by AJ Super
“It’s just an isolation room now. I noticed that there was a strange code invading everything and set up a quarantine room where no signals and no computer code can penetrate. The computers in there are off network and inaccessible to whatever virus is spreading across Elysion.” Joshua smoothed his hair back and pulled out his red ponytail, then put it back in.
Nyx’s brow creased, and she wrinkled her nose at Crius. “You didn’t tell him?”
“I did. He doesn’t believe me. And Erebus won’t show herself to him. Says staying a secret is more important. Especially since he works with the Queen’s Guard.” They put their hands out helplessly.
“I guess it’s Erebus’ call. If she wants to play shy, she can play shy.” Nyx frowned and shook her head.
Crius palmed the magnetically locked door, and it slid open. They walked into the back room. Empty except for the computer that ran the mind-stripper, now repurposed for Stars-knew-what, a table with four chairs, and a worn denim-blue sofa with a rumpled brown blanket. The wood table was simple, scratched and beaten, with matching lathe-legged chairs. On two of the chairs there were cushions, and on the other two stacks of books and boxes of electronics threatened to tumble off.
“Shut the door behind you.” Crius sighed.
Nyx slapped the door pad, and the door slid shut. Nyx stood by the door. “Why am I here, Crius?” She tightened her grip on the hilt of the knife. If she needed it to absorb Crius, she would do it quickly.
Crius sank down on one of the padded chairs.
“Why Adonis? Why did you have to find him?” They held their forehead and slid their hand back, smoothing their indigo hair flat to their head. “Why him? Why now?”
“What’s going on, Crius?” Her grip eased. This wasn’t about an upload. Nyx shifted her weight and crossed her arms, getting impatient.
They slowly shook their head. “You can’t trust him.”
Nyx blinked. “Why not? He’s family. He’s given me no reason not to trust him.”
Crius rolled their head back. “It was a long time ago. During the AI Wars. We thought he was on our side. But he was working for the Protectorate, before Phoebe took it over. He’s the reason she took it over. His clone army. No one should have control of that kind of blindly obedient manpower. She put a stop to the cloning. Made it illegal. Made making any kind of sentient being that can be controlled illegal, including Sias.”
“I know. Which is why Sias are glorified dolls now.” Nyx pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “But Yoon—”
“Is that what he’s calling himself now? It was Jun Zhang Wei back in the day. He probably even looks different now, too,” Crius spat.
Nyx grit her teeth. “Yoon seemed distraught that he was creating clones for someone other than Phoebe when he found out.”
“There are clones? There’s an army?” Crius’ gold-circled, indigo eyes widened. They ran their hand up their tattooed cheek. “That changes things. Underground may not be able to handle Adonis and his clones.”
“Yoon is infected. I can control his army now,” Nyx whispered.
“What?” Crius exclaimed. “Why haven’t you absorbed him then? Get rid of him. He’s a threat to us all. And you won’t have perfect control of merde unless you incorporate him into your system.”
“Like I’m supposed to upload you. Now,” Nyx whispered.
“What?”
“You told me you never wanted to see me again. Unless…”
“There are more important things now.”
“I’m not sure there are.” Nyx paused. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. Or what you want.”
“You’re supposed to listen to me.”
Nyx shook her head. “I’m not going to do that.”
“If you don’t upload Adonis…”
“The army is still, uh, gestating anyway. They’re still in tanks, and the new Protectorate, the ACG and the NAU, can’t do anything with them for a while.”
“How long? How long is a while? Because they will come here first. Elysion is the first place they always come. It’s too strategic and too rich.”
“And there are too many people who will actually fight back?”
“We have plans. But it all falls to merde if that connard Adonis screws with us.”
“Heard.” Nyx nodded. “I will make sure that doesn’t happen. And I will make sure that army is mine and mine alone. I promise.” She paused. So far no one had said anything about the last two Stars. She knew enough that they were rarely worshipped in the Church of the Seven, except by zealots and those with dark purpose. But if the Stars of Crius, Phoebe, Adonis, Erebus, and Nyx existed, the Stars of Hypnos and Keres must as well. And the only Star talking to her about the past was Crius. She cleared her throat. “What about Hypnos and Keres? Where do I find them?”
