning was closer to "oath."  Being an oath-breaker was serious—it meant you had broken the underlying principles that K'Nes society was built on.  You could never be trusted again, especially when money was involved.  And on Purrfang, everything involved money.

The bartender began drumming his claws against the countertop, ears back, eyes narrowed at McNeilly.  He glanced uncomfortably around the pub, then leaned toward Heth.  "You are trying my patience, cat.  I want that suit, and I want it now… or there will be consequences."

"Like what?" Heth shot back.  "You'll kill me?  Here?  Now?  In front of all these witness?"

McNeilly shook his head again.  "It's always about you, isn't it?"  He gave Heth a devilish grin, a little too deep and wide to be human.  "I understand you're trying to get your mate back, Heth… it would be such a tragedy if anything were to happen to that cute little kitty…"

Heth yowled in rage.  He sprang at McNeilly, claws slashing, yellow eyes filled with hate.

"HETH!  NO!"  M'Rowr flung an arm around Heth's waist and slammed him to the floor.  "He'll kill you, cousin!" M'Rowr hissed in a whisper.  "You'll get him, yeah—but not here, not now!  You're a suit, not a soldier!"

He's right, Heth thought.  I'm a merchant—and I need to find a way to flip this situation for a profit.

"Alright, alright," Heth said, calming down.  M'Rowr helped him up.  "Very well, McNeilly, you win," Heth said, dusting off his waistcoat and breeches.  "The power armor for Miu's safety—is that what you're offering?"

"More or less."  McNeilly smirked at Heth, smug and self-confident.  Heth wanted to claw his throat out.

"Very well, then."  Heth reached inside his waistcoat.  McNeilly tensed for a moment, then relaxed when Heth pulled out a datapad, not a pistol.  "You'll understand that I don’t have the armor with me, of course.  I live on Nhur, after all, not Purrfang," Heth explained as his claws clicked over the screen.  It was technically true.  The armor was with Miu now—but he wasn't about to tell McNeilly that.

The Horadrim scowled; apparently, it hadn’t occurred to him that floating cats don't normally lug human power armor around with them.  "Huh.  Well, how soon can you get it to me, then?" he asked. 

"I have a very busy schedule, I'm afraid.  Things to do, places to be, and time is money."  Heth held up his datapad.  "This states that I will return the armor to you at the soonest convenient time and place compatible with my calendar.  I'll contact you at a later date to arrange the transfer."

"Yeah, alright."  McNeilly nodded.  "But make it soon, cat.  I'm not a patient person."

You're not a person at all, Heth thought, you're a monster masquerading as one.  "Understood," Heth continued aloud.  "In exchange, neither you nor your associates will go near Miu or interfere with her company.  Do you agree to abide by these terms?"

"Yeah, sure."  McNeilly didn't even try to hide that fact that he was lying.

"Then it's a deal."  Heth held to datapad out to him.  "Sign."

McNeilly sighed.  "Is that really necessary?"

"Certainly you don't expect me just to tap tails and trust a contract-breaker like yourself, do you?" Heth asked.  "I certainly don't expect you to trust me, for that matter.  You know how K'Nes feel about contracts.  Besides, if the contract says I'll return the armor to you, then you know that I will.  A deal is a deal.  Now sign."

McNeilly rolled his eyes in exasperation.  "Oh, very well!"  He reached down and squeezed the corner of the pad.  There was a muffled click as the pad drew their blood signatures.

"Thank you," Heth said, replacing the datapad inside his waistcoat.  "Oh, and McNeilly?"

The Horadrim looked down at him.  "Yeah?"

"If you even try to harm Miu… then I will have your head.  Do you understand?  Your head."

McNeilly smirked, more amused by the threat than anything.  "Whatever.  Now get out of here, runt, before I drop-kick your furry ass into orbit."  With a final hiss, Heth turned to leave, M'Rowr following behind.

"Stalling?" M'Rowr asked as they left the bar.  "That's your best move?"

"Of course not!" Heth snapped, pulling out his datapad again.

"But… why'd you make him sign a contract?  He's not gonna follow it!  I mean, you know he's still gonna go after Miu if he wants to… right?"

"Oh yes, I fully expect him to," Heth said, opening a vidphone connection on his pad.  "But that wasn't the point, M'Rowr… come on, pick up… pick up…"

The display winked on to show Miu's face.  "MIRADI, Prurr K'Aou K'… oh!  Heth!"

"Are you still in the Purrfang spaceport?"

"Yes, but my shuttle's departing for the orbiting passenger liner in a few minutes.  Why?"

"Which terminal?" Heth demanded.

"Thirteen B.  What's this about?"

"Money… and my life, too, I suppose.  I'll be right there."  He disconnected before she could respond.

Heth and M'Rowr raced through the concourse, dropping to all fours to increase their speed.  They got there just in time, finding Miu floating in line to board the shuttle.  Heth yanked her out of line.  "Thank goodness I… caught you…" he panted, out of breath.

"Make it quick, Heth," Miu said and she deflated and landed softly on the floor.  "They don't hold up these shuttles for anyone, you know."  She finally noticed Heth's companion.  "Oh!  M'Rowr!  Gainful day!"  The change was subtle and instantaneous.  Her back straightened, her hips shifted, and she gave M'Rowr a coy smile while brushing some fur out of her face.  "I haven't seen you in… forever!" she giggled.  Her voice was higher, more musical, and it sounded like she'd lost about ten IQ points. 

It took Heth a moment to realize what was going on… and when he did, he wanted to bang his head against the floor.  Oh, for… Sky Father above, not again, not now!

"Gainful day, Miu!"  M'Rowr returned the smile.  "Good to see ya again!"

