“Antiles might not like meeting four people when he thought there’d be two,” Judit said.
Spartan snorted. “Oh, he’ll have muscle. I know the type. You might not see them. And he’ll probably assume we have more people than we’re showing.”
“Let me do the talking, Jude,” Noal said.
She sighed. “Fine. But if he starts throwing threats around…”
“Merchants don’t threaten potential customers,” Noal said. “That’s not how sales works. By the dark, Jude, have you ever bought anything?”
She opened her mouth to say of course she had, but the more she thought about it, she couldn’t remember when. She usually told someone she needed something, and it showed up. “Have you?”
“Oh please. I’ve been buying my own suits for years. You can’t make sure about the fit unless you talk to the tailor face-to-face, or at least face-to-holo.”
She thought she remembered him doing that several times, but she tuned out any discussions related to clothing. “Well. Good.”
He gave her a patronizing smile that she wanted to flick his ear for, but she wouldn’t do it in front of Spartan. “Let’s get ready to go,” she said. “We want to get there first, right?”
Noal grinned. “Now you’re getting the hang of it.”
Chapter Twelve
They docked quickly, and Judit, Annika, Noal, and Spartan gathered near the hatch on the bottom of the Damat. They’d have to descend a ladder into the station airlock, which would be a bit tricky if they had to leave in a hurry.
Judit had filled Annika in while Noal and Spartan had gotten ready. Since the primary function of the Damat had been to ferry Noal from place to place, he had quite a wardrobe on board. He was dressed in what he probably thought of as a modest suit, electric blue, but it had a thin covering of nanosheen that changed color ever so subtly. It might take an hour to make the transition to emerald green, the color of his cravat. A large diamond pin held the cravat in place, and similar diamonds winked from the cuffs of his jacket.
Instead of the ragtag suit he’d been wearing when he came aboard, Spartan was now in one of Noal’s suits, a comfier affair with wider legs and shoulders, probably to accommodate his slightly larger frame. His shirt hung open at the collar low enough to show a smattering of blond chest hair. He’d rolled his sleeves up almost to his elbows. To Judit’s unpracticed eye, he looked sloppy, but Noal had no doubt dressed him to send some sort of message. Maybe it was “This is my slovenly—though expensively so—associate who handles my initial contacts.”
Judit stayed in uniform. When he saw her, Noal sighed but didn’t say anything aloud. He gave Annika a grateful nod. She didn’t have any of her elaborate gowns on board, but she’d paired the military trousers Judit had loaned her with a bright pink shirt she borrowed from Dr. Sewell. She wore her hair down but fashionably swept to the side, and she’d taken Noal up on his offer of cosmetics and jewelry. She wore a platinum earring that curved around her left ear and a sapphire stud in her right. The makeup was subtle, like Noal’s, but it softened her cheekbones and features. Maybe such artistry was why Judit had never considered her dangerous before.
A disturbing thought.
Evie accompanied them to the station. She would wait outside the appointed restaurant, though the sound dampening would also deaden her comm. She was another pair of eyes to look for trouble, and someone who could fight if it came to it. Noal seemed confident they wouldn’t need any help, but Judit would only take so many chances.
When they were all aboard the Scipio, Annika hooked her arm through Judit’s as if they were taking a stroll. She hadn’t added anything to the plan, and Judit wondered if she’d have played it the same way, or if she would have threatened her way through. She had too many qualities of both Noal and Judit to be sure.
The restaurant was on the topmost floor of the station, halfway between the Damat’s pylon and the bay where smaller ships docked on the Scipio’s side. Strategically, it was the sort of place Judit would have chosen, and she bet Antiles picked it for the same reason. Everyone had a quick way out if things turned sour. She wondered how often that happened to Antiles, how often his customers turned on him, but maybe that wasn’t what he was worried about. He probably worried that people like Judit would be waiting to ambush both him and his customers and arrest the lot. Or maybe he liked being in a position to flee once business was concluded.
