Smittie's Bar n Grill was in the middle of nowhere.It was a small,ramshackle affair you'd never expect to find in a desert on an alien planet.It was like one of those dumps you'd see in the Bronx,or beneath a railway in London.
A big wooden sign out front said:"Smile at Smittie's",in big bold letters.The drawing of a smiling face holding a cocktail greeted the viewer as you approached.
There were strange space transport vehicles parked out front.
As they watched ,a silver Masarati roared out of the upper atmosphere and came to rest in front of the building.
An astronaut in a space suit and helmet got out and disappeared inside the establishment.
"That's who we came to see,"Strelky said."He's a connector.He can get you virtually anything you want."
"Back home we call him a fence,"Brail commented.
The interior was dark and smoky.
A bald man was in the act of punching a green skinned Belforian at a back table.
Something resembling a giant sponge pushed rudely past them and attacked the the bald man, throwing him into the wall.The unfortunate wretch slid down leaving a trail of blood on the bricks.
"We better get a table facing the wall,"Strelky said.
Heavy Metal music poured out of the speakers near the rafters.
"What the hell is that shit?" Brail screamed to be heard.
"I believe it's called Death Metal,"the Captain screamed back at her."It's a few years ahead of your time."
Indeed,he was beginning to think that this whole set up was only a few hours old,that this bar in the middle of nowhere hadn't been here two days ago;that the alteration of the planet had only occurred at the same instant he and Brail were thrown together.
None of these aliens he had seen thus far belonged in the Winter Triangle.Betalguese had never even existed, according to the reader on board the Helios.Something had scrambled history around like eggs in a pan.
Strelky's tale of an archaic Time Crystal was becoming more and more probable.
And the worst thing of all was that it seemed to be some kind of cosmic joke,with him as the clown taking the pie in the face.
They sat down and got a few curious looks from other tables but the sight of the Strelken woman seemed to keep them in their place.
A humanoid pigeon-type wearing a black leather jacket and a patch over his left eye came up to take their order.
"Your supplies are in back, Strelky,"he said."You blokes drinkin'?"
"Vodka martini,shaken,not stirred,"Brail told him.
The Bird looked at her and then at the naked woman.
"What the hell is she on?"
"Just give us the house special, Smitty,"she said."And my friend here wants to see the Cat."
"He's in back snortin' coke with a hooker.You best have some dough,old boy.The Cat ain't gonna want to talk to you unless you got some bread."
"Tell him money is no object,"the Captain said.He pushed a bar of trillium across the table."As you see, I'm loaded."
The pigeon's single eye widened in shock.
"Don't flash that around in here,you fool! That's more money I've seen in a lifetime.If you wanna live to walk outa here ,you keep it hidden.These bastards will cut your throat just as soon as look at you!"
After he had left,Strelky looked at her new friends strangely."That is a lot of money.How did you acquire it?"
"I have a small device which can transmute matter.In this case I used sand to make trillium."
"You're full of tricks,"Brail observed.
Captain Space noticed a grim figure across the room.It was one those mysterious Quasar Men.His head was a steel cone with slits for eyes.The species seemed to be a strange combination of flesh and metal.This one wore a silver robe that covered his entire body.
"That one works for Zorrik,"Strelky said."I don't think he's here by coincidence."
The Quasar Man suddenly got to his feet and went into the back room where Smitty had gone.
"We had better conduct our affairs quickly,"the Roman said,"I think he's watching us."
Smitty came back to their table followed by the astronaut piloting the space Masarati outside.
He took a seat,still wearing his helmet.Captain Space could see his face reflected off the pisar glass.
"So what's it gonna be,buddy?"the stranger asked in a silky voice."You wanted to see me."
"It's rude not to show your face,"the Captain responded."I would be more comfortable if you would remove your helmet."
The man hesitated.
And then he came to a decision and removed his space helmet with both hands.
He wasn't a man at all.
He was a black cat.
"I didn't realize that Ferealean's had made it to this part of the galaxy,"Captain Space said.
"We've always been here,old man,"the Cat responded."You just ain't been around.Now,we gonna talk business or do I walk?"
"I need an army.Big enough to take a city."
"You're crazy."
The Roman pushed his bar of trillium halfway across the table.
The Cat's green eyes glowed with anticipation.
"You know,if anyone finds out, we're dead.That's treason against the Empire."
So now it's an Empire,the Roman thought to himself.This is getting deeper by the moment.
"I'll take the chance."
"For this much trillium I will,too,"replied the feline."I can't vouch for these bums,"he indicated the aliens in the bar."They'd cut and run at first sight of the Cyborg's.What you want is a robot army.I've got a whole godamn warehouse full."
"How soon can I get them?"
"They're housed on the planet," the Cat said."I can activate them by remote.But if you get smashed don't expect any help from me.I'm not a revolutionary.I'll get them here and the rest is up to you.I don't fancy my head on a pike."
The Roman was about to ask about an atomic cannon when suddenly Strelky's beast outside made a horrible lowing sound and a lightning strike tore through the roof.
"Shit!" the Cat screamed.He grabbed the bar of precious medal and ran for the door.
By now the place was in chaos as everyone began to run in every which direction.
There was another blast and a fire broke out.
"It was the Quasar Man,"Strelky screamed."He left to get reinforcements!"
The Sponge looking alien was on fire and flopping around bumping into tables, screaming in pain.
Captain Space ran to the entrance to look outside.
In the sky above the building a black flying saucer hovered menacingly.
He rummaged through his back pack and found what he was looking for.It looked like a small transistor radio, something you'd find at Radio Shack.
"I can jam their frequency,"he told anyone listening."Stay close to me.This device will render us invisible.But if you stray outside the sensor you will be seen."
Brail and the Strelken woman followed him outside.
The flying saucer fired off another burst and the bar went up in flames.Anyone still inside was toast.
Strelky untied her beast and the three of them held close together.A few of the others in the bar seemed to realize that safety was with these strangers and joined their group.
Now they were about fifteen.
"Stay close together,"the Captain warned."The invisibility shield only extends about twenty feet.We will only live if you listen to what I say."
The roar of the space Masarati was deafening as it took off into the sky.
The flying saucer zoomed after it in pursuit.
-
Hours later they were on the outskirts of the Port City.They couldn't see it clearly because of a thick smog enveloping it.
"I wonder if that cat made it,"Brail said.
"I think cats have nine lives,"the Captain told her.
Strelky said she would remain behind to tend to the wounded.Some of them were friends of hers.
"The rest of them may have perished in the conflagration,"Captain Space told her."I wish I could have gotten them out but it was chaos.We had to think of ourselves.Perhaps some of them survived."
"Smittie's still there,"she said sadly.
"Let's hope for the best,"he said."That tracker I gave you will lead to our location.You'll find us once we get into the city."
Brail hugged her and told her to be careful.
"It's not too late to turn around,"Strelky said."You're going to your deaths.We can organize some sort of resistance against this mad king without you two just dropping into his lap."
"I have to play his game,Strelky,"the Captain said."Don't ask me how I know, I just do.I can feel him even now laughing at me.If I don't walk into his trap it might be worse next time.We Telemartian's have what is called mind link.I have no choice but to do what he wants for the moment.I promise you I will find a way to stop him."
"You're a fool,"she said."But I think I will see you two again."
-
As he and Brail got closer to the boundary of the city he could just make out an outline of tall structures.
Then,as if on cue,the smog vanished and he saw what was waiting for them.
It was the place where he had been born two thousand years ago.
The city of Rome.
-
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