Miu stepped forward to tap tails.  "How are you these days?" she asked, "accidentally" flicking the tip of her tail under M'Rowr's chin. 

M'Rowr looked slightly puzzled now, too.  He figured it out when he saw the murderous glare Heth gave him.  "I'm doin' great!  Working for this furball now," he nodded at Heth.  "Oh, Surra and the cubs are fine, too."

"Right… Surra…" Miu took a step back, and her voice returned to normal.  "Well, give them my best!"

Heth sighed in relief at M'Rowr's quick thinking.  In a way that Heth had never fully understood, females seemed to have some sort of universal but unspoken set of rules amongst themselves regarding their males and property rights.  Breaking this code could quite literally cause a cat fight.  Apparently, Miu didn’t want to get hurt—M'Rowr's mate, Surra, was something of a bruiser.  She and M'Rowr had met in the K'Nes Tor Army, after all.

Heth glanced at the rapidly shrinking line of boarding passengers.  He was running out of time.  "Look, Miu, I need to commission MIRADI for a special project."

Miu turned to him as the calculating capitalist booted the bimbo out of her brain and reasserted control.  "Another special project?  That's be expensive, Heth.  How much of a development budget can you afford?"

"I'm planning to barter," Heth said, "with something priceless."

"Oh yes?" Miu asked, simultaneously skeptical and intrigued.  "Like what?"

Heth looked around for eavesdroppers, then pulled Miu aside.  He pulled the datapad from his waistcoat, leaned close, and whispered, "Horadrim DNA sample.  Blood."

Miu's eyes lit up as she grabbed the pad.  "How in the stars did you—"

"It would take too long to explain," Heth said, glancing at the shrinking boarding line again, "and believe me, I wish I'd never met the beast.  What I need MIRADI to do is… uh… Miu?"

Miu was staring at the pad.  "You're bargaining for my life…" she mumbled as she read the contract, shocked.  "Who's Zechariah McNeilly?"

"A… Horadrim?" Heth answered.  Miu's blue eyes widened; Horadrim were exceptionally dangerous—and now they were after her.  Heth cursed himself silently; he'd completely failed to anticipate that Miu might actually read the contract on the datapad—yet alone how she'd react to its terms.

"What have you gotten me into, Heth?" Miu demanded, continuing to read the contract.  "What the—!"  Fury flashed in her eyes.  "Only one suit of ape power armor?!"  She glared at Heth as her fur began to bristle.  "Is that all I'm worth to you?" she growled.  "Well, I'm glad to see you value me so highly, Heth!"

Heth got a sinking feeling; this was going from bad to worse.  "It was the only thing McNeilly wanted," he pleaded with her, "so of course I agreed!  It's the same suit that I hired you to extract those alien nanobots from!"

"Oh… that armor," Miu said, suddenly realizing the value of the exchange.  It wasn't the suit McNeilly wanted back, but rather his own Horadrim nanobots inside it.  Somewhat reassured that Heth valued her in the millions of credits after all, she began to calm down—slightly.  "But… you can't give him that suit, Heth!  MIRADI had a deal for twenty-five percent of those nanobots!  And besides, didn't you want us to modify that suit for you?"

"I'll give McNeilly whatever he wants if it'll keep you safe," Heth replied, "including that suit—after we extract the foreign nanobots!"

Miu wrinkled her nose in confusion.  "But… isn't that why McNeilly wants the suit back in the first place?"

"Yes, of course it is.  But that's not what it says in the contract.  It also doesn't state when, where, or how I'll return the suit to him."  Heth shook his head, disappointed.  "He really should have read that contract before signing it.  Besides, that new special project I'm commissioning MIRADI for?  If it works—if—it should give you a way to defend yourself if McNeilly does come after you.  I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do on short notice."

Miu stared at him for a moment, perfectly still.  "You're doing all this… for me?"

"Why yes, of course," Heth said, mildly surprised.  Isn't that obvious?  "I protect my investments."

Miu was silent.  Her blue eyes softened, glistening.  She placed a paw on Heth's chest, then sunk her claws into his ascot and pulled his face up to hers.  She sniffed at his nose, breathing hard, enveloping him in the scent of her perfume and musk.  "Congratulations, Heth," she said.  "You just made it into the top three on my list of bidder."  She leaned forward and gave the fur alongside his face two quick laps.

Heth raised a paw to his cheek, speechless.  This was the first time she licked him since their merger was dissolved.  He wasn't entirely sure what he'd done to deserve it, but he wasn't about to object either.

"Alright," she said, stepping back with a shiver, trying to get a grip on her emotions and collect her thoughts.  "This special project… what is it?"

"Um… well," Heth said, still a little euphoric, "basically, once you've extracted the foreign nanobots, I need to you reprogram a small batch of them."

"Reprogram them to do what, exactly?"

"Exactly the same thing they did to my power armor shipment—infect all the other nanobots to shut the whole thing down!"

"Yes, but these aren't power armor nanobots, Heth," Miu objected.  "You said they were from a Soul…" her voice trailed off and her eyes widened as she suddenly understood.

"A Horardrim Soul Web!"  Heth bared his fangs in a vicious grin.  "If McNeilly does come after you, and you can shut down his Soul Web… well, he'll be a lot less dangerous, possibly even harmless!"

"Clever."  Miu shot Heth her own fanged grin.  "Very clever."

"Can you do it?"

Miu hesitated.  "Perhaps.  I'll need do more research first.  But I can honestly say I've never had an incentive quite like this before."  She looked back over her shoulder at the last passenger entering the boarding ramp.  "Sorry, Heth, I have to go before I miss my shuttle.  Stay in touch."  And then she was gone, fluffy tail whipping behind her as she bounded away.

You bet I will! Heth thought… and took a moment to enjoy watching her leave.