Thinking like a criminal was hard.
Judit wondered if she and Annika should take a booth near Noal and Spartan, but they wouldn’t be able to hear, so they let a little service bot—little more than a cube on wheels—guide them to one booth cut into a half circle with a table before it. If Antiles didn’t like speaking to all of them, they’d have to find another criminal to deal with, painful as that was. Judit did not want to start this whole process over.
The booth had a high back, fairly comfortable, upholstered in dark red leather. In front of their table, a massive window showcased a view of the stars. The closest planet was an orange ball that looked about the size of a fist at this distance. The lighting was dim, and if Judit leaned forward, she could only see the backs of other booths or the hint of a side, a sea of dark wood rising from the blue carpet. Protective glassteel surrounded many of the tables she’d passed on the way in, shielding the occupants like the cabana on Xeni. Whoever owned this station, this restaurant, had gone to a lot of expense to make sure their visitors felt protected. It should have made her feel better. It would make a criminal feel better, but all she could think was that everyone in the room had something to hide.
Annika squeezed her leg. “Relax.”
“You should keep a fork handy,” Noal said. “So you can jab her before she tries to talk.”
Judit glared at him. “I won’t say a word.”
“I have all the faith in you,” he said.
“Like dark you do.”
That got a little smile from all of them, and Judit joined in. Barely.
They waited to put up their barrier, and a different service bot came to take their drink order. This one was about three feet tall, rectangular in shape with a holo display on top that showcased a variety of drinks.
Judit ordered water, making Noal roll his eyes again. Annika and Noal ordered elaborate alcoholic drinks with fruit and straws and umbrellas. Spartan stuck to water, too, and Judit nearly clapped him on the shoulder in solidarity. Noal didn’t roll his eyes at Spartan’s choice, and it was all Judit could do not to point that out in a teasing tone.
They made idle chitchat, talking about the décor or the stars or nothing in particular. Judit almost laughed at the four of them talking idly when they had so much else to discuss, but without the barrier, they couldn’t know who might be listening. Judit didn’t add much, and Annika gave her more reassuring squeezes.
Antiles came around the corner soon after, following the service bot. Instead of a suit, he wore a flowing robe with billowing sleeves. The front parted to reveal a modest black jumpsuit underneath, but the robe itself was a riot of colors, an intricate pattern that hurt Judit’s eyes if she stared too long. Maybe that was a negotiating tactic.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said, looking at all of them in turn. He had a mellifluous voice, and his blue eyes were even lighter than the holo suggested, nearly as pale as the whites. She had to struggle to meet them. “I don’t believe we’ve all met.”
Spartan activated the glassteel shield before he spoke, and any ambient sounds faded away. “Nicholas and Veronica Meridian,” Spartan said, indicating Noal and Judit. “And this is our friend Calliope.”
“Charmed,” Antiles said, bowing from his seat. “Well, well, two members of the Meridian Blood, and…” He stared at Annika before grinning. “Their beautiful companion.”
Judit had no idea if he was fooled by the names; he didn’t give anything away. They lowered the shield enough for Antiles to order his own drink. Once he had it, and the shield was up, he leaned back in his chair
and took a long sip.
“Now, what can I do for you today?”
Judit held her tongue; she was already tired of his oily smile, his confident demeanor. She didn’t dare pick up her own glass, not trusting her hands to keep still. She tried to remember her chosen role as bodyguard. The muscle didn’t do the talking.
“To put it bluntly,” Noal said, “we’d like your ship.”
“Interesting,” Antiles said. “Am I allowed to know what for?”
“We need to pose as you or one of your close associates and take Calliope to Nocturna Prime or one of its moons.”
Antiles stayed silent, and Judit wondered about his calm expression, if he’d gone frozen. “Even more intriguing,” he said at last. “Would you need any stock to sell?”
“We’d just need the ship.”
