Deuces Wild Boxed Set: Books 1-4: Beyond the Frontiers, Rampage, Labyrinth, Birthright

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  Adelaide tilted her head. “This planet is beautiful!”

  Nickie put her head in her hands and silently cursed the day she’d met John-of-fucking-Reinek. “This place has my aunt’s size seven footprints all over it.”

  “I didn’t know your Aunt Tabitha wore size sevens,” Grim commented as he arrived on the bridge with Durq.

  Nickie scowled. “Not that aunt.”

  “Just how many aunts do you have?” Adelaide teased.

  “Enough to make war on the entire galaxy,” Nickie shot back. “Right now I’m talking about my aunt who is the former Empress.” She winked at Adelaide’s shocked expression.

  Adelaide recovered quickly. “The Empress? Do you think she’s here?”

  Nickie grimaced. “Fuck, I hope not. Otherwise, Meredith’s prediction about this being awkward might be a little bit of an understatement.”

  “We have visitors,” Meredith cut in. “Shall I allow them to board?”

  High Tortuga, Above the Southern Continent, Aboard the Penitent Granddaughter

  Nickie stomped through the ship’s corridors to meet the Guardians at the airlock. She had swung by her quarters on the way, and the boarding party was annoyed by the delay. That was okay, she was annoyed by having to divert to the southern continent just so they could verify her identity.

  Nickie? The Guardians won’t wait forever. They are Wechselbalg, remember. They’re not famed for their patience.

  Nickie slowed her pace. I’ll be there in a minute; they can wait that long. I have a bone to pick with you. She was tempted to refuse to allow them onto her ship, but they had already docked and were requesting entry.

  A bone?

  Yeah. You knew all along where we were headed.

  I had an idea when we came across the shielding at New Devon. You were more interested in finding Prince John, so—

  Nickie cut her off as she turned into the corridor that led to the airlock the Guardians had docked at. Don’t give me that shit. You could have told me we were headed right for Federation space. You’ve wanted me back in their clutches ever since I reactivated you.

  Meredith sniffed. This isn’t exactly Federation space. And this isn’t exactly a Federation planet, either.

  If they bow to my aunt, then it’s a fucking Federation planet no matter what they dress it up like. I bet there’s Coke in every bar, a huge cemetery, and a suspiciously low crime rate planet-wide.

  Um…

  Nickie hit the wall next to the airlock. Just fucking let them in already.

  Okay, but let’s not break too much of the ship in the meantime.

  Shut it, Meredith.

  The airlock completed its cycle and disgorged a quartet of Bethany Anne’s finest onto the Penitent Granddaughter.

  Nickie looked them over as they filed aboard—three men and a woman. The woman was clearly in charge. She returned Nickie’s appraisal with a cool smile and produced a small device. “Hello, Captain—”

  “Grimes,” Nickie supplied. “Guardian?”

  “Lakshmi,” the woman supplied. She held out a hand, which Nickie looked at for a moment before turning her attention to the other three Guardians. Guardian Lakshmi stowed her hand, and her cheery tone dropped a touch. “Nice name to have, Captain Grimes.”

  Nickie lifted a shoulder. “It’s just a name. Don’t Guardians usually come in threes?”

  “Not this time.” She held out the device. “Place your right thumb here, please, Captain. As soon as we confirm your identity, we’ll be on our way.”

  Nickie snickered. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” She held up the Ranger badge she’d snagged from her quarters. “This is all the ID I need.”

  Guardian Lakshmi’s eyes bulged. “Where did you get that badge? You do know it’s an offense to pose as a Ranger?”

  Nickie tucked the badge away. “Who says I’m posing as anything? It’s my badge, and it proves my identity.”

  The Guardian gave Nickie a hard stare. “I know Tabitha, and you are not her.” She held out a hand. “Give me the badge.”

  Nickie made a show of checking her own ass out as she replaced the badge in her pocket. “Yeah, you’ve got me there. Was it my ass that gave it away? I am a little lacking in the badonkadonk department compared to my aunt.”

  “Your aunt, sure.” The Guardian’s frown deepened. “The badge, Captain.”

  Nickie shook her head. “Not happening.”

  Guardian Lakshmi turned to the other three Guardians and pointed at Nickie. “Arrest her.”

  The ship speaker system crackled. “Nickie, just identify yourself. This woman is only doing her job.”

  The Guardians halted in their tracks at Meredith’s interjection.

  “Meredith?” one of the men asked in confusion. He looked at Nickie. “Who are you?”

  Nickie sighed and grabbed the woman’s device. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Here.” She jammed her thumb onto the device’s pad and waited for the burn. Once it had taken a DNA sample from her, she tossed it back to the Guardian and crossed her arms. “You go away for a few years, and all of a sudden nobody knows who you are when you turn up without telling anyone and try to bypass security.”

  The device beeped.

  “Oh,” was all the Guardian managed when she looked at the screen.

  Nickie’s smirk returned. “Oh? Is that all? Not ‘Sorry, Nickie?’ ‘Welcome back, Nickie?’”

  One of the other Guardians blurted in a near-whisper, “Oh, shit! I know who she is! She’s John’s granddaughter. The one the Queen exiled.”

  Nickie thought about objecting that she hadn’t been exiled, but it wasn’t any of their business, so fuck them. “Are you satisfied?” she asked Guardian Lakshmi.

