by B. V. Larson
Chapter 6
Loco and Chiara at the Rainbow Indentured Contractor Market.
Despite Lutan’s deadly attack, Loco had already decided to leave his blades in their scabbards. Molecular edges could kill, and Chiara said killing wasn’t the goal here. Instead, he concentrated on defending against the Korven’s rush, twisting aside so they both slammed up against the wall with their shoulders.
Lutan’s spiky hands reached, the right for his face and the left for his groin. Loco brought a knee up and across, blessing his ballistic skinsuit as the Korven’s claws shredded the leather on his thigh, but failed to penetrate. He hammered aside the hand reaching for his face, and then grasped one of his opponent’s thumbs, twisting. If the bone structure was similar to a man’s…
A human would’ve been in overwhelming pain, but the submission hold had no effect on the Korven. Loco followed through with leverage until Lutan’s thumb-bone broke.
At this, the Korven’s left hand came up in a disemboweling stroke. Again the skinsuit saved Loco as he rolled with the blow. With Lutan’s broken thumb still tightly in his grasp, Loco rotated and spun, attempting to drive a reverse elbow into his opponent’s jaw.
He missed as the longer-limbed Korven drew back—and then, suddenly, Loco found himself holding a bloody, detached thumb.
Lutan took a further step back and held up his other, undamaged hand. “Hold,” he said.
Loco found himself breathing heavily, his heart pounding and the bruises on his thigh and gut already making themselves known. The crumpled wreck of the kicked Contractor lay unmoving against a wall, with the woman cowering above him in helpless protectiveness.
Slowly, Loco raised the thumb, the size of a fat jumbo prawn, its claw like a chitinous tail. Willing himself utterly stoic, he held Lutan’s eyes, licked its bloody end and smiled—and hoped like hell that the Breaker Bug would take care of any diseases or poisons.
Lutan laughed uproariously, a slithering, coughing fit of amusement. “I declare you worthy, Paloco General. You are a fit mate for Chiara-chama.” He opened his left hand and tossed something at Loco’s feet—a dagger. One of Loco’s knives, which he’d ripped off Loco’s harness with his gut-strike, unnoticed.
Loco replied by chucking the thumb to Lutan, who caught it with his left hand and held it up to examine it.
“I thank you for its return. It will save me some time in the regeneration process.”
“And I thank you for this.” Loco scooped up the dagger, far less valuable than a thumb, he thought, and slid it through his belt. “It will save me some time carving up my next Korven.”
“Take care to wear your armor when next you try.”
Loco inclined his head, acknowledging the Korven’s point. Without the skinsuit, his guts would’ve been all over the floor. Breaker Bug or not, that would’ve hurt like hell. “And incidentally, I’ll take the Contracts for these two as spoils of battle.” He gestured at the man and woman.
“As you wish. I gift them to you.” Lutan licked his lips. “Until our next meeting, Breaker.” He whirled and bludgeoned his unwounded arm against the door, smashing it open to slam against an unseen wall, exiting the room with a roar toward his attendants.
Only then did Loco remember the presence of the Mellivor badger-guards, who’d remained motionless in the corners. They alertly watched the four humans.
There would be only three humans, if something wasn’t done soon. The man looked to be in a bad way. “What medical facilities do you have around here?” Loco asked.
“Not the best, for Contractors, but there should be something,” Chiara replied. “The problem will be getting him there alive. Pick him up gently.”
Loco crouched and lifted the young man, carrying him like a baby in his arms. He didn’t like the way he felt bones grate—and the kid’s face was gray and sweating. He barely breathed.
“You two, guard us,” Chiara said imperiously toward the nearer pair of Mellivor.
“You are a Distant Associate now,” one replied. “You have no authority.”
She reached into a pocket, drew out coins and placed them in his hand. “How about now?”
The badger jingled the coins, handed some to the other, drew back his lips. “Now, you have bodyguards, mistress.”
“Good. Lead the way out of here to the nearest Contractor doctor.”
“Yes, mistress.”
