Nicholas and Devon slipped down a service ladder into the vast baggage compartment in the bowels of the Interstellar Express. The room was lined on both sides by massive metal containers that held the luggage. In each corner a luggage robot sat waiting for the command to unload. They were in the first compartment six large containers that reached from floor to ceiling and protected by large metal doors, this was all first class luggage, they hadn't gotten to the bulk freight in the back yet. They had a sneaking suspicion that is where whoever had killed Harold Kraus has stashed the suitcase because those giant contains in the rear would make it nearly impossible to find but they wanted to be thorough.
Devon slipped the cord from his pocket computer into the first access panel. The screen scrolled through the log of access on the container. " Nothing" he said.
He looked over at Nicholas who was doing the same on the other side, " Nope" he said.
They slowly went to the next and found they too hadn't been accessed during the trip. They both knew this was going to be a long day.

Stephanie sat on the tiny, thoroughly uncomfortable, couch tossing cards into her shoe on the table. This trip seemed never ending, she just wanted to get to Mars so she could go into hiding in Rhallic space. The Rhallic Empire wasn't so bad, they had great casinos, the food had its good moments, the only problem would be the beds, the Rhallic had no idea how to make a soft bed. Oh well it would be a small problem, staying out of the grasp of Harriman King. Stephanie stopped throwing cards and strained her ears. She thought she had just heard something outside the door. Stephanie felt a cold chill down her spine and immediately looked for a weapon. She saw Devon's small suitcase and lunged for it. She flipped it over and ran her fingers along the bottom. She prayed he hadn't bought new luggage since she last knew him.
Her finger slipped over a little bump on the bottom of the suitcase and she pushed it. A soft click came from the suitcase as the bottom opened. Stephanie pulled the secret compartment open and pulled the small pistol out just as the door to the cabin slid open.
Stephanie spun around and saw Harriman's goons enter. She leveled the pistol but before she could fire the first goon slapped it away. The energy bolt smashed into the wall leaving a black hole in the wall. Before she could fight any more they were on her, two swift punches and all her resistance was drained.
Stephanie felt her body being tossed on the bed and the goons talking. " What are we going to do?" one asked.
" I'm going to enjoy myself, this bitch has been nothing but trouble and I want to repay her for it" said another.
" But what about the boss?" the first asked.
" That old bastard can't get it up, how would he know" the second replied.
Stephanie felt the goon's rough hand wrap around the waist band of her thong, " Bitch has nice taste in underwear" he commented, " probably why the old bastard wants her so badly."
He snapped the waist band against Stephanie's skin, " Wonder if these are real" he said.
Stephanie's eyes flashed open and she grabbed the lamp off the table between the two beds. She smashed the metal lamp base into the side of the goon's head and grabbed his tie. She pulled it as tight as she could as she pulled his pistol from inside his coat. The other goon pulled his gun and they both fired at the same time.
Her first shot hit the wall as his first shot thudded into the back of the second goon. Stephanie hated guns, she was never good with them. Stephanie fired again, this time luck was on her side and the laser bolt found its mark in his eye. Blood splattered all over and dropped on the ground.
Stephanie pushed the huge goon off her and then realized the smell of burnt flesh wasn't just from the goons. Her bra strap was cut and blood was running down her arm. Stephanie raced into the bathroom. She grabbed the first thing she found in the bathroom, a blue wash cloth, and clamped it over her shoulder. She knew more goons would be coming, no way Harriman sends only three goons. She had to escape, they knew where she was. Stephanie grabbed up her clothes and her extremely important pocket computer.
Stephanie stumbled out of the room, holding the goon's pistol in one hand, the soaked wash cloth in the other. She was limping from the fact that her left shoe was nearly filled with playing cards, but it didn't slow her up. She slipped into a doorway and watched as the security officers surrounded the room where the carnage lay. Devon wasn't going to be happy.
Stephanie pulled her pocket computer out and scrolled through the map of the Interstellar Express 14 she'd borrowed from the Express Databases. She found an employee passage and snuck across the hall. She gently slipped in through the hidden door and leaned against it. Stephanie flipped open the cylinder of the Neptune Arms Model 3 Pistol. Energy pistols were all styled like old revolvers of the 19th and 20th century. Stephanie slipped each energy cell from the six cylinders. Stephanie groaned, partially in pain from moving her bleeding shoulder, partially from the fact that half the cells were dry. Stephanie threw the empty cells down the hallway in disgust and reloaded the others. Stephanie adjusted her jacket, hoping to keep the wash cloth in place. Stephanie got up, and started to walk down the hall hoping to find a good hiding place.