Crius’ lips thinned. “We don’t talk about them.”
Nyx narrowed her eyes. She wanted to know her family. All of them. The good the bad… It’s why she sent Tyco out to find Haven, maybe even to find Hypnos and Keres too… “I know the God of Sleep and the God of Violence and Death are generally anathema even in the Church, but aren’t they family?”
“If they want to talk, they’ll find you,” Crius said gruffly.
“Can’t you just tell me about them? About what they did during the AI Wars?”
“No. Those two butchers… Just leave it alone. And don’t go to Erebus or Phoebe. They won’t give you any answers either.”
Nyx leaned back. “I’m getting really tired of family secrets. Since when wasn’t I a part of this putain de famille?”
“You may be the defacto head of the family, but we’ve been around longer, and we have more to protect.”
“Fine.” Nyx fidgeted. “That wasn’t all you brought me here for, right?” She pushed her cheek with her tongue, impatient. Erebus had said they may have information about Phoebe and the missing Sia unit.
“No. Get Joshua.” They tipped their head at the door, spikes bobbing.
Nyx frowned and slapped open the door. Joshua leaned right next to it, and she jumped. He stuck his hand out and grabbed the edge of the doorframe. “You know, princess. I dislike being held at gunpoint, and every time you come here, I get held at gunpoint.” He slid through the door with his hands outspread in front of him, backing into the room, and pushing Nyx backwards behind him. Crius stood, staring quizzically at the door.
“Putain, Nyx. What are you doing here again? Do I always have to come and rescue you from this truc de merde?” Kai walked through the door, his pulse pistol pointed at Joshua.
Nyx scrunched her face and ran a hand through her hair. She put her hands on Joshua’s shoulders and side-stepped around him, planting herself between him and Kai. “How is it that you always know where I am, Kai?” she growled.
“I have my ways.” He smiled, skin illuminating with fiery red energy. His eyes lit, merrily keeping a secret.
Nyx’s facial expression flattened. “Erebus. It’s Erebus. She’s on the Medusa too, so you’ve been talking to her about things she shouldn’t be saying, like the location of the Thanatos and where in particular I’m going.”
“Stalker,” Joshua coughed.
“That stops now, Kai.” Nyx warned.
“If I didn’t do it, this connard would be mind-stripping you again. I saw some hooded goon lead you here,” Kai whined and flicked the muzzle of his gun at Joshua.
Crius laughed. “Goon, that’s a new one.”
“I’m here to see my sibling and to get some information from Joshua. There’s no mind-stripping equipment even in this room.” Nyx shook her head. Her heart ached. Why did her ex keep showing up in front of her? She wanted nothing more than to forget their past. Forget that he cared for her. Forget that she once cared for him.
Her tendrils twitched, closing in on Kai’s fiery energy. “You keep showing up, but there’s nothing here for you, Kai. Not anymore. Even if there had been some danger to me, don’t you think I can handle myself?
I am a God.”
Kai thinned his lips. “You are, and always will be, just Nyx Marcus.”
Nyx huffed and turned. “Kai, I’d like you to meet the Star of Crius.” She motioned to Crius, who had sat down at the table again. Crius lifted their hand and gave a small wave. “My sibling Star. Just like Erebus and Phoebe.”
“Well, maybe not just like them.” Crius squinted.
Kai gaped, then tapped two fingers to his heart.
Nyx sighed. He had always been religious, but she didn’t know when he started to salute the Stars.
“You do gather some strange ones around you, ma petite Nyx.” Crius covered their mouth to stifle the giggles.
Joshua gagged behind Nyx. “Just when we got rid of the Greene siblings and their incessant saluting, another one shows up.”
Kai ran his hand awkwardly through his hair as he holstered his weapon. “I really thought you were in some kind of danger.”
“I’m not yours to save anymore, Kai,” Nyx whispered.
“You’ll always be mine to save.” He put a hand to his chest, where the gold engagement ring on the chain around his neck fell under his black tee-shirt.
