The Mirrorverse

Syrhahn

“I need a ride to Earth,” Syrhahn told the ship’s skipper.

“Anyone trying to kill you? That’s the kinda thing I need to know,” he replied gruffly.

“No. I may be being followed, but if they were going to kill me they’d have done it already,” he replied truthfully.

“Just needed to know why you need to travel baggage class that’s all. If there’s any trouble you’ll be let off right away, not necessarily at the nearest planet, get my drift?”

Syrhahn nodded, wondering that only a few days ago he wouldn’t have even considered setting foot on his ship. How things had changed.

“Can you lose a tail?” it was something Syrhahn needed to know.

“Indeed. No-one can keep up with this baby,” he said proudly, patting a dented panel on the ship that looked as haggard as he did. “Well, you can get on last, not risking my cargo for a stray. Leaving at 8pm sharp, be sure you have the gold. All four barts of it,” he eyed Syrhahn warily, waiting to gauge his reaction to the extortionate charge. Syrhahn could have travelled captain’s class on a liner there and back for that.

“I’ll be there,” he assured him, unflinching.

With two hours to wait, Syrhahn took his troubled self to the nearest bar to nurse a coffee until his time was up. He sat in the window, watching the busy space port for signs that he was being followed. There was no way the military were going to let him go with photos of the kidnappers and lab to another planet without tailing him. He had repeatedly told them he knew nothing of Viskra’s top secret project, but how good a liar he was had not been tested for many years. They knew he was up to something. They knew he knew.