Playing at Grown ups

A Pink Dormouse Production

Chapter Twelve

Avon

Silently he cursed the mead and whatever it was that had induced him to drink so much of it the previous night. The hangover was a minor irritation; more disturbing was the knowledge that he had been blatantly sentimental- and in front of persons other than just Vila. As recompense to his ego he spent two hours in the gym then adjourned to the arcade to blast several shades of hell out of a variety of animal images.

Returning to the flat, he was greeted by a variety of food-like aromas. Vila was sprawled across one sofa, studying a reader, with a pile of bookdisks on the floor beside him.

"So, you’re back, then?"

"Evidently. Have you been cooking?"

"No, Marianne invaded the galley while I was getting dressed and she’s bin in there ever since, ’cept when she brought that through," Vila waved his hand over a plate of pastry on the coffee table, "It’s very good."

Avon took a piece and bit into it. "I agree." He headed through to the galley. "My compliments to the chef."

"Thanks," Marianne removed a roasting tin from the oven and set it on the table, "haunch of venison; there’s salt-cured boar in your cold-storage and I’ll make a couple of mixed-game pies while I’m here. Everything else that I brought back from the farm is on ice in Mac’s freezer room: ask him if you want any of it."

"There was really no need-"

"When was the last time either of you had a main meal that wasn’t a carry-out? I hardly ever get to cook and the kitchen on the farm was teeming with kids every time I went in so I had few chances there." Several of Marianne’s nieces and nephews had children of their own and they all gathered at the main farmhouse for special occasions. Avon suspected that Marianne was more concerned about being reminded of her age than anything: she seemed happy enough to take care of Storme’s two girls when asked.

"So are you fulfilling a desire to cook or trying to ensure that Vila and I eat home-cooked food?"

"Both, I guess. Count it as payment for the next upgrade I want done on the Sappho."

"What more is there to do? You already have a top of the range comms system; any more weaponry and you would sustain too heavy a power loss to operate the main drive; your force wall will withstand anything you are likely to encounter. If you want your flight computer taught any more card games, speak to Vila, not me."

"So you’re not going to be designing any form of detector shield in the near future?" Marianne started measuring out the ingredients for her pastry.

"What has Vila been telling you now?"

"Nothing much, he just talks about the Liberator sometimes. I assume that the Tech Dev Co are going to be marketing more than just comms stuff eventually and that would seem to be one product with a wide appeal."

"She’s right, you know." Vila stood in the doorway. "I’m going to the library so don’t do anything I wouldn’t do while I’m out."

"Library’s shut today," Marianne pointed out.

"I don’t suppose that would overly bother Vila. Although why he needs any more reading material after buying so much this week..."

"It’s only breakin’ an’ enterin’ if they don’t expect me to do it. ’Sides I’m not going to take anything out- I just want to look up some stuff on their computers."

"You could always use my computer. Or did you want to try out your new toolkit?"

"Got it in one. See you later."

"He’s up to something," Marianne said as soon as Vila had closed the main door behind him."

"Don’t let it bother you. Whatever it is, it is hardly likely to threaten planetary harmony. He will tell us in his own good time. Now this detector shield you imagine I am going to build for the Sappho..."

Vila

He was having a quiet shift- most of the tourists had gone home but few of the regulars were back in town yet- so he was heartened when Nils strode through the double doors and tossed his cape onto the coat rack. The businessman was a lot less intimidating than Dariel or his other Primary, even if he was almost certainly as warped as the others were.

"Afternoon. What can I get you?"

"How’s the house white?"

"Very tolerable- Marianne brought our new supplies in this morning. Sweet or dry?"

"Dry I think... thanks." Nils tasted the wine, "Not bad at all."

"So how come you’re in here today? Shouldn’t you be snug an’ cosy wi’ Dariel and Mylo?" Vila could think of at least two people he could have been snug and cosy with right now if he had not got drunk and volunteered for this shift when Mac had been drawing up the rota. And the two in question were probably discussing electronic engineering or similar right now over a glass of the vintage port Marianne had brought back from Lindor. Same as when I left them alone together yesterday- talk about wasted opportunities.

