Another enemy slithered past Zee and tried to get around Asger to Casmir again. Asger rammed his pertundo into it as Rache shot it and Casmir kicked it in the mouth. The creature was run through on the point of Asger’s weapon, and he spun, hurling it as well as he could in the water. It flew past Zee, and Zee snatched it from its route and tore it into pieces with pincers he’d formed at the ends of his fin-arms.
Someone cursed. “It bit me!”
“Bite it back.”
“Who’s got the Protein Pucks now? Look out!”
DEW-Tek energy bolts flew through the water, striking targets, but they didn’t do much damage. The creatures kept swimming toward the group.
“Stay in formation,” Rache said calmly, “and out of each other’s lines of fire. Casmir, when you’re done playing soccer with these guys, the forcefield, if you please.”
“Soccer? I was keeping that one from biting off my favorite parts.”
“All your parts should be secure behind that armor. Forcefield.”
“Tyrant,” Casmir muttered.
One of the mercenaries produced some of the rations they’d brought along—the notorious Protein Pucks, perhaps—and unwrapped them and tried to throw them at the creatures. It was only partially effective. Asger faced two more that once again recognized Casmir as the greatest threat, to the base if not to their lives, and roared and attacked, refusing to let them through. Rache stayed close, also protecting Casmir, and he and Asger worked together to create a wall the creatures couldn’t penetrate.
“The forcefield is down,” Casmir said.
“Good,” Rache said in the middle of a stab with his dagger—it wasn’t the weapon a pertundo was, but blades were proving more effective than energy weapons on their gelatinous attackers. “Asger, get out and check for danger up above. Chains, Wu, you too.”
“I’m not leaving Casmir,” Asger said, even though Zee treaded beside Casmir and had proven himself as adept as any of them in the water.
“He’s fine,” Rache said. “He’s got his crusher, and I’m right here.”
Asger growled, not reassured, but if he got out, he could pull Casmir up on the dock. Even if there were further threats up there, it would be easier to fight on land. He hoped.
He pulled himself onto the dock and crouched, facing the blocky shapes he’d seen from below. They were robots on treads with more than a dozen flexible appendages, each with the muzzle of a weapon built into the end. Ten of the hulking defenders lined a beach made from ice, but none of them were moving.
Asger frowned suspiciously. They had been moving before. He was sure of it.
“There are robots up here, boss,” a mercenary beside him said, “but they look like they’re powered down now.”
“That might change when we step onto their beach,” the other mercenary said, “and interrupt their tanning session.”
“Kind of hard to get a tan through a mile of ice.”
Asger knelt at the end of the dock—it was made out of ice and metal but wasn’t slippery. “Casmir, give me your hand.” He could make out the top of Casmir’s helmet through the water—and could also see more of those creatures darting through the doors. “I’ll pull you up.”
Casmir rose out of the water as if he were riding a geyser. Not a geyser, a crusher. Zee boosted him high, and Asger grabbed him and set him down on the deck.
The guardian robots still weren’t moving. A few more mercenaries pushed themselves out of the water, but nobody encroached on the icy beach yet.
“Thank you for all the help,” Casmir said as Zee popped out of the water, reshaping into a fully humanoid form next to him. “I’m trying not to feel like a useless invalid needing to be carried about, but it’s not easy.”
“Useless? You opened the doors and dropped the forcefield.” Asger pointed at the massive inert robots. “And are you responsible for that?”
“Yes, but maybe not for long.” Casmir winced, touching the side of his helmet near his temple. “More than the bots are aware of me now. I think Moonrazor is on the network, contemplating me. I’m trying to get her to contemplate all the ships in orbit instead, but the astroshamans know our teams are down here—and have for a while.”
“Comforting.”
The rest of the mercenaries gathered on the dock, making it tight. Rache strode onto the beach and up to one of the robots, and knocked on its metal treads.
“You could let that one go long enough for it to eat him,” Asger muttered.
“Robots don’t eat people,” Casmir said.
