On The Imperium’s Secret Service (Imperium Cicernus) Read Online Free
Author: Christopher Nuttall
departed with their orders, “how did you end up on this planet anyway?”
Mariko sighed and began to tell him the entire story. Lord Fitzgerald was a good listener, she discovered to her surprise, and very good at asking questions to push her into revealing more than she had expected. She skimmed through her determination to earn her own place in the galaxy, just like her father, and how eventually they’d purchased a freighter and set out to earn money. It had been harder than she’d expected – and eventually they’d had a fight with the wrong person and ended up in jail. God alone knew what Carlos would do when he realised that the objects of his ire had escaped his wrath.
“A moment of carelessness,” Lord Fitzgerald said, dryly. Mariko nodded in rueful agreement. Now they were washed and dressed, the horrors of the past seemed like a distant memory, a nightmare which was long over. “But I’m sure that you will be more careful for the rest of your life.”
Mariko felt herself flush as the waitress returned with three plates of food. Of course she’d be more careful; her life was no longer her own. “I’ll do my best,” she muttered, and winced at his droll smile. He probably knew exactly what she was thinking. “What are you going to do with us?”
Lord Fitzgerald cut off a piece of beef and examined it thoughtfully before popping it into his mouth. “I thought I’d take you shopping,” he said, blandly. “You need a few sets of clothes if you’re going to be my retainers. And you will probably want to replenish the supplies you had on your ship before it was confiscated.”
“They took our ship,” Mariko said, dully. She’d fallen in love with the Happy Wanderer , ramshackle tramp freighter that she’d been. Some Captains placed security programs onboard their ships to prevent customs officers from trying to seize them for non-payment of fees, but she’d never bothered to invest in one herself. A mistake, all the more so because her ship had probably already been taken to another world. She could have ensured that the person who purchased the ship found he’d inherited something useless.
Mai looked up. “Couldn't you buy it back?”
“I’m afraid the new owner took it out-system,” Lord Fitzgerald said. He shrugged, as if it wasn't a matter of great importance. To him, it probably wasn’t a matter of great importance. He took another slice of beef and chewed it thoughtfully. “I suggest that you eat up, young ladies. The food won’t last forever.”
They’d been overcharged, Mariko decided, a few moments later. The sushi was appallingly bad, even by the standards of the cheap places she’d known as a young girl. Hell, some of them had been much better than a place that charged exorbitant rates. Dorado should have been able to afford a proper fishing industry – it wasn't as if the planetary survey report had found any good reason why fish from Homeworld couldn't be introduced into the planetary ecosystem – but instead the corruption infesting the planet had probably put anyone who tried to open a new industry out of business. Mai was devouring something made of chicken with evident enjoyment. At least one of them was going to be happy.
“I'm afraid I have business to attend to here,” Lord Fitzgerald said, when they’d finished their meal and paid the waitress. He had even added a tip, to Mariko’s surprise. Surely the roast beef hadn't been that good. “You know what you need to buy for yourselves?”
“Yes, sir,” Mariko said. She did have a good idea of what they needed, including some things she would have preferred not to have to show to Lord Fitzgerald. He would probably find them rather upsetting. “Where should we meet you afterwards?”
Lord Fitzgerald checked his watch and then nodded to himself. “I’ll meet you down in the lobby in
Mariko sighed and began to tell him the entire story. Lord Fitzgerald was a good listener, she discovered to her surprise, and very good at asking questions to push her into revealing more than she had expected. She skimmed through her determination to earn her own place in the galaxy, just like her father, and how eventually they’d purchased a freighter and set out to earn money. It had been harder than she’d expected – and eventually they’d had a fight with the wrong person and ended up in jail. God alone knew what Carlos would do when he realised that the objects of his ire had escaped his wrath.
“A moment of carelessness,” Lord Fitzgerald said, dryly. Mariko nodded in rueful agreement. Now they were washed and dressed, the horrors of the past seemed like a distant memory, a nightmare which was long over. “But I’m sure that you will be more careful for the rest of your life.”
Mariko felt herself flush as the waitress returned with three plates of food. Of course she’d be more careful; her life was no longer her own. “I’ll do my best,” she muttered, and winced at his droll smile. He probably knew exactly what she was thinking. “What are you going to do with us?”
Lord Fitzgerald cut off a piece of beef and examined it thoughtfully before popping it into his mouth. “I thought I’d take you shopping,” he said, blandly. “You need a few sets of clothes if you’re going to be my retainers. And you will probably want to replenish the supplies you had on your ship before it was confiscated.”
“They took our ship,” Mariko said, dully. She’d fallen in love with the Happy Wanderer , ramshackle tramp freighter that she’d been. Some Captains placed security programs onboard their ships to prevent customs officers from trying to seize them for non-payment of fees, but she’d never bothered to invest in one herself. A mistake, all the more so because her ship had probably already been taken to another world. She could have ensured that the person who purchased the ship found he’d inherited something useless.
Mai looked up. “Couldn't you buy it back?”
“I’m afraid the new owner took it out-system,” Lord Fitzgerald said. He shrugged, as if it wasn't a matter of great importance. To him, it probably wasn’t a matter of great importance. He took another slice of beef and chewed it thoughtfully. “I suggest that you eat up, young ladies. The food won’t last forever.”
They’d been overcharged, Mariko decided, a few moments later. The sushi was appallingly bad, even by the standards of the cheap places she’d known as a young girl. Hell, some of them had been much better than a place that charged exorbitant rates. Dorado should have been able to afford a proper fishing industry – it wasn't as if the planetary survey report had found any good reason why fish from Homeworld couldn't be introduced into the planetary ecosystem – but instead the corruption infesting the planet had probably put anyone who tried to open a new industry out of business. Mai was devouring something made of chicken with evident enjoyment. At least one of them was going to be happy.
“I'm afraid I have business to attend to here,” Lord Fitzgerald said, when they’d finished their meal and paid the waitress. He had even added a tip, to Mariko’s surprise. Surely the roast beef hadn't been that good. “You know what you need to buy for yourselves?”
“Yes, sir,” Mariko said. She did have a good idea of what they needed, including some things she would have preferred not to have to show to Lord Fitzgerald. He would probably find them rather upsetting. “Where should we meet you afterwards?”
Lord Fitzgerald checked his watch and then nodded to himself. “I’ll meet you down in the lobby in
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