(… continuing)

The pondering in the cockpit was interrupted by the arrival of three vehicles in the space in front of the rig. They all swivelled their heads and peered out at the convoy.
“Odd!” Dukk muttered
“How so?” Marr asked.
“I was expecting the first vehicle. It looks like the port control people. They’ll be interested in seeing our IDs and load paperwork. I just hadn’t expected them so promptly. The other two vehicles are even more unexpected.”
They all watched as four formally dressed people got out of the first vehicle. A door opened on the second vehicle. A person carrying a package got out. The person walked over to the four from the first vehicle. There was some sort of conversation then the package was handed over. The person then returned to the second vehicle.
“Port control just acknowledged our set down and have activated the stairs”, Marr said to the group.
Dukk flicked his hands over his controls. A video feed of the starboard side of the rig appeared before them. It showed the stairs approaching the starboard door.
“Bazzer and Luna, will you get the nose door open and be ready to put the ramp out for unloading. Marr can you keep an eye on things up here for now. Annee, let’s go and find out why we are getting the royal treatment today,” Dukk said has he unbelted and rose from his seat.

Dukk and Annee opened the starboard door and stepped into the doorway. The security personnel were already on the landing at the top of the stairs.
“Hello, I am Dukk, the captain of this rig. What is going on?” Dukk said.
“Hello. I am here to check IDs and the load paper work. Before we do that, I have been requested to ask that the four young ladies depart immediately. I’ve also been asked that they wear these as they depart the rig. We will wait here while you fetch them. No one is to leave the rig until they are off.”
The security person went to hand Dukk the package seen moments before in the video feed. The package fell open and the contents landed on the floor between them. Dukk reached down and grabbed one of the items. It was a black cloak. He lifted it up. It was long and even had a large hood. The security person quickly gathered the rest up and shoved them in Dukk’s direction.
Dukk peered over the security person’s shoulder. Four further security people were now on the pad at the bottom of the stairs. They were all heavily armed. The leader of the group, smiled up at Dukk and lifted his rifle slightly.
Dukk wrapped his arms around the cloaks, turned and passed them to Annee.
“All yours?” Dukk said smiling and raising his eyebrows.
Annee looked perplexed, but accepted the bundle. She turned and headed back into the rig.

Dukk remained at the doorway. Smiling calmly. Moments later, there was a commotion behind him,
“Let me through,” Bognath demanded.
Dukk stepped back.
The security person step forward and started to speak, “No one leaves until, Oh!”
Bognath stopped briefly and smiled. The security person stepped back and allowed Bognath to make his way down the stairs.
Dukk stepped out onto the stair landing to watch.
At the bottom of the stairs, one of the persons waved Bognath in the direction of the second vehicle. As he approached the vehicle, the person from earlier got out to meet him.
Dukk couldn’t quite hear what was being said. But it appeared heated.
After the brief conversation, Bognath turned, headed back towards the rig and climbed the stairs.
At the top, he pushed through the security people and then quietly said to Dukk as he passed, “Will you message Luna. If she wants to say goodbye to the girls, she’d better do it right now.”
Dukk watched him disappear into the rig. He was intrigued.
Dukk wasn’t surprised that Luna might want to say goodbye to the girls. After the first evening in Maple Tower, the girls and Luna had become quite close. The girls had looked up to her. He was surprised, however, at Bognath’s uncustomary display of empathy.
Dukk opened a direct channel to Luna’s comms.
“Luna.”
“Captain, what is going on?”
“Not sure, but the girls are leaving. If you want to say goodbye, now is your only chance. Perhaps see if they need a hand with their luggage.”
“Oh. Right. Good.”
As Dukk disconnected, Mentor appeared.
“Captain, Annee suggested I come down and watch the door. Perhaps you’ve got other things to be doing right now,” he said.
“Absolutely, thanks,” Dukk replied as he headed back into the rig and up the stairs.

Dukk made his way swiftly up to the cockpit.
Marr was still in her seat.
“What is going on?” she said as Dukk sat in his seat.
“Not sure. I noticed the nose door is open.”
“Yep, Bazzer had Luna go down first and check for obstructions. Then he opened it using the console here. After that, he followed her down.”
“Great, can you bring up the video feed from inside the nose section.”
Marr interacted with the console.
“Got it.”
“Rewind the recording at triple speed. Slow down when we see Luna.”
They watched the video feed. Initially there was nothing, then Luna could be seen walking backwards into the space.
“Keep going a bit further. Ok, stop there. Play forward at normal speed, with the audio up as loud as it goes.”
They could see Luna standing there watching the door open. There was the grinding sound of the door motors. Then they heard Bognath’s voice. It was faint, but auditable.
“What are you playing at?”
“I am collecting the girls. He wants them in their suite and ready to be inspected as soon as possible.”
“Bringing them up to the resort was part of my instructions?”
“It was. It isn’t anymore. He isn’t happy with you. The orders were to keep the girls out of sight. An evening in the Maple Tower pub isn’t exactly out of sight.”
“For crying out loud! They were just dancing. They weren’t in any danger. We made sure of it.”
“He is worried about visibility, not safety. Regardless, these girls aren’t your concern any longer. You’re fired. He told me to tell you that you should find other employment. Perhaps return to Earth with this heap of junk! Goodbye.”
Dukk disconnected the video feed.
“Who is ‘he’?” Marr asked.
“Not sure, but very interesting.”

(to be continued...in the next chapter)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 18 - Set down (Passage 5 of 5)]

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