A short time earlier, Harrick and X Bear discussed their options.

  X Bear began, “I have tracked down the location of Heron and Byron.”

  With a pat on Kurt’s head, he said, “We observed them get captured by the Dirtling forces. By the way, they are called ARRG - Alien Rapid Response Group. In their culture, the acronym is also a sound someone makes when they die. That gives you an idea as to how they feel about us. I was initially concerned about how they would treat our hunters, but this branch of ARRG seems to distinguish between hunters who do lots of killing and those that do not. The two hunters that were killed in the last hunt were double-tapped to make sure they were dead. On the other hand, Heron and Byron were treated well and even with their limited medical knowledge, Heron has recovered from his wounds.”

  “He was wounded?” asked Harrick.

  “Yes,” said X Bear, “By ‘friendly’ fire from the other hunters.”

  “I knew they were no good,” muttered Hendon with a low growl.

  “The other two survived,” said Harrick, “Were they allowed to escape?”

  “Yes and No,” said X Bear, “If they could, ARRG would have killed the other two hunters too. But the hunters were able to hold them off. The ARRG commander was content to keep the hunters contained while they achieved their goal, which was to capture some hunters.”

  “I see they learned from previous experience that the Universe 7 communicators should not be stolen,” said Harrick.

  “They learned that downside, but turned it against us by attaching the communicators to some wild beasts and send them back to us instead. I gather that explains the delay?” X Bear replied.

  “The beasts destroyed the MTS console and caused chaos in the shuttle,” said Hendon, “But then we had some procurement delays for spare parts. Too long.”

  X Bear nodded in understanding.

  Harrick said, “How far away are our hunters being held?”

  “They are on a military base about twenty kilometres from here,” X Bear said.

  “We won’t walk there. We will beam up and then back down at the base. Please share the location with me,” Harrick said, holding out his communicator with the “Receive Data” window open in ready mode.

  X bear tapped his communicator with Harrick’s and said, “There’s the location, but I may have a better idea.”

  “I’m listening,” said Harrick as he examined the ARRG base location in his aerial map program while Clinton and Hendon looked at the map over his shoulder.

  “The Dirtlings are very nervous. With Kurt’s help, we were able to overhear much of their conversations. It’s great how everyone ignores pigeons. They expected you to come as soon as the recall happened so they drove like crazy to leave the area and get lost in weekend traffic on one of their main roads. Kurt was only able to hang on using his special claw boots I made for him.”

  Clinton looked at Kurt curiously as Kurt lifted his leg. Kurt had a boot on the end of his leg, shaped like a claw, making it hard to distinguish from his normal feet. Clinton looked at Kurt, raising his eyebrow in query. Kurt flicked something and the boot formed a sharp claw and light glinted off the dangerous talons. Clinton jerked back a little and Kurt said softly, “Yeah! Upgrades, baby!”

  X Bear continued, “Once they returned to base, the entire company, about forty experienced soldiers, were on alert. With no response for an hour, then a day and now a week, they are even more worried. If you land anywhere nearby there will be a tremendous firefight.”

  X Bear looked at Hendon and the determined gazes of the Red Team behind Harrick guarding the perimeter.

  “I think you would win. Probably. But it will be high risk for you and your men, but especially for Heron and Byron,” said X Bear.

  “I gather you have an alternative option?” asked Harrick, mentally agreeing with the challenge.

  “I’ll get them out,” X Bear said confidently.

  “I can fly there in my stealth ship and land nearby, sneak in, give our friends a beacon each and as soon as you get the word, you can beam them up. Easy.”

  Harrick considered. Even though X Bear thought it would be easy, he knew that it would probably be difficult, but with X Bear’s obvious sneaky skills, it might be possible.

  “We will return to the shuttle. Here are two spare return arm bands you can use for Heron and Byron. The HTI shuttle is crewed by my team and we will remain in orbit above this location,” said Harrick, pointing at the map on his display. “If it is less easy than anticipated, we will be coming in, beaming directly into the courtyard here.”

  X Bear looked at the map and said, “Agreed. Kurt and I will sneak in and get our friends out of there. Be ready for our signal.”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Harrick tapped Hendon who recalled Blue team from the front gate entrance.

  “We will be ready,” said Harrick and signalled to Clinton who placed the call to the shuttle. Their shuttle crew then beamed them up in a blue shimmer.

  “Let’s go, Kurt,” said X Bear as they quickly returned to their stealth ship.

  ****

  “Greetings, we mean you no harm,” said X Bear from the corner of the room behind the door.

  Major Tierney jumped up and reached for his pistol which wasn’t at his hip. Father Pacioli remained seated.

  “What the hell are you?” shouted the Major at X Bear, pointing his finger which was less effective than the gun he wanted to have.

  X Bear waved his hands in a shushing motion and by doing so also showed he was unarmed. Probably.

  As Major Tierney stared at X Bear, Father Pacioli looked him up and down and said, “Yes. I do think you owe us an explanation. I gather you’re not Paddington Bear?”

  “No, I am not,” said X Bear, smiling, and pointed at a chair, “May we be seated?”

  Major Tierney was too angry to say anything, so Father pointed at the chair where Heron had been sitting and said, “Be my guest.”

  X Bear looked at the seat and figured he would stand on the chair instead of sitting. Otherwise only his eyes would be seen above the table top and he considered that would not be a good position from which to negotiate. The Major slowly sat down in his chair, not taking his eyes off X Bear.