"Mylo’s leaving tonight- he checked over the planetary defence system first thing and now he’s saying his farewells to Dariel."

"Off so soon? I thought you guys were sticking around for a couple of weeks."

"He had urgent business with the fleet but he’ll be back next month. I can afford to spend a little more time on recreation so you won’t be seeing the back of me just yet."

"Hmmm... I was goin’ to ask Mylo to do me a favour but you might be able to help me instead. Do you know anyone doin’ business with the Rebel Alliance? Only I’ve got a package to get to one-"

"Mylo will be meeting with one of their representatives sometime soon. I think he was wanting to get a little background information from you beforehand-"

"That might be a bit too direct- I don’t want them knowin’ I know you guys." One thing to let someone know you care, quite another to have her be able to deliver the reply in person.

"Well I do have certain contacts in the weapons supply business, I’ll make some enquiries."

"Ta very much. Another wine on me?"

The rest of the shift was fairly uneventful. Vila found a few more subjects they could agree on: they shared an appreciation of the finer things in life and agreed that while all this fighting was necessary, it should be left to those who were good at it. Nils had heard about the casino visit and seemed quite keen for Vila and Avon to make similar inspections of some of Dariel’s establishments on other planets.

"Have to think about that," Vila said, "Avon’s got a lot to do here an’ while I’m all for him takin’ a break every now an’ then, space travel’s not the most relaxin’ of pursuits right now. All those battles I’ve bin hearin’ about from Marianne; an’ then there’s more chance of us gettin’ recognised if we go back towards Federation space." Nils seemed happy enough with Vila’s reasoning and merely asked that he be contacted if the guys ever wanted to sample some offworld gambling.

What was far more interesting was the fact that he had picked up several hardly-used video games machines in a bankruptcy proceeding. Three had already been snapped up by the Tech Dev Co, for the rec room at the new Centre but Nils was prepared to give Mac, the landlord, first refusal on the others. If the attic flat had been any bigger, Vila would have considered acquiring one for himself, but a couple in the main bar would keep him amused in quiet workperiods or when the pool table was occupied. He promised to let Mac know about the offer, and persuade him to take it up if he possibly could.

Marianne

Vila and Nils were playing pool when she wandered down to the pub. She bought a bottle of beer and headed over to join them.

"Hi, guys, Avon’s busy drawing up schematics so I thought I’d see what was happening down here."

"Did he say when he’d be finished?" Vila picked up his own drink from the table.

"Probably whenever he lets you drag him away from the computer."

"Be late then, I’m thinking of going down the library after this game. Found lots of stuff about you by the way."

"I thought you might. Don’t believe everything you read: it was never that exciting when I was living it."

"Well, you never talk about it so how else do I find out about your misspent youth?"

"You don’t talk about yourself much either."

"Well, the recent stuff’s too... recent and you never seemed too interested in anythin’ I got up to on Earth."

"Now, you two," said Nils, "we can either finish this pool game and get Marianne to play the winner, or we can abandon it and sit around telling stories. How about it, Vila?"

"I may as well concede this game anyway: I’ve no chance from this position. You play Marianne an’ I’ll head down the library. See you later." Vila finished his drink, pulled on his jacket and left.

"So, has he told you what he’s researching?"

"Not a thing," said Nils setting the balls up for another game, "where did you say you picked him up?"

"Back end of Gauda, two bars down from Logi’s. Avon doesn’t think Vila’s doing anything untoward but then, if he were, the pair of them would probably be in on it together."

"You know they broke the bank at the Big Wheel in Freedom City?"

"Doesn’t surprise me. Do you believe that they’re honest as the day is long now?"

"Not for a second. But then, who is round here, present company excepted?"

Avon

When Marianne left town two days after Mylo, he found he was nearly as disappointed as Vila to see her go.

Just when I had nearly equalled her tally of pool victories as well. She said she would be gone at least two months this time: I must find some worthy opponents with whom to sharpen my game.