Nyx’s heart beat hard, remembering the warm metal on her ring finger. If only things had been different. If only he hadn’t been the one who had killed her mother. If only she hadn’t made him immortal. If only she wasn’t a Star. An AI. A God. If only, if only, if only.
“Kai, just go. Please,” Nyx begged.
“And take the goon squad out in the lobby with you,” Joshua piped in.
Nyx hadn’t even noticed the half dozen extra men Kai had brought with him lingering in the main part of the shop. They hadn’t come storming in the back room with Kai. So, he was playing savior on his own. Not even Betty had accompanied him this time. Nyx wondered what the Medusa’s Head Security Officer thought of her captain coming planetside to be a big damned hero.
“Fine, Nyx. But at least wave me when you’re done. I want to make sure you got back safe.” He turned and walked out the door of the backroom. “Come on, people. Time to go.”
Joshua skittered from behind Nyx, slapped the door pad and closed the backroom door. He leaned against it and slumped down to the floor.
Crius snickered. “That was exciting. Prince Charming to the rescue.”
“Putain. For no damned good reason,” Nyx swore.
“Oglae,” Joshua exhaled.
“What?” Nyx eyed the red-bearded man.
“Oglae. The Pascal Fouqué domes. There’s a man there with the information you need. Just pay him.” Joshua pulled out a strip of paper. “Here’s the account number and the amount he wants. He’ll meet you at the orange noodle tent in the market two days after your payment clears.”
Nyx strode to Joshua and snatched the paper from him. “This is a lot of money.”
“The information he’ll give you will be accurate. You’ll be able to find Phoebe and Erebus.” Joshua looked at her from the floor.
She inhaled hard and held her breath. Find Erebus. Find Phoebe. She had to find them. She couldn’t let the ACG and NAU keep them prisoner for much longer. She had to find a way to free them and bring them to the Thanatos. Bring them to safety. Les Étoiles knew what was happening to them. After she saved her sisters, then the real battle to retake the Protectorate would begin.
Nyx clutched the account number and entered it into the small datapad on her arm. She transferred the money. Oglae was only a day and a half jump space ride from Elysion. If she left now, before curfew, they’d get there with time to spare.
Crius nodded. “You’re going then?”
“I have to find them. It’s my fault they’re prisoners.” Nyx held out a hand to Joshua to help him stand so she could get out the door. She slapped the door pad, and the door slid open to an empty shop. “It’s almost curfew. I don’t have a lot of time to get back to my shuttle.”
“Que Les Étoiles soient avec toi.” Crius saluted lackadaisically with their hand limp to their forehead.
“Stars be with you, too.” Nyx smiled. “Et toi, Joshua.”
“Yeah, princess. Just come back and kill me some time, okay?” He smirked.
Her face fell. She would have to do that… But it also meant that she would have to do the same for Kai and Malcam, and she wasn’t ready to think about that. She walked out of the shop.
8
Nyx stomped down the tan-paneled corridor, Malcam trailing behind her, his blue energy boiling and his face red with anger. “You can’t go alone,” he rumbled.
“It’s just a quick run to get a data card from one man.” She pivoted, causing Malcam to scramble to a stop. “It’s not going to be dangerous. There will be plenty of people in the market. There will be security. What do you expect? A shootout?”
“It could be a trap,” he growled. “You don’t even know what this guy looks like.”
“But he knows what I look like, and he’ll find me just fine. Part of the deal was to wave my image to him.” Nyx set her jaw.
“Which you should have never done.” Malcam ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back over the top of his head.
“It was part of the deal.” She turned back down the corridor and walked swiftly away from Malcam. “I don’t know what you want from me, Malcam. I have to find Phoebe and Erebus. If this is the way, this is the way.”
He tugged on the black gauge plug in his left ear, a nervous habit, as he followed her. “I could have gone,” he mumbled.
“What part of they’re my sisters don’t you understand?” She spun and snapped at him. “This is my responsibility. Not yours.” She turned and palmed the pad next to the door beside her. It slid open, and she and Malcam walked inside the storage room. Nyx walked to a locker with white parkas hanging inside. She pulled one out and tried it on. It was a little big, but it would do.