“That would be most unappealing,” Zee said. “Biological matter cannot be as efficiently processed for energy as inorganic material.”
“Can it at least roll over him with those big treads?” Asger asked as Rache took out a handheld scanner.
“His armor would protect him from being crushed,” Casmir said.
“Darn.”
“I’d appreciate it if you two picked another channel to blather on if you’re going to contemplate my death.” Rache glared back at them, then walked toward one of two identical round tunnels that had been drilled into the ice. “I’m reading life forms in that section of the complex.” He pointed off to the right. “And I’m reading the gate’s unique signature in that half.” He pointed to the left.
“Are we close enough that it might be affecting us with the pseudo radiation?” Asger asked.
“Yes.” Rache headed down the tunnel toward the gate.
“I was afraid of that.”
A soft clank sounded as the Eagle docked to the airlock off the cargo hold in the Machu Picchu. The Maze Runner had skulked off hours earlier.
Qin hadn’t left the area. She was resting and munching on chicharrones and vita-bars that she’d brought along while trying not to worry about her fate. She had helped the Kingdom scientists, so their military shouldn’t hold a grudge against her, but since she needed a ride, she needed them to be willing to take her on board. She’d also done good deeds on Odin, but she didn’t know if the soldiers on this warship would know of them. Or be able to look past her fur and fangs.
Bonita and Johnny walked in, Johnny carrying his prisoner over his shoulder, the man once again unconscious. Qin didn’t know where Captain Amazing had been for the last few hours, or where Bonita and Johnny had been either. She hadn’t wanted to bother them. Scholars Kelsey-Sato and Beaumont had been in and out of the hold, dragging in crates of equipment they wanted to take with them.
Qin wondered what would happen to the Machu Picchu. If they left it here, empty of a crew or guards, other salvage ships would be along. She also wondered what would happen with Johnny, who she would keep thinking of as Johnny until she knew for sure he was what and who he said he was. She was beginning to accept it—what stranger would tell stories of an underage Asger modeling for scandalous calendars?—but she struggled to think of him as a knight. After she’d read so many stories that featured heroic knights, first riding into battle on horses and later on air bikes and spaceships, protecting ladies’ virtue and valiantly defeating enemies… it was hard to accept the tattooed, snarky man as a knight.
As Bonita walked toward her, Qin put away her food and rose to her feet, her weapons slung over her shoulder. Another clank emanated from the airlock chamber, and nerves tap-danced in her stomach.
“Now we find out if the Kingdom soldiers recognize their Kingdom knight, eh, Captain?” Qin said.
Bonita sniffed and looked at Johnny. “We will indeed. He doesn’t seem nervous. He’d probably be wetting himself by now if he was a pirate or other hooligan and had to fake his way aboard.”
“I think he’s too cocky to wet himself."
Johnny walked to stand in front of the hatch with his prisoner.
It wasn’t locked, so it flew open easily, and marines in combat armor tramped in with weapons. Qin tensed, her natural instinct to leap for cover and bring her own weapons to bear. But Bonita held out her open hands, and Qin made herself do the same.
&nb
sp; “We’ve already ruthlessly taken care of the bad guys,” Johnny drawled as the men fanned out, making sure the area was secure. “I’d offer you boys coffee and cookies, but the ship was damaged, and its mess isn’t up to Fleet standards.”
“Huh,” Bonita said. “He’s as irreverent with them as with me.”
“I think he’s irreverent with everyone.” Qin had seen some of his serious side when he’d been talking about how disappointed he was in Asger’s past conduct. She decided she preferred the snark.
A few men glanced at Johnny, but none responded. One murmured, “Secure,” into his helmet comm, Qin’s ears picking it up.
None of them pointed their weapons at Qin or Bonita, but Qin was keeping her helmet on. She doubted any of them had gotten a good look at her yet.
The marines waited in position until an officer with his helmet under his arm strode out of the airlock. He walked up to Johnny and bowed.
“Sir Asger. It’s been too long.”