Devon and Nicholas leaned against the wall, " This is getting us nowhere" said Nicholas.
" I know" said Devon.
They both heard the elevator next to them start to descend. They both pressed their backs against the wall and drew their weapons. The elevator slowly came to a stop and the doors slid open. A robot slowly rolled out and lazily went over to one of the containers and slowly beeped. The metal door rolled up and the robot extended his metal arm. It picked up a piece of luggage and returned to the elevator. The two men looked at each other and laughed, " Think we should have shot him?" asked Devon.
" Maybe we could have beat him up for information" laughed Nicholas.
" Come on" said Devon, " we only have ten more cars to go through."
" Joy, the bulk cargo" groaned Nicholas.

The bulk cargo bays were lined almost floor to ceiling with huge metal crates with small passages so robots could roll through and check the bar codes on the sides of each container creating large metal mazes. Devon and Nicholas knew the cheese at the end of this maze was the briefcase the late Harold Kraus had lost his life for, and they were the lab rats. " Let's split up" said Nicholas, " you left, me right."
" Holler if you smell cheese" said Devon.
The pair started down the different routes hoping to find their prize.

Craig Jones felt the butt on the pistol smash down on his left index finger making him scream in pain as the bones snapped. " Tell us" snapped Jorge Vitto, " or maybe your mouth isn't lose enough yet."
Jorge drove his thick fist into the steward's jaw, blood and teeth splattered out as Craig screamed more. " Tell us" said Andre, " or maybe we just start shooting."
" I swear I didn't kill the guy!" Craig screamed through broken teeth, " I came the clean the room, some guy in black knocked me down as he ran out. I found the suitcase, I knew he wouldn't need it so I hid it in the cargo bays."
" Where?" asked Jorge.
" I don't remember" said Craig.
Jorge drew his pistol and fired a bolt straight into Craig's knee. Blood flesh splattered out as the knee was complete destroyed. Craig looked in horror as his left leg was hanging by only a few strands of flesh. " I swear I don't know!" he babbled, " I just took the elevator down there, I don't know."
Andre and Jorge went off into the corner of the steward's tiny room, " It would have to be the cargo bay underneath that car" said Andre.
" That's bulk cargo" said Jorge, " it will be a bitch to find."
" Did you stash it in a crate?" asked Andre.
" Yah, big green fucker, it was full of machine parts" babbled Craig, his blood forming a thick pool around the chair.
" That makes it easier" said Jorge.
Jorge leveled his gun and fired. The top of Craig's head disappeared in a thick red cloud that splattered on the wall. " We don't need him spilling the beans" said Jorge.
The pair left the cabin and locked the door behind them.