“Well, that begs the question, why does the lovely Calliope need my ship? I mean, obviously you can’t take the Meridian ship parked outside, but surely there are others for sale.”
Judit wanted to snap at him to mind his own business. Even though she hadn’t liked him before she’d ever met him, she hadn’t known he would affect her so strongly in person. Maybe it was his cologne, a light scent that made her recall leather and some kind of spice. She hated colognes of any kind, and she found his particularly annoying.
Noal toyed with the flotsam on his glass. “Secrecy is key. We need to look like someone familiar with the area who’s beyond suspicion.”
Antiles gave a delighted little laugh. “And you think that’s me? Why in the galaxy would I be able to get close to Nocturna Prime?”
“Reputation,” Noal said, using his oiliest, most charming smile, the one he normally reserved for the press.
“Of course.” Antiles sipped his drink. “And what are you offering in exchange for my ship?”
“Oh, I think your imagination can be relied on to think of something,” Noal said. “And if creds don’t leap automatically to mind, surely there’s something else?”
Antiles thought for a few moments. “For my ship, nothing. It’s not for rent. It’s not for sale.” Before Noal could say anything, Antiles held up a hand. “But I am willing to be transportation.” He nodded to Annika. “For the right price.”
“And that is?”
Antiles gave a little shrug. “I will admit, I have been…near Nocturna Prime before. I’ll tell you right now, I won’t have my property involved in any assassinations. And if we can come to some arrangement, and I do transport you to Prime, someone will be looking for my return, with a handy transmission to the Nocturna government all queued up in case I never make it back.”
“No assassinations,” Noal said. “If all goes as planned, no one will even know Calliope has been there, and you’ll be free to conduct whatever business you see fit while you’re there.”
“Even more intriguing than before. And all I have to do is decide what I want from you.”
“Within reason. I can’t promise you the galaxy on a string.”
“Hmm.” Antiles looked at each of them in turn. “Well, if you’re not after the blood of the Blood, you must be after an object or information. How about this, if it’s an object, I get a cut or an object of similar value. If it’s information, I want access.”
Noal glanced at Annika, but she kept up a bored façade. “That…will depend on what information we happen upon. We won’t give you anything that might lead to the death of a Nocturna Blood.”
Judit glanced at Annika, who shrugged. Judit frowned, not liking that Annika could dismiss the possible assassination of a family member so lightly, even if the gesture was fake.
“Fair enough,” Antiles said. “But trade secrets are fair game, like any high-cred deals you happen to uncover. Maybe a little insider information on this uprising, like, what Nocturna plans to do about it. Any advance warning on places they might attack or pacify so that a certain someone could make sure his goods and associates are far gone when it happens.”
“Deal,” Noal said.
Judit bristled at feeding information to a criminal, but she supposed they had little choice. And she was sure Annika would find a way to vet the information before she handed it over.
Antiles turned his attention to Annika again. “Do you speak, dear Calliope? Or shall our voyage be a silent one?”
“I’ll speak if I have something to say,” she said, smiling.
“Splendid. I assume you need time to get your bags together? What’s your timetable?”
“As soon as possible,” Annika said.
Judit felt herself stiffen. She wasn’t ready to send Annika with this darking criminal.
He took another look at all of them, and by his smile, Judit knew in her gut that he recognized them. He might have always known who Noal was. He might have discovered it after they’d first spoken, but he knew, and he was smart enough not to say anything.
Noal leaned forward. “It probably goes without saying, but discretion is key in this…mission.”
“For Meridians in Nocturna space, I should think so.”
But something about the way he said “Meridians” reinforced Judit’s conclusion that he knew who they were.
He swirled his glass again. “Aren’t you a little afraid I might sell you out? Not that I will,” he said quickly. “But why trust a stranger? Meridian must have many resources.”
“We need someone who’s only interested in what we can give him,” Noal said. “And you don’t seem as interested in creds as you do in information.”
Antiles flashed a smile. “Smart, very smart. Well then, Calliope, my dear, shall we?”
