Angry Jasper-Nineteen

CHAPTER TWO
LIFE’S A BITCH, AND THEN YOU DIE.


When Kate came to she was shackled to a chair in Maury’s office. Well, that’s what he called it. The unmade bed was to one side, and his desk to the other. The world was still little more than a blur of unresolved images and motion. Her jaw ached, but not as badly as her tongue, which she had bitten hard after being clobbered. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth and throat. She could feel it dried upon her lips. A burning headache spit fiery waves of hideous pain all the way down to her toes, no doubt from the rattling her brain had taken.

Kate struggled weakly against the binds, but they held her wrists and ankles fast. Aside from all that she didn’t seem any the worse for wear. Her clothes were still intact, and she was quite relieved to find she hadn’t been molested while incapacitated. At least there were small blessings still to be found. Several hybrid-looking guards stood to either side, holding ARPs at the ready. Obviously Maury wasn't taking any chances with Kate.

She spit out a mouthful of blood at one of the guard's teeth, delighting that it provoked a disgusted grimace. “Make you hot, huh?”

“Back among the living, I see.” It was Maury’s putrid little voice. It took a moment for her eyes to find their focus.

“That’s debatable,” she groaned, glancing knowingly at the hybrid guards.

He was dressed in a cheap looking shining leather coat and jeans, like some east European cop of old, or some creepy lout that frequented strip clubs and called the dancers his “lady friends.” His greasy hair was swept back in straight lines from that drooping dreary face. She could almost imagine him skulking around the gray rain-swept streets of some backwater Communist-era dump like Brno or Kiev or Belgrade harrassing Gypsies, bullying dissidents or taking advantage of nubile runaways. He was holding her credit pod, as well as that of the murdered rebel spy from the market. The rebel kid’s pod was scorched and partially melted from the glancing blow of a mercury round. Maury smiled. It was a snide, victorious gap-toothed smile.

“Guess you screwed me more ways than the usual, eh Kate?”

Kate was indignant. “Mind your own business instead of mine. I have a lot of clients, and some of them don’t like questions asked. I don’t ask questions. I’m just in it for the credits.”

“Ah, yes the money. And how much did you make on that transaction, huh?”

“I don’t have to answ…”

He cut her off quickly. “We tracked your account.”

“What right…?”

“I’m the Governor, remember? Don’t play the fool, Kate, we know you transferred the balance to your rebel contact.”

She swore under her breath. There was no use fighting it now, That was just more of the stupid game she had been playing for the better part of her life.

“So what are you gonna do, kill me?” she stood straight and defiant. “Do it in stead of playing at something you’re not, Maury.”

“And what would that be?” he asked without thinking.

“A man.”

“Touché,” he frowned. “Walked right into that one.”

The Governor moved slowly around her, breathing her in with those piggish, wheezing breaths. “Waste of energy and time torturing you for information. You wouldn’t give up any information anyway.”

“You know me too well.”
“Too well, indeed!” He rubbed his fat belly and looked over her body one last time. Maury grinned proudly. “Know every inch of you, inside and out.”

“Thought I felt something. Hard to tell with the little things.”

Maury chafed, but held his temper. “Had some good times. I know you did, by the sounds you were making.”

“I was thinking of taking up acting.”

His fat face turned bright red. For a second she almost thought he’d have a coronary right there. The governor caught himself again and forced a smile.

“I’m going to miss our moments together,” he said.

“Right,” she shot back, “a moment is how long I remember you lasting.”

“Have a laugh,” he said.

“Should have just killed me at the market.”

“And miss this snappy repartee? It was a consideration, but plans change, eh? It’s your lucky day Kate. One of our ships was shot down with some rather high value citizens on board. I’m going to send you back to Earth as part of a prisoner exchange.”

“You aren’t afraid I’ll blab about your nuclear penis extension?” she asked.

“Go ahead. Fat amount of good it will do.”

Kate wondered what Maury had up his sleeve. It was too simple that he would simply exchange her for some fat Corporate client or other. They were a dime a dozen, and most often anyone foolhardy enough to venture close to Earth was involved in something nefarious or just plain dumb. She felt around the inside of her mouth for a tracking patch, and burped hoping to taste the metallic flavor of one, thinking that Maury might have force fed her one. There was no way she would allow herself to lead Maury to the rebel base. She’d rather die than to betray the cause.

“I'd prefer death,” she said.
“So would I, dearest, but neither of us will get that lucky today at least.” With a nod he motioned to the guards.”Be careful with this one and make sure she gets to where she's going safely or you'll be pulling dredging duty in old China.”

Maury turned and went at the glass looking down at the wheel as Katy-did was led away. No woman would ever get the best of him. He’d see to that, and to the end of the rebellion. In seventy-two hours Kate and her rebel friends would all be history.