Malcam grabbed her shoulders. “You’re not doing this alone.”
“Says the man who killed my father,” she blurted. A look of shock crossed Malcam’s face briefly, and he quickly set his jaw and turned his expression neutral. She swallowed, immediately wanting to take it back. Putain Malcam. He was clearly hiding something. Always saying he had promises to keep. And now, now he was being incredibly over-protective. She peeled off the parka and threw it at Malcam. “Tell Raphael to prep for planetfall. I’m going to the market alone, but we need fresh water. And what do you know? They mine water here. So, while I’m gone, you and Sarama can source some water for our stores. That’s an order.”
Malcam fingered the furry collar and stared straight at Nyx. “As you wish, princess.”
“Captain. It’s captain now,” she said with tight lips.
“Yes, sir. Captain, sir.” Malcam stood straight and saluted with his free hand, rolling his eyes. Then, he turned to the door, pounded his hand down on the door pad and stormed out, bowling over the top of Yoon as they collided in the corridor. “Putain, le con.” Malcam shoved the white parka at Yoon and grabbed the black-haired man’s shoulders as he toppled backwards. Malcam stepped to the side and righted Yoon with a quick spin and shook his head. “You convince her.” Then, he proceeded down the hallway in a huff, leaving Yoon holding the parka looking startled and confused.
Nyx walked out of the storage room with a pair of white snow boots and heavy white gloves. She clipped the gloves to the zipper of the parka and tugged the jacket away from Yoon.
He cleared his throat.
“What?” Nyx blinked her eyes, annoyed. “Are you going to tell me not to go to the market alone?”
Yoon held up his hands, shaking his head, hair falling around his shoulders. “Nope. I was—just going to say how clear it is that he cares for you.”
She laughed. “Malcam? No. He cares about power. I have it. He wants it.”
He tightened his dark lips. “That’s not what I just saw.”
“Doesn’t matter.” She waved her hand. “He won’t get what he wants anyway.”
Yoon raised a black br
ow, his tawny forehead creasing. “So, what he wants is?” He pointed at Nyx.
She bit her cheek. “No, that’s not what I meant. I meant…”
“Because it’s not hard to see why.” He smiled.
“What? Why? What?” she stuttered. “What are you talking about?”
“You.” Yoon stepped closer to Nyx and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She could feel the heat of his breath on her face. Her heart beat quicker, and a lump lodged itself in her throat. She felt the red rise in her face, and she reached up to catch his hand and pull it away from her cheek. As she did, his fingers trailed down her jaw and twined into her hand. Her breath stopped as he pulled her gently closer. His cedar-brown eyes were pools of warmth. Warmth that radiated from his body. Electricity shot through her spine as her white tendrils smoked their way through his swirling sapphire light and caressed the steady white flame that connected her to him.
She laughed again. “Crius was right. I shouldn’t trust you.” She shook her hand free and stepped back. “I have to get ready so I can leave soon.” She juggled the boots and parka with gloves in her arms.
He smiled softly. “I know. But when are you going to let me leave?” He stepped in closer to her. “You said we’d go back. Save my clones from the Protectorate.” His voice smoothed in the silence of the corridor.
Nyx inhaled and clenched her teeth. She needed to concentrate on this task. Getting information on her sisters, not on a Star using whatever angle he could to manipulate her into getting his army of clones back. “We will. But you said we had some time. Let me do this first, then we’ll talk.”
Yoon stepped back easily and nodded. He pushed a lock of his hair behind his ear. “Promise?”
“Promise.” Nyx turned and walked down the corridor, clasping the winter clothes to her chest. Maybe she did need to be more wary of Yoon. He was charming and amusing, and he seemed thoughtful and kind. Crius’ warning lodged itself firmly in her head, but honestly, was there anyone she could truly trust anymore?
Erebus’ voice buzzed behind her ear. “Sarama is on a wave with Kai. He’s demanding to talk to you and won’t stand down until he does.”