“Why can’t they treat him here?” Loco asked as they hurried down the corridors of the Yellow Foot facility.
“Yellow Foot doesn’t waste money on Contractor doctors or medical machines. Cheaper to let them die, most times. For the rare exception, they outsource.”
As they stepped outside the building, the badgers strode in front, clearing the way, while Chiara brought up the rear. The young woman, barely twenty under her excessive makeup Loco thought, scurried along, sobbing now and then.
Five minutes later the badgers showed them to a white pavilion with several red symbols on it. Medicos in full robes, including cloth head-coverings, hurried to show Loco where to lay the injured man. A young green humanoid of indeterminate sex, with rippling fur on its face, examined the patient, pulling sensors on retractor arms down from where they waited above. The woman-Contractor held his hand and continued crying.
The green person motioned to an insectoid, who examined the readings. The two conferred in an unknown speech. Loco didn’t bother to stick in his comlink for the translation. He let Chiara handle the situation while he kept his eye on security. After the fight and all that had happened here in the Contractor market, he felt on edge, his nerves buzzing, waiting for the next menace to appear. The badgers appeared to be doing the same, but more professionally, as a matter of routine.
“I’m sorry,” the green one said. “The patient has not survived.”
The dead man’s companion wailed and shook him, but he remained unresponsive.
“Can you revive him?” Chiara asked with a raised voice.
“Not with the machines we have here. Not in time. It is unfortunate, but he has passed into the Great Beyond.” The two medicos performed identical hand-motions, something like Chiara’s people made when crossing themselves, yet different. “The Creatorix has reclaimed him.”
Chiara sighed, and handed them coins. “Thank you for your efforts, Siblings. Here is a donation for your Order.”
The two bowed in thanks. “What do you wish for the husk?”
Chiara addressed the blonde, clear-skinned woman. “What’s your name, honey?”
She turned her face to Chiara, makeup smeared from crying, and said, “Belinda, Manager.”
“Call me Captain. Captain Chiara Jilani.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“You have a choice to make, Belinda—a choice I never got. I know you’re not used to being asked, but today’s your lucky day. You can stay here. We’ll void your Contract and you’ll be on your own. Maybe you can join the Order of Saint Zorizma here as an acolyte. They’ll train you as a medico, and maybe you’ll eventually take your vows. It’ll be an interesting and relatively safe, peaceful life… probably. Or, you can come with us, which will be exciting, violent, and dangerous.”
“I get to choose?” Belinda said.
“You get to choose.”
She reached out to touch the body, and then drew back as if from an electric shock. “My brother is gone. I am alone. I—I choose you.”
“Why?” asked Chiara.
“You don’t want me?”
“No, I’m just asking why, honey, why? I want to make sure your head is on straight.”
“Because... ” Belinda glanced fearfully at the medicos. “No offense to the Siblings here, but I... I wish to be among humans.”
The medicos bowed as if to say, no offense taken.
“Fair enough,” Chiara said. “Although don’t assume that humans are always your buddies either—or that aliens aren’t. Do you want some time with him to mourn?”
Belinda lifted her chin,
and Loco saw there was still some pride under her degradation. “I’m fine. Let’s go, Captain.”
“Let them treat your wounds first.”
The medicos did, pressing on quick-seal bandages.
“Now give me your arm,” Chiara said. She removed a palm-stunner from her harness and adjusted its settings.
Belinda held out her arm.
Chiara laid the stunner on a spot and triggered it, causing Belinda to jump as if stung. “There, your implant is wiped. You’re free.”
“My Contract is void?”
“The official one. Between us, you’re now part of my crew. That means you work and you get paid and you do what I damn well tell you—understand?” She said this last kindly, belying her harsh words. “Of course, you can quit at any time. That’s the difference between a Contractor and an employee.”
“I—yes, Manager. Captain, I mean. I’ll work hard for you. And for... ” She turned to Loco.
“Loco,” he said. “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry about your brother.”
“I will miss him.” She tried to hold back tears, but failed.
“Okay, enough weeping,” Chiara said gruffly. Loco thought she hid a tear of her own with a turn of her head. “Back to the ship.”