Johnny dropped his unconscious prisoner to the deck and returned the bow. “Commander Berg. I’m relieved you recognize me. I was afraid I’d have a difficult time convincing your crew of my identity.”
“You look disturbingly different from the last time we met. Dinner at Baron Farley’s, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. During which Sir Hayakawa attempted to convince Farley that seaweed and blowfish make a superior meal to goose and cranberry sauce.”
“There was a memorable cook-off that night, yes.” Berg’s gaze shifted to the prisoner. “One of Dubashi’s cronies?”
“I believe so. His first officer told some tales.”
Captain Amazing, not as unconscious as Qin had thought, glared blearily up at them. “Lies. I’ll want a lawyer before I talk to you people.”
“I was thinking more of an interrogation chamber and a hefty course of a truth drug,” Berg said.
Berg’s gaze shifted toward the scholars, who’d waited to make sure nobody was shooting before coming up behind Johnny.
“Professor Beaumont?” Berg asked. “And, ah, droid?”
“Scholar Erin Kelsey-Sato.” She flicked her tail.
“Oh, er, we weren’t expecting you.”
“Few ever are.”
“Please come aboard.” Berg bowed, though not as deeply as he had toward Johnny. “We have orders to take you directly to Xolas Moon where a team has already gone down to—” he glanced at Qin and Bonita, “—explore.”
“I’m waiting for these people to realize we know more about what’s going on than they do,” Bonita muttered.
“Maybe it’s safer if they don’t know how much we know about their top-secret happenings,” Qin murmured back.
“True.”
Johnny extended a hand toward Qin and Bonita. “This is Captain Laser and her assistant Qin Liangyu. They’re the crew of the Stellar Dragon and volunteered to help us repel the would-be salvagers. They need to be reunited with their freighter as soon as possible.”
“We have to make the moon our priority,” Berg said, “but we can either rendezvous with their ship afterward or drop them off at Tiamat Station.”
“Yes, the moon is the priority.” Kelsey-Sato trotted for the airlock. “Do hurry up. Before those buffoons get themselves into trouble.”
Berg raised a finger, as if he might object to a monkey-droid charging onto his ship, but Professor Beaumont strode after her, and Berg lowered his hand. “Very well.”
“Have your strapping young soldiers bring our equipment, please.” Kelsey-Sato pointed at the crates she and Beaumont had hauled down.
“I’ll get them,” Qin volunteered, feeling useless and also like someone would be less inclined to peer through her faceplate if she was serving the scholars.
But as she strode forward, a couple of the “strapping young soldiers” did too. One glanced at her face and tripped, almost pitching into his comrade.
“What’s wrong with you, Dopper?”
“That’s a—” The soldier pointed at Qin. “A, uhm. She’s got fangs, Sergeant.”
Qin sighed and picked up two cases, hefting them over her shoulders. She decided not to comment and hoped the soldiers would leave her alone.
“Don’t worry, men,” Johnny drawled, walking over to pick up a crate. “I heard she hardly ever uses them in bed. Somewhat to the disappointment of her lovers.”
“Love… lovers?” The soldier scrambled backward, almost tripping again. “Human lovers? But she’s a freak, sir.”
“She is not.” Bonita strode up to stand beside Qin. “Scurry yourself back aboard your ship and go find an officer’s ass to kiss.”
“But—”
“You two,” Berg barked from the airlock. “Leave the cases to them. Return to the ship.”
Even though Qin was used to long stares and freak comments, she couldn’t keep her cheeks from warming in embarrassment. She stared straight ahead as she carried the cases, hoping she and Bonita would be given a cabin and left alone for the rest of the trip. Already, she longed for the Dragon and her cabin decorated with unicorns, books, and other fun things that could make her forget about interacting with people and not fitting in.
Berg eyed Qin as she and Bonita passed, but he didn’t say anything. Perhaps because Johnny wasn’t far behind.
“I guess I have to stop calling him Johnny now,” Qin muttered.
“You can if you want, but I’m not going to stop calling him Toes.” Bonita walked beside her through the airlock tube.