  X Bear pointed casually to Father Pacioli, “I have seen you before. You were at the train attack in the desert and led the soldiers.”

  Curious, Father nodded.

  “And then you were at the other attack near here where the communicator went missing,” said X Bear, counting off his fingers, “and I saw you at the recent hunt where you captured the two hunters.”

  Father nodded and watched X Bear closely.

  “We have named you ‘Black Hat’,” said X Bear.

  “Really?” said Father, “and who are ‘we’?”

  “Well, that’s a little tricky,” said X Bear, leaning against the back of his chair, “As you have probably gathered I am from the Federation of Planets.”

  The Major and Father nodded. It was either that or they were both unconsciously sharing the same silly dream.

  “Now, I am not from Hunting Tours Incorporated. I am from a Service trying to stop the corruption. We really don’t mean you any harm,” said X Bear with his small arms outstretched.

  “How do you know that we understand the relevance of everything you said just now?” said the Major.

  “Excellent question, Major Tierney,” said X Bear, showing off a little. It was a bad habit.

  “Like that!” said the Major loudly.

  Father pointed at X Bear and said, “I think you’re a bit of a show off.”

  X Bear shook his head but then changed it to a nod. It was hard having this universal method of agreement being reversed on Earth. Silly planet.

  “I have been monitoring Earth for a while. Once we found out you had been declared Non Compatible I was sent to check. It’s a very important classification,” X Bear explained.

  “It’s bloody well wrong, that’s what it is!” said the Major, “So many have died.”

  “Sadly, that is true,” said X Bear, “But unfortunately it is very tricky to overcome. Once you have been declared NC, everything then is twisted to reinforce that declaration. After all, there’s a lot of money to be made having a planet declared NC, and a lot riding on it staying that way.”

  “Isn’t it obvious we’re better than Non Compatible?” said the Major firmly, “Perhaps if we were more dangerous that might change the classification.”

  X Bear grimaced, which looked slightly amusing to the humans, “Be careful with that. At the moment you are in a very weak position. No spaceflight, low technology, disjointed cultures and more. Unfortunately, capturing Heron and Byron has sort of escalated things. We would like to calm it down a little.”

  “We are happy to return them to you,” said Father Pacioli. The Major and I were just discussing the best way to handle the exchange.”

  “So I heard,” said X Bear.

  “How long were you here?” shouted the Major, standing up again.

  “Long enough,” said X Bear, “Your security is good, but I’m better.”

  X Bear pointed at the door, “Can we bring them here?”

  The door slammed open and Lieutenant Smythe burst in, “Sir! Our monitoring devices at The University are all out of commission. The hunter military guys appeared and then threw a ball in the sky. Next thing all our equipment showed static or black screens. And …”

  Smythe stopped when he noticed X Bear standing on the chair opposite the Major and Padre. Pointing at X Bear, he said, “Sir?”

  The Major grimaced and said, “Yes. This is X Bear. A Federation of Planets representative who wishes to retrieve our alien guests. Mmmm.” Major Tierney pondered the situation and made his decision, “Smythe, can you please bring them here?”

  Smythe looked again at the Major and then X Bear, saluted and left the room.

  “Hang on a minute,” said Father Pacioli, “while we are waiting, I have a question. A little while ago you said I was called the ‘Black Hat’. Why that name?”

  “Well, you wear a black hat or helmet which makes you stand out a little,” said X Bear, “But also I understand that is your online name in the forums.”

  “Ha,” said Father, “You have been busy.”

  “Before you panic, I really am on your side,” said X Bear, “Actually, I’m on your’s and the Federation’s side. This outlet for violence has impacted the psyche of the Federation for the worse. When it is permitted to hunt and kill others based on a legal ruling, no one is safe and worse, the mental gymnastics of seeing one thing and acting otherwise is destroying unity and discourse.”

  “But while you are doing your part, we are getting hunted and killed,” said the Major.

  “Perhaps implement a global warning system for when hunts happen?” suggested X Bear.

  The Major and Father thought a bit and the Major said, “That will be tricky. I expect you already know we are not a unified world. That isn’t all bad as variety makes a more interesting life, but we don’t have a standard means of communicating with everyone.”

  Father Pacioli didn’t say anything but sat back deep in thought.

  The door opened and Lieutenant Smythe brought in Heron and Byron.

  “X Bear!” cried Byron, and rushed to envelop X Bear in a huge hug.

  “Yes, it’s me,” mumbled X Bear trying to unwrap himself from Byron’s four soft arms.

  Heron walked over to X Bear’s side of the table, “Are we going home?” he asked.

  “Are they?” asked X Bear.

  “Yes,” said Major Tierney, “They can go.”

  X Bear reached into his belt pouch and withdrew two blue arm bands, placing one on an arm of each of Heron and Byron.

  “Gentlemen,” nodded X Bear, “I think we may be in touch. Be careful aggravating the powers that be.”

  With that, X Bear pressed a button on his communicator and the three aliens disappeared in a blue shimmer.

  “You know, I think we may have a way of creating a global hunter alarm system. I’ll have to chat with John Simmons - but I won’t do it online!” said Father cautiously.

  Major Tierney nodded absent-mindedly as he pondered the mysterious X Bear and what he had revealed. They might try a harm minimisation strategy, but if they kept killing people, FOP harm maximisation may be on the cards.