The badgers led the way, shoving aside the few who didn’t clear the path.
As they walked, Loco leaned toward Chiara. “What was all that with Lutan? Seems a bit excessive and in-your-face, even for here. And he said he wanted to implant you?”
Chiara laughed. “What he was really saying was he wanted me to bear his offspring... but Korven have no sex.”
“Seems like it’s about all they think about, from Lutan’s words and those pictures all over the Korveni compounds.”
“That’s ironic, coming from you. No, I mean they’re biologically asexual. They have no gender. There are no males or females.”
“Lutan seems to believe he’s male—the worst kind.”
“I can see why you’d think so. Like many things, it’s not what it seems—and it’s rooted in biology. To reproduce, they implant living creatures with their embryos, using a probe between their legs. Later, the critter rips its way out of the host, usually killing it.”
“Ugh. That’s... ”
“Not the weirdest or creepiest thing in the galaxy, believe me. But to Korven, that’s sex and reproduction. In fact, it’s taboo for them to have sex with or implant each other. They have to do it to some other host creature.”
Loco’s eyes unfocused, trying to imagine... “That’s sick and murderous. But can’t they use animals? Or with modern tech, remove the embryo before it kills the host, and save both?”
“They have taboos against implanting animals, kinda like ours against bestiality and cannibalism—but it’s not unknown, sure, in a pinch. And they do sometimes save the host for re-use... ” Chiara absently rubbed her belly.
Loco stopped and grabbed Chiara’s shoulders. “Gods and monsters—he didn’t—”
She shook loose. “Don’t go grabbing me, and no, he didn’t. Quit trying to shoehorn Korven or any other alien sexual practices into the morality you consider normal. And, as with every other species, he says polite things he doesn’t mean because it’s expected.”
“I got the feeling he meant that crack about implanting you.”
“Only in the nicest way... for a Korven. It means he thinks I’m an ideal host; it doesn’t mean he actually wants me dead—any more than when you spend your money, you actually want it gone.”
Loco let out a long breath as they reached the seaside docks, hundreds of small ships floating in the marina. “I gotta tell you, I don’t give a rat’s ass about Korven morality or respecting their viewpoint or whatever, if that’s what you’re trying to say.”
“Nope. They’re slimy and evil—but so are some humans, and sometimes we deal with them. I try to leave my feelings out of it.”
“But you’d have no problems if I say I’d like to wipe out every fucking one of them?”
“None whatsoever,” she said.
“Good. Because they make me sick.”
Chiara shrugged, looking bleak. “Me too. Get used to it. It’s a big, ugly galaxy.”
On the dock next to the placidly floating ship, Chiara made as if to dismiss the Mellivor, when the leader of the two began speaking with a hissing voice. “Captain, we’re free for employment. Non-Contracted, at-will only.”
Chiara snorted. “You want me to hire you long-term?”
“Lutan pays shit.”
“He always was a cheap son of a bitch.”
The badger showed many teeth. “I’m Brock. This is my cousin Raj. We’re personal security specialists, Conglomerate-registered.” He offered her a credential, which Chiara scanned with her handtab. “We like the way you guys operate.”
“Your Earthan is pretty good,” Loco said.
Brock tapped his skull. “Language chip. Over one thousand speeches and dialects. Cost me a bundle, I’ll tell ya. I thought it would get us better pay, but turns out most bodyguard employers don’t give a crap about languages—they just want alert, bonded shooters.”
Chiara caught Loco’s eye and stepped away a few meters to converse privately. “What do you think?”
Loco shrugged. “We have room on the ship... but do you trust them? Seems pretty convenient.”
“Oh, they’re probably on Lutan’s payroll too. He wants to keep an eye on what I’m doing, and they’ll happily take double pay.”
“Yeah, but why?”
