ARC OF THE IMMORTALS: Book 1/Pursuit
Chapter 7.6/ Casa Noir: Hotel/Spa/Casino
Recap: “We made it,” Harry beamed.
“There’s not much time,” Jac said as the helm seat turned and he stood on the deck. He looked up and said, “Nez, prepare Lifeboat Alpha for debarkation brown.”
“I’ll be glad when we can dispense with codes,” Touzdae whispered in Jac’s ear. Jac nodded.
The Lifeboat was ready in the cargo hold. As Harry and Touzdae boarded, Jac typed in a code to Fish and closed the keypad. The was a brief low hum over the com. Jac knew that it meant an acknowledgment from Fish. He climbed aboard. It was a spacious lifeboat with comfortable seating. Jac touched the console and it came to life.
The com audio and visual — displayed Bendel’s image on the channel.
“Jac, I’ve been expecting you, but you’re a bit ahead of schedule,” he laughed heartily. “How soon will you be ready to play?”
“Ideally in twelve day-cycles. But given time constraints, 72 to 36 hours will suffice. We’ll take Turquoise El, Number 7 instead of King’s Suite.”
“That’s cutting it close,” he cackled. “So be it. I’ve sent you a shuttle since you appear not to have any EVA vehicles.”
“No bother,” Jac quipped. “Fish has a modified a lifeboat for transport.”
“Suit yourself.” Bendel shrugged and the image turned to mush and snapped to a blank screen.
“He’s pretty aggressive these days,” Touzdae commented.
“Well, he’s known for at least a week that we’d be coming here and he thinks he knows he can beat me at The Game.”
“Can he?” Harry asked. Jac was silent.
“He has every time in the past,” Touzdae whispered to Harry.
“This time will be different.” Jac saw the golden sparkles within his eyes for a brief moment.
The lifeboat morphed out of her berth onto an electromagnetic cushion.
A red sliver of light guided the fat little craft with an oversized keel to a larger particle beam. There was a noticeable shift as the particle beam enveloped the craft. The beam pulled it through many turns and into a deluxe docking bay.
As the canopy dematerialized a tall man stood stern and foreboding: Bendel.
He made a full bow and put his hands together in a prayerful gesture and delivered the greeting:
“Good to see you Shambha Marcto Tomoran.”
Slightly higher than Jac, he gazed at him, eyes glistening with triumph.
“Are you wearing lifts?” Jac ventured a bold self.
“I can’t believe you’re disrespecting the sacred greeting!” Bendel mocked moving away. Bendel turned back sharp and lowered his footwear. They stood tall exactly the same height toe to toe, eye to eye. Bendel examined Jac. A gold sparkle flicked in and out of the air around Jac’s head. Bendel was unaware of the golden sparkles as were both Touzdae and Harry.
Jac offered a hug. Bendel was hesitant.
“It is good to see you, old friend,” Bendel broke the hug with discomfort. And he spoke code into his headset.
The orchestrated signal came back through Bendel’s earpiece.
“The Turquoise El, Number 7 is ready and your credit is good here.”
Jac cackled, and sparkles of gold appeared around the lifeboat. Jac noted the feeling of the sparkles.
“I have plenty of Gata-Creds and gold to pay…”
“Okay,” Bendel flinched almost imperceptibly.
“And Phorium-LN 230, and two other rare items for betting,” Jac’s confidence was ebullient.
Bendel lead Jac’s group off towards the lifts and stopped short.
“I hope you forgive me for being so abrupt. Harry, Touzdae good to see you again and now I’ll show you all to your suite.”
Touzdae and Harry entered the lift. Bendel put his arm out in front of Jac: “You two go on to the suite, my holo with assist you. I’d like a word with Jac.”
The door closed.
“ ‘Ever wonder why I never left here, Jac?”
“Why is that? Got debt still?” Jac put a purposeful snarl in his voice because he knew the reason, but he wanted to hear it from Bendel’s lips.
“Think what you wish, you always have.” Bendel snarled back.
“Why did you keep me from the others? What do you really want to say? You know you’re so transparent, Bendel, old friend,” Jac spat the words out.
“I let you see only what you expect and nothing more. Besides I did save your life at the Levelz.”
“Of course, I’m grateful, as I have already said many times. You’re fixated on it and stuck in the past. You might try letting go.” Jac was dexterously graceful with his words.
He entered the next lift and Bendel followed.
“Turquoise El, Suite Number 7, and… Main Gaming floor,” Bendel snapped.
“Traveling all the way?” Jac interjected
“I do own this joint.”
“True, and…”
“And you want your usual table or…” Bendel said teasing an answer from Jac.
“First-tier, number eleven as it was numbered in the old days.”
“That’s acceptable. Not a good vantage point for winning, I’ll have the upper hand, if I play first.”
“Meaning that you’ll use your ‘pinch-hitter’ first?”
“Exactly.”
“Whatever you want,” Jac said.
“Hmm,” Bendel said strolling around Jac in the lift. “What’s gotten into you, you’re confident and even cocky like you used to be when we first met? This is unlike you Jac, the man of peace.” Bendel returned Jac’s sarcasm.
Jac snorted.
“I like this action, Jac. It’s exciting,” Bendel looked at his wrist chronometer.
“You’ve given me plenty of time to set The Game parts in motion,” Bendel said.
Jac nodded in the affirmative.
The lift door slid open and Jac stepped out, smiling. As the door closed Jac whispered a word that he interjected into to lift and hung it next to Bendel’s good ear:
“Luna.” Jac knew it was the reason he couldn’t leave Gata. It was a jab at him. The answer would incense Bendel, Jac foresaw.
He turned and strode to the door of his suite. The Turquoise El, Number 7 scanned him for entree. The door slid open, Jac walked into the foyer chamber. The outer door slid shut and he collapsed to the floor.
The golden sparkled electrical dust floated over him a few seconds and faded out. Touzdae entered the room and came to his aid.
Jac opened his eyes.
“Are you okay, sweetie? What happened?”
Jac sat up.
“I felt like I became my old self for a while there. It took a lot of me to maintain that kind of energy.” He took in a breath and sighed. “But I think that it frightened Bendel. And that’s good right?”
“Huh-huh,” Touzdae agreed. He got to his feet. Jac glanced at the corners of the foyer chamber. The figurines were precisely placed. Jac nodded his head towards them. Touzdae acknowledged with a head bobbing of her own.
“Where’s Uncle Harry?” Jac wondered aloud.
“He went down to do a bit of gambling, he said.”
“And you don’t believe him?”
“Not for a minute. He and Bendel are up to something, if you ask me,” Touzdae was firm.
“What makes you think so?”
“A feeling.”
“I trust your feelings.” Jac examined his feelings around the gold sparkles. -It’s a signature of my old self, he thought. But he couldn’t place where in time and space.
the previous chapter:
The Next Chapter:
Thank you for joining me in the adventures that span lifetimes and worlds. (If you do NOT wish to be tagged, let me know, and I’ll tag you not):
Dougfrombk | Rebecca Romanelli | Joseph Lieungh | Adam Mackay | Dr. Preeti Singh | Pene Hodge | Ravyne Hawke | Dr Mehmet Yildiz | Kris Bedenian | Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 | Blaine Coleman | madmess’s thoughts | Lee David Tyrrell | DL Nemeril | David Price | Rip Parker | Annelise Lords | K. Pearson Bradley