by Clara Woods
Cassius studied the floor. Given how plain the gray plating was, Lenah doubted he was truly fascinated by it. Finally, he spoke. “He wanted a loyal bodyguard.”
Her eyes bulged, and her heart reached out to him. “He mutilated his own son to get cyborg implants? Or were you in an accident?”
He shrugged. “I was young. I wanted to be a super soldier. Be stronger and protect my father.”
“How old were you?” Lenah whispered, afraid to hear the answer.
“Eighteen. Just old enough to receive the implants.” Cassius shook his head and finally looked up. “But I’m sure you know a thing or two about complicated relationships with fathers.”
Lenah sensed that this was all he was going to share about himself for now, and that they’d moved on from his past to hers. She nodded. She didn’t even know what to make of her father right now. She couldn’t hate him; after all, he was her father. Besides, part of her still hoped he was somehow innocent, though she already knew that wasn’t true.
Cassius seemed to be expecting an answer, and she figured she owed him one after he’d opened up. “You know why I was there in Port Dumas?”
“To see an informant about the stone?”
She shook her head. “To see an informant, yes. But I didn’t know about the stone back then. Remember that I had just met Persia, and she’d obtained it. I wanted to find out what my father was up to. He was hiding things. I am – or used to be – his right hand. I can be very…convincing. That’s a desirable trait for a businesswoman.”
Given the events of the past couple of days, it also seemed an understatement of what she could do. To his credit, Cassius didn’t flinch away from her. Instead, his gaze went down her seated form, as if gauging if he could imagine her in business clothes. The black rags she was currently wearing definitely didn’t suggest it. Also, her face was still full of scratch marks from landing in that thorny bush back on Masis III.
“He was pulling away from me. I heard rumors about a secret laboratory where a test subject had passed away. He was having private meetings with strange people in his soundproof office, those kinds of things. I thought if I just found out what was going on, I could help him fix whatever he’d gotten himself into.”
“Instead, you got kidnapped and ended up carrying the most desired stone in the galaxy.” Cassius chuckled, but it sounded a little bitter. “And stole a ship.”
“I only meant to borrow it. Well, borrow another one, but the parking lot was full of Kahoot’s men, and I couldn’t get to it. This one was inexplicably parked in the darkest corner and only guarded by some very drunk and accommodating smugglers.”
“Ah,” Cassius said, wriggling his eyebrows at her. “I see you already fought fearsome foes before my training started.”
“Speaking of which, I’d like to continue as soon as possible.” Somehow, Lenah feared that going to UPL might not be the end of their adventure. Thinking about it gave her shivers every time she thought about it, and she wanted to be prepared. “I’m not sure this is over yet.”
Cassius nodded. “Expecting trouble at UPL station?”
“I’m not convinced they’re the good guys. I mean, they offered to pay criminals money for the stone. UPL should be the last organization involved in the smuggler world.”
He shook his head. “From my experience, the cleaner someone looks on the outside, the dirtier they are on the inside. Besides, do you have a better idea?”
Lenah sighed. “You mean like developing super powers, and fighting the Angel’s armies ourselves?”
His face stayed serious, though if it was because he was thinking of her powers or the grimness of their – humanity’s – situation, she couldn’t tell. “I don’t have a better idea either. I also really want to get rid of that stone.”
“Me too,” Lenah said. “And maybe start hauling some cargo while we figure something out.”
If she wanted to keep flying the Rambler, she’d have to recruit a mage, which seemed preferable. Besides, with her share of the stone deal, she’d soon have enough cash to pay a mage and even get a few upgrades for the ship.
The hatch opened, and Persia and Uz walked in. Both were covered in sweat and had obviously been exercising. Lenah was glad to see them together. They hadn’t precisely started out liking each other.
“See, Uz, I told you they were having a party without us,” Persia said with a look at the beer bottles in Lenah and Cassius’ hands. Cassius put his bottle on the table and went to the fridge to retrieve two more. Handing them over to them, he resumed his position opposite Lenah.
“How’s the language overwriting going?” Lenah asked Uz, who sat down next to her.
Uz had decided that in order make to the Syrr drone a useful tool for them, she’d need to get it to speak G-Standard. “I don’t understand how a language can get completely lost in this day and age. It’s almost as if the culture never existed.”
Lenah frowned. “Maybe the knowledge was lost on purpose.”
“Yeah, I’ve considered that and find it likely. Someone really didn’t want us to make the connection between God Mage Cassandral and the Syrr princess’s prophecy. But I did find a promising file. It was on the hard drive we got on Lunara Station. It’s encrypted, and I’m only able to see a sample, but it seems to be a dictionary.”
“That’s great, Uz. The faster we can start talking to that drone, the better. I’d like to not arrive empty-handed at UPL’s doorstep.”
“Do you think they’ll give us a friendly reception?”
Lenah shrugged. “I wouldn’t count on it. Past experience has told me that the owners of the Mapstone aren’t well-received anywhere.”
“Is that you becoming a pessimist?” Persia asked, taking a sip of her beer. “Because that would manifest my healing influences on your overly positive attitude.”
“No way. And you, speaking under the influence of alcohol, have nothing to say. I distinctly remember what a well-rounded character you were when we first met.”
“Shut up,” Persia grumbled, but she was hiding a grin. Grinning back, Lenah took another sip of her beer.
THE END
About the Author
CLARA WOODS is the author of the Lunara Station universe.
As a writer as well as a reader, she enjoys quirky characters on an epic adventure, humor, and a little bit of romance. Even better, if it has spaceships.
Her other obsessions, apart from books, usually involve coffee and her rescue dog.
Clara lives in Costa Rica, where moved to be with her better half and now enjoys the sunny weather all year around.
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