Vila was spending an inordinate amount of time in the library: usually from chucking-out time at the pub until whatever time he finally came home and collapsed into bed. He was blatantly up to no good but Avon could not understand what was diverting enough to take up all his partner’s free time. Vila never seemed to bring any data or hardcopy home with him; Avon had checked all the obvious- and not so obvious- hiding places when he had had the flat to himself but found nothing of current interest.

Dariel and Nils were in the midst of a full business audit, which they conducted in the dungeon and the pub as well as in the Big Guy’s office. They seemed to have no time for anyone else, not even inviting any of Dariel’s usual associates to join them for a doubles match at the pool table.

Avon was left with plenty of time to search the files of patent offices and research institutes in order to perfect his plans for an improved detector shield, but he was starting to feel neglected, with too much time to think about things he would rather not deal with yet. He looked in on the crowd at the pub but there was no one for him to play pool against or exchange ideas with. Leaving Vila serving the lunchtime punters, Avon left the Sprocket and Piston and wandered down to the market place.

The square was refreshingly quiet after the bustle of the fortnight leading up to the Winter Solstice. His curiosity piqued by their conversation the previous week, Avon headed for the card-reader’s stall.

"Avon. Now there’s a surprise." Storme laid her sketchbook to one side. "Were you wanting a reading? I’ve no appointments today so we could go somewhere warmer right now."

It would be interesting to see what she does- and how she does it. Vila is convinced that she has no way of fixing the order of the cards and that her interpretation follows a consistent pattern. On the other hand she may know what Vila is planning-

"Or we could just talk."

"That might be better."

"No problem. Ermine, you can mind the stall, I’ll take Avon to the café."

"You drink too much coffee." Storme set the cups down on the table.

"So Vila tells me. Has he told you what he is looking for in the library?"

"Get straight to the point, why don’t you? I wouldn’t pass on anything told to me in confidence but it’s pretty much common knowledge; he heard something at the bonfire and now he’s busy reading up on a legend from two or three decades ago."

"A legend?"

"The Ace of Spades. Fastest ship in the sector at the time- it and its crew were invincible- until one day they weren’t."

"A familiar story. But why all the interest? Vila seems happy enough to stay planet-bound, I am sure Marianne would take him with her if it were otherwise." She should have someone on weapons- it’s not as safe out there these days as she likes to make out- not Vila, though, please not Vila.

"Two reasons: one, Vila would have heard some of the stories when they were current- the tales were told galaxy-wide on convict transports and in some of the seedier bars. Two, you both know the surviving crew. That’s all I’m saying, ask him yourself if you need any more details."

"I would, if I actually saw him to speak to, the pub has been short-staffed all week and when he is not working he is in the library. I know I was rather too engrossed in my work before the Winter Solstice but it is most unlike Vila to retaliate in this way..."

Vila was angry, genuinely angry. The other three had gone to watch an entertainment vid but Vila had headed straight to his room. Avon caught up with him just outside.

"I can’t talk to you in this state. Maybe once you have calmed down..." Avon shrugged out of Vila’s hold and walked calmly down the corridor to his own room...

"You okay?" He opened his eyes and focussed on Storme.

"Perfectly."

"Look, Vila isn’t ignoring you deliberately, he’s just wrapped up in something new and he’s not used to you being at a loose end. I know talking to each other is an alien concept for you two but if you just explain how you feel-"

"Just how much has Vila been telling you about me?" And here he is, just what I need.

"Fancy meetin’ you here. I came to see how Storme was doin’ with her new designs an’ Ermine said the pair of you were in here."

"Not in the library today?"

"Nah: seem to have run out of references to follow up. Thought mebbe we could do somethin’ together now me shifts over." Avon was going to make his standard reply about Vila and thinking but was interrupted by Storme pushing her chair back and standing up.

"I’ve nearly finished the new deck but I don’t have it on the stall today. How about I call round to the pub with it tonight?" Vila sat down in the chair Storme had vacated and put his feet up on the table.

"Make that tomorrow- me an’ Avon have things to do, don’t we?" Vila did a passable imitation of one of Avon’s best lascivious looks (the one he kept for those opportunities when he saw a way to combine sex, money and getting one up on whoever was irritating him most at no extra cost).

On to Chapter Thirteen

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