LETHAL VANTAGE STRONGBOX CODE

The conversation that followed contained involved recognition codes and was largely incomprehensible to the other three from Liberator, though Vila perked up at a mention of 'pink gin.' Was it a code or something they might encounter? This is Walker.' Her companion, a tall blond man, approached them, also showing caution. The tall blonde woman Jenna had been watching approached them, carefully, and said, 'I'm Larsen.' She nodded at Jenna. 'Not particularly,' she shot back at him, with meaning, but he'd seen her tuck two laser needlers into her pockets earlier. 'Don't you trust your friends?' inquired Avon, thinking of his variable laser probe, an effective needler at close range. Everyone remember that we're not expecting a fight, unless we get one.' 'Now Blake has conveniently given you the chance,' said Avon.Д«efore Gan could reply, Jenna said, 'There's Larsen. 'It was part of old Zephron, from before the Federation takeover,' said Gan. The water formed an enormous lighted bubble looming above them, a hollow sphere with intermittent colored jets sparkling in orbits both within and without the shimmering surface. 'It's impressive,' said Jenna absently, scanning the area. 'Double your credit,' said Vila dreamily. It's still in some banking head's safe, ticking away.' 'The Federation annexed Zephron and installed their own computer system, but the Zephroid couldn't be switched off and no one wanted to destroy something so valuable. I though it had been superceded by the Federation's Central Computer when they took over here.' 'It was built specially for Zephron about fifty years ago. It records every transaction on the planet.' 'The Zephroid,' said Gan, clearly pleased at the chance to talk, 'is the basis for Zephron money credit. 'A model of Zephron, perhaps?' asked Avon. Larsen said she'd be at the Zephroid fountain.'ДЄ fountain could be seen at the far side of the square: a huge globe of water impossibly balanced on a single jet, with various light effects. Gan interposed, before the exchange could escalate into a quarrel, 'The banking square is just ahead. Were you expecting green-skinned aliens with pointed ears?' 'Avon,' he nudged the only member of the group who was not avoiding him at the moment, 'those are men.' Vila, however, was distracted by two new strolling couples. 'Vila, your jokes would be funnier if they weren't so trite.' She pointedly circled to Gan's other side. 'Maybe I should hold your hand,' he suggested brightly. He made an attempt to snuggle up to Jenna. Vila noted with interest that much of the traffic consisted of hand-in-hand couples, or attractive individual with the unmistakable intention of seeking coupledom. They weren't carrying the Liberator guns, and if some of the party felt more secure with concealed weapons, there was no need to mention it aloud. Gan's evaluation of their Liberator clothing as suitable for Zephron proved to be correct, and so was his declaration that visible hand weapons would be conspicuously out of place.

Jenna did not allow them to dawdle at the merchandise displays, but she eyed the sights as appreciatively as the others did. Their path led downhill on a gently curved street which acquired foot traffic as it became a panel-lit shopping thoroughfare. 'Try to look as though you're having fun,' said Avon, far too sweetly.

It doesn't look more than a couple of kilometers.' The banking square should be more or less in the middle of it.' Gan shook himself out of his homesick reverie and pointed toward a cluster of lights just now visible in the darkening twilight.

'Neither will Blake,' said Avon, more audibly this time. 'Larsen's a little edgy I don't think she'll like it if we're late.' 'Which way to the business district?' asked Jenna. 'Beautiful,' sighed Gan, taking another deep breath. He wished Blake would stick to making them visit decently bare planets like Centero, or better yet, space stations. It was, he thought, like that unspeakable place with Decimas. 'Why should it?' muttered Avon, but he was glaring at the trees again and the others ignored him. 'Now you've seen the galaxy instead,' said Vila, 'how's the city hold up?' before I left.' He eyed a skyline of hills and spires under an undomed sky. 'I always wanted to see Zephron City, before. Vila also looked uneasy, glancing from tree to burgeoning shrubbery and back at Gan, who was all too obviously enjoying it. This left him nowhere to look but at his companions. 'Where are we?'ДЄvon surveyed the vegetable growths under his feet, over his head and to all sides. 'No wonder there's a free-trader base here.' She peered upwards, then around at the grass underfoot. 'Zephron,' said Gan happily, sniffing the air in the small park where the teleport had landed them.

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