“Short answer? Lutan rescued me from hell and took a liking to me. For that, I owed him, was Contracted for a time... but the debt’s paid. Only, he still thinks of me like a pet... or a lover he can’t have. He’s unusually disciplined for a Korven, which is why he’s done so well in Yellow Foot. Most Korven have no self-control when it comes to aliens in their power. The average Korven would’ve implanted me when he had the chance, and I’d be long dead.”
“Okay, so... why even consider hiring these badgers?”
“Because they give us options, and cover, and muscle... and they keep Lutan happy. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. We might need help from him later. Information on where to find our people, if nothing else. Also... ”
“Yeah?”
“Lutan inspires fear, but not much loyalty. If we can turn these guys, they’ll be useful.”
Loco shrugged. “This is your territory, hot stuff. I’m just the big dumb jock, remember?”
“You’re not dumb, Loco—just inexperienced. A couple years out here and you’ll be a streetwise rogue like me.” She hooked a thumb at herself to emphasize the point. “And you got the instincts. You handled Lutan perfectly.”
“Thanks.”
Chiara walked back to the badgers. “Boys, you’re hired, standard rates. Get your gear, give your notice to Lutan, and come back here ASAP. We’ll be on the ship until we get some word on where to go next.”
“Yes, Captain.” The two marched away, leaving Belinda wringing her hands.
Chiara hugged Belinda in a sisterly fashion “Come on, honey. Let’s get you settled. You’re a little smaller than I am, but I bet you can wear some of my stuff.”
Later, Loco confronted Chiara alone in their cabin. “Um... ”
Chiara gave him a challenging stare. “What?”
“Bunking arrangements for Belinda?”
“You worried she’ll cramp your style?”
“Well... ”
“I already told her. She can sleep with the badgers.”
Loco leered. “Not literally, I hope.”
“Yes, literally... not figuratively, you mean.”
“Whatever.”
“Show come compassion, Loco. She just lost her brother, and all you’re thinking about is sleeping with me.”
He grinned. “That’s all I ever think about.”
Chiara grinned back, in spite of herself it seemed. “Compliments will get you everywhere. But seriously... be serious.”<
br />
Loco mock-saluted. “Aye aye, Captain, ma’am.”
“She was a Contractor, Loco. Now she’s crew. This is a step up. So... be nice. But not too nice.”
“Jealous already? Maybe we should leave her here.”
Chiara made a face. “We can’t do that. I’m fine. Do I look insecure to you?”
Loco knew better than to answer.
Chiara shrugged with elaborate casualness, but it wasn’t entirely convincing. “It’s a free universe. I saw you eyeing her. She’s cute. If you like her better, that’s up to you. I don’t want to be a ball and chain, Loco. I want someone who wants me because that’s what they choose—and who knows what they want.”
“You’re the only one I want. You ought to know me well enough by now to realize, that’s a big change for me.”
“I’m supposed to be grateful?”
Loco sighed and crossed his arms. “No. Just give me some credit. People can change.”
“Not in my experience,” she said.
“Okay, maybe I was waiting for the right one to come along.”
Chiara rolled her eyes. “Let’s keep things as they are for now. Now get to work prepping the ship. Lutan gave me a lead on our people. We lift in an hour.”
Loco got to work.
Chapter 7
Aboard Redwolf, Humbar system.
“The golems worked far better than expected,” Straker said in a thick voice. He stopped pacing to press himself against the rail separating him from the wraparound holo-screens on the Redwolf’s luxurious bridge. His body crackled with suppressed energy, and he longed to leap into the combat mission his surrogate—his golem—had executed so skillfully, so nobly. The sacrifice—a sacrifice he himself would make if placed in such a position—moved him, made his heart swell with warrior pride. “They kicked ass.”
“Yeah,” Mara said, her tone satisfied. “They did.”
“Why don’t I feel good about it?” Straker asked. “It was a sick thing to watch.”
Zaxby spoke like a teacher, lecturing. “The emotional reactions of you various humans accord with your personalities. Derek Straker sees the honor in a glorious, violent, meaningful death saving others—even when the action is performed by a doomed golem. But he also senses the moral ambiguity inherent in creating a sentient creature formed as a weapon, intended for expenditure like a warhead.”