Stephanie carefully plucked the first aide kit off the wall and gently slipped her coat off. The wash cloth had been completely soaked through and now the blood was running down her arm. Stephanie carefully pressed the pressure bandage over her shoulder and felt the healing accelerators go to work. The warm tingling sensation melted through her shoulder and she smiled. Stephanie lazily flipped the ruined strap of her bra, she liked this bra, true it wasn't her lucky bra, she'd lost them to Harriman. Things hadn't gone well since she lost her lucky underwear. Stephanie gently slipped her coat back on and unlaced her shoe. She dumped the cards into her pocket and got up. She heard voices coming down the employee hall. Stephanie saw a tiny access tunnel and squeezed herself in it and waited.
Two men in cheap black suits walked down the hall way, big Colt Defiants in their jackets, these guys were definitely on the government payroll. One pulled out his mobile phone, " This is 17" he said, " we're close to the strange signal, but I don't see the briefcase or anyone."
" Keep looking" came a soft British voice, " that signal has to be in that hall."
" Are we sure it is the briefcase?" asked the man, " what if it's somebody's cat? Or maybe a lost pocket computer with a security tracking chip in it?"
" Just make sure" said the voice, " we can't have rogue signals fouling our scanners."
" We're on it" said he said.
He slipped his phone back in his jacket and took out a scanner. He started to slowly sweep it up and down the hall. Stephanie balled herself up in the tunnel, and held her breath. Was that how Harriman's goons had found her, they had implanted her with one. It wouldn't be that hard, it was extremely illegal to implant tracking devices in non-criminals. Stephanie was rudely snapped out of her thoughts when a loud ping echoed through the dark hallway. Her blood froze, " I think I found something" said one of the men.
Stephanie pulled herself deeper and deeper in the access tunnel as the footsteps came closer and closer as the pings became more and more intense. Stephanie saw one of the agent's black shoes as he stopped almost in front of her. " What is it?" asked the other agent.
" I can't tell" said the other, " I think we're picking up interference from something."
" What, you think that the gadget they give us are faulty?" asked the second in a mocking tone.
" You're probably right" the first said, " I'll call it in."
Stephanie listened as the first agent started talking again. " This is 17, we're picking up interference from the satellite entertainment feeds down here. Looks like their wiring isn't perfectly coated" he said.
" Okay" said the British voice, " continue the search, I've gotten word that the steward in question has been killed, his body has been taken to the infirmary. I'm going to meet with the captain, he's having a fit, go to the infirmary and get some information on him."
" Yes sir" said 17, " we're report in once we have more information."
The two agents walked away and Stephanie let off a long sigh. She ran her hands over her body, she had no idea where the tracking chip was. She closed her eyes and tried to think if that old creep had ever touched her.
Stephanie remembered to losing her last hand, and realizing she had too marry that old mummy with a sick smile. Stephanie remembered fighting with him for one more hand, one more chance but he did nothing but shake his head and say she had to marry him. Then he slapped her ass, he slapped her. Stephanie slipped her hand in her pants and felt a tiny bump. Stephanie crawled out of the tunnel and grabbed the first aide kit once again. She pulled out the small laser pick, and carefully pointed it at her butt.
The laser burned into her butt and made her hiss. She turned around saw she'd hit her mark. Stephanie hoped it keep the goons off her for now.

Nicholas rounded the corner as found the door, he lifted his mobile phone, " I found the door" he said.
" Great" said Devon, " now I just have to find my way out of here."
Devon stumbled and made his way through the maze. He finally met back up with Nicholas. " I feel sorry for rats" said Devon.
The door slid back and another room of crate greeted them. They started into the room and the door slid close. " I'll take left this time" said Devon.
Before Nicholas could answer there was a loud clang of metal and someone swear. Both Devon and Nicholas drew out their guns. Devon nodded to the left and Nicholas nodded to the right. They carefully slipped into the maze.

Andre smacked the back of his younger brother's head, " Idiot" he snapped.
" Fuck you" Jorge whispered, " you try and climb up these fucking crates."
" Fine" said Andre.
Andre pushed his brother against the other crates and started to find good footholds on the crate. He hauled himself up the crate and slipped himself and clattered to the ground. He looked up at his brother, " Not a fucking word" said Andre.
Instead of making fun of his older brother Jorge had turned his attention down the hall. " What?" asked Andre getting to his feet.
Jorge put his hand up and drew his gun out. Andre joined his brother and drew his gun, " How many?" whispered Andre.
" Two, maybe more" said Jorge, " get ready."

Devon stayed still, the voices had stopped. They must have heard them. Devon carefully peered around the next intersection and didn't see anything. Devon tensed up and slowly inched his way around the corner and peered down the next passage. Devon inched his way down the hall and looked around the next passage. Devon readied to fire and spun into the junction. Devon let the hammer go back and softly breathed out. He was staring at a dead end.

Nicholas pressed himself up against the crate, he could hear two people breathing close by. Nicholas knew it was time. He readied himself and listened for each footstep as it got nearer and nearer. Suddenly all the lights went out and Nicholas pressed himself hardered against the wall waiting for the attack. " Sorry for the inconvenience" came an overly cheerful voice over the intercom, " we've encountered an unexpected ion storm and we're experiencing electrical difficulty. Please stay in your quarters until the main power is back online."
A bright red light popped on bathing the room in a dark red glow. Nicholas got ready when he left a hand on his shoulder, " They're around the corner" whispered Nicholas.
" On three" whispered Devon.
" One" whispered Nicholas.
" Two" whispered Devon.
" Three" they said at the same time.