“What if he doesn’t turn out to have any extras?” Qin imagined the real Johnny Twelve Toes had been shoved out an airlock more than a year ago, so Bjarke Asger could take his identity.
“Then I’ll be grievously disappointed.”
“I didn’t know mutants got you excited. Or is that why you took me on board?”
“I took you on board because you helped me collect a couple of bounties and didn’t think it was weird that Viggo has his vacuums work to Old Earth operas.”
“I did think that was weird. I just didn’t say anything.”
“Which is how I knew you would be a polite and obedient worker.” Bonita slapped her on the back.
“Thanks. I think.”
Bjarke and Berg caught up to them in the warship’s cargo hold, and Berg waved for them to follow him.
“There are a lot of extra marines on board right now in case the locals give us any trouble,” Berg said, “so I can only spare two cabins for your group and the scholars.”
“That’s fine.” Bjarke winked back at Bonita. “We’ll figure something out.”
Qin held back a grimace. She hoped she would be able to room with Bonita instead of strangers—or strange androids that probably stayed up all night talking about quasars.
“You don’t get to see me naked,” Bonita said, “unless you show me your toes first.”
Berg stumbled. Their group certainly was unsettling the crew of the Eagle.
“My toes are legendary,” Bjarke said toward Berg. “Women from throughout the Twelve Systems want to see them.”
“I don’t want to know why.”
“They’re flexible and dexterous.”
“Gross. You’ve been living too long with pirates, Sir Knight.”
“Yes, so I’ve been told. Later, I’ll go to your ship’s church and pray penitently for my soul.”
“A good idea.”
Bjarke winked back at Bonita again—without penitence.
“I’m not sure I believe Asger is the scandalous one in that family,” Qin muttered.
“One wonders about his upbringing,” Bonita said.
Qin didn’t volunteer what she knew, since she didn’t know if Asger would appreciate the story of the calendar coming out. The first calendar. She wondered if he would consider giving her a copy of that one. But then she blushed. She shouldn’t want to see him naked. It wasn’t as if a furred freak and a heroic knight of the Kingdom would ever have a relationship beyond friendship. She should be happy that she had th
at now, especially given how their first meeting had gone.
“I wonder if Asger will be at this moon we’re going to,” Qin whispered to Bonita as their group approached a lift. “He mentioned he’d gone with the warships to hunt for the gate.”
“Probably so. What do you think will happen when this Asger and that Asger meet up?”
Qin looked up as Bjarke stepped into the lift with the commander and turned to face the doors.
“Bloodshed,” Qin murmured.
“Truly?”
“Punching at the least.”
“And here you’re always lamenting that you don’t have family. See how much trouble they are?” Bonita stepped in next to Bjarke and wriggled her eyebrows at him.
He couldn’t have heard all of the conversation, but he’d heard her last line. “Did you just call me trouble?”
“Yes.”
“That’s apt.” He slung an arm over her shoulders.
Since she was wearing armor, she couldn’t have felt any enjoyment from the touch—she might not have felt the touch at all—but Bonita smirked and leaned against his side.
“My toes are eager to spring free from their cloistered confines,” he told her.
Berg shot him a bewildered expression. Qin stepped farther away from them so that her shoulder pressed against the side of the lift.
“The confines of your boots?” Bonita looked down.
“Naturally.”
“How long will it take us to get to Xolas Moon?” Beaumont asked, indifferent to toes and boots, or perhaps eager to change the topic.
Before Berg could answer, a comm chimed.
“Commander?” a female voice asked.
“I’m back on board, Captain,” Berg responded.
“With Professor Beaumont?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. We’re boosting off to the moon now. There’s been some trouble. The rest of the fleet needs us back there as soon as possible.”
“Rache?” Berg asked, his voice hard.
Qin exchanged a long look with Bonita. What was the infamous mercenary up to in this system? Also trying to get the gate? Could she and Bonita end up in trouble yet if someone found out they’d worked with and even had dinner with him back on Odin?
Gate Quest (Star Kingdom Book 5) Page 23