  Lakshmi nodded. “Yes. You’re cleared to go down to the planet, Captain Grimes.” She tapped her wrist holo a couple of times. “I’ve sent Meredith coordinates for landing. How is she here? So far from the Meredith Reynolds?”

  Nickie tapped the side of her nose. “That would be telling.”

  The Guardians all nodded as though Nickie’s answer was to be expected. “It was good to hear her voice. You can keep the badge,” she added.

  Nickie broke into a full laugh. “I fucking know I can. The only way anyone gets this badge from me is to pry it from my cold, dead fingers.”

  The man who’d recognized her snickered. “Better you than us when you have to answer for using it, Grimes or not.”

  Nickie gestured toward the airlock. “If we’re all done? I have places to be. Say bye to the nice Guardians, Meredith.”

  Meredith opened the airlock. “I wish you all a pleasant journey.”

  The woman looked back. “Funny, I don’t remember Meredith being so snarky.”

  “And I don’t remember Guardians being so stuffy,” Meredith replied airily.

  Nickie snorted. The woman was a bit stuffy. It didn’t mean she forgave Meredith, though.

  The Guardians left, and Nickie made her way back to the bridge. The others were all elsewhere for the moment, which meant that Nickie was left alone with her thoughts whether she wanted to be or not.

  She slouched in her chair and sighed. She wasn’t ready for this, not yet. She had about a year to go before she was expected to appear before her aunt. She still hadn’t decided if she would go back or if she would just keep moving forever.

  What’s the matter, Nickie?

  Nickie tsked. Why do you want to know? So you can trick me again?

  I didn’t trick you, Nickie. Meredith feigned sounding hurt. I just know better than to argue with you when you’re focused like that. Would you have given up if I’d told you?

  Nickie huffed. No.

  There you go, then. Besides, we’re here now.

  Because you lied to me, Nickie pointed out.

  I didn’t lie, Meredith corrected. I can’t lie.

  That was a fucking lie right there, Nickie told her. Where exactly is ‘here?’ I’ve never heard of High Tortuga, but I can tell before we even go planetsid
e that this place is important to Aunt Bethany Anne. The security here is fucking ridiculous.

  I don’t know a lot about the planet yet, Meredith informed her. Just what I’ve gotten from the public information systems. I was a little reluctant to connect with the planet’s EIs since you were already upset about being here, and revealing my presence would reveal yours.

  Nickie snickered. Yeah, well, it’s probably for the best. You never know what nasty virus you’ll catch from hooking up to a strange network. What do you have?

  Where would you like to begin?

  Nickie hesitated when Meredith brought up the aforementioned system menus in her HUD. She scrolled past the first sections of video feeds, which were labeled “Justice System” and “Libraries.” High Tortuga looked to be a hub for…what, she wasn’t sure. It was only just outside the Federation, or at least a good percentage of the available maps agreed that it was.

  Meredith, these maps have been tampered with.

  Ah, yes. The location of High Tortuga is need-to-know. Your Aunt Bethany Anne commandeered the planet during her Baba Yaga phase.

  Nickie frowned. You know about this place?

  I know a little, Meredith confirmed. Baba Yaga locked this planet down a short time before the end of the Empire. It was to be her safe haven after the Federation was formed.

  Nickie laughed. You mean after the rest of the galaxy’d had enough of being terrorized by her and demanded she step down?

  Meredith’s tone became a little cooler. My Queen stepped down because she wanted to. Visiting High Tortuga was impossible last I knew. Consequently, I am rather surprised that Prince John was aware the planet existed. Even more so that he knew the route to get here. Things have changed.

  Nickie’s heart flipped in her chest. Maybe Tabitha was here. And there was me thinking you were on my side. Is Aunt Bethany Anne here now?

  I do not believe so, Meredith told her. Or at least I have not been contacted by ADAM, which is as good as the same thing. You know that I am on your side, Nickie, but you cannot expect me to badmouth my mother. You should be glad you have me and not a copy of ADAM. He would have given you a little zap for speaking about Bethany Anne that way and called it a kindness.

  Nickie snorted. Fuck that—although it’s not as bad as you threatening to wear me like a meatsack. So, if Bethany Anne isn’t here, what about Aunt Tabitha? She almost didn’t want the answer. Actually, don’t tell me. No, tell me.

  I can’t tell you anything except that we’re almost at the coordinates Guardian Lakshmi provided.

  Who? Oh, the stuffy woman. Sure. She sat in silence for a few moments. Mere?

  Yes?

  What if Tabitha is here? What if she doesn’t want to see me?

  Why would she not want to see you?

  Nickie shrugged. I dunno.

  Tabitha loves you, Nickie. All of your family love you.

  Nickie snorted. They have a funny fucking way of showing it. I feel so damn loved out here on my own, just like I felt fucking swamped in that shit after they all fucked off and left my mom and me behind.

  Meredith’s tone was hopeful. Are you ready to talk about that?

  She shrugged again. No. But I suppose it would make me feel better or some stupid shit like that, so go ahead.

  They do love you, Nickie, but you can’t see that, can you?

  Nickie bit back a laugh. No, Mere, I can’t. All I can see is that everyone I love leaves me—or makes me leave because they