“I’ll meet you at the docking ring in an hour.”
He stood, bowed deeply, and Noal lowered the shield so he could leave.
They waited until he’d cleared the restaurant before they left, meeting Evie in the hall.
Judit clacked her teeth. “Roberts, Antiles left. I want you monitoring his comm hard. Anything coming from his ship, even static, I want it recorded and analyzed.”
“On it, Boss.”
They waited until they were back aboard the Damat before Judit said anything more. “Nice work, Noal.”
He grinned. “I thought it went well. And nice work to you on not killing him.”
“You were very tense,” Annika said.
Spartan nodded. “Nearly vibrating.”
Judit frowned. If they’d all noticed, Antiles probably had, too. “Bodyguards are supposed to be tense.”
“Well,” Annika said. “Now all that’s left to do is pack and say farewell for now.”
Judit felt a pit open in her stomach. “Is that better than good-bye?”
“Much. Noal, I’d like to borrow some makeup and clothing. I’ll need to do whatever I can to disguise myself.”
“I’ve got some hair dye, too.”
Annika nodded.
Noal took her hand. Judit raised an eyebrow. Maybe it took her putting her life in danger for that old affection to come back. “Take care of yourself.”
“I will,” she said, her own smile like the old days. “You too.”
Spartan gave her a nod, and he and Noal walked toward Noal’s room. Judit followed Annika to the quarters she was using. Even though they spent a lot of time in each other’s company, Judit thought it important they have their own space. It gave them room to think.
She sat on the bed as Annika packed a small bag with borrowed clothing. “Tell everyone I’ll have their things back as soon as possible, if I don’t have to leave them in a hurry.”
“There’s no bit of clothing that can’t be replaced.” She fiddled with the edge of the blanket, her whole being crying out for her to demand Annika not go. There had to be another way. There was always another way. “Are you certain you’ll be all right?”
“I can take care of myself,” she said as she sat beside Judit. “If Antiles upsets me, I’ll knock him unconscious, and he can wake up when we get back. I’ll give him his information, and hopefully he’ll be so h
appy, he forgives the bump on the head.”
Judit chuckled. “Good to know.” She took Annika’s hand. “We’ve been through a lot, but we’ve had each other through all of it.”
“I know, but my guardian trainers assumed I would be by myself. I am very prepared.”
“You’re still taking a weapon.”
“If you insist.”
* * *
Annika smiled as Judit gave her a personal comm and a small shock stick, easily hidden in her clothing. The comm wasn’t powerful enough to send a signal to the Damat across space, but she could keep in touch with Antiles. The shock stick wasn’t as powerful as its longer cousin, but she wouldn’t need it at all. She could incapacitate someone with her hands much easier. Her bone stiletto was her emergency weapon. Noal had probably told Judit about that, but she didn’t need reminding.
“I’ll get back here as fast as I can,” Annika said.
“We’ll be on the lookout for Antiles’s ship.”
“If I have to steal another for some reason, I’ll give you a shout.” She paused, thinking of all the possibilities. “If I have to stow away on another ship, we need a signal so you’ll know I’m there.”
“How will you get a ship you stowed away on to come here?”
That was a tricky question, one she’d have to work out later, but she could see she’d planted more doubt in Judit’s mind. “I trust you to find me.”
Judit looked pained. “Annika—”
“I’ll tinker with their engines. Give them a leak in one of their systems. If I’m not back in a week, look for lame ships.”
“In the whole galaxy?”
Annika kissed her gently. “I’ll try and get them to head out of Nocturna territory as quickly as I can. I’ll be fine!”
Judit didn’t look comforted, but she nodded all the same, miserable look in place.
Annika didn’t want a hurried round of lovemaking before she had to depart, so she and Judit simply held each other, kissing occasionally, until it was time to collect her cosmetics from Noal and head to the docking ring. Judit followed her all the way to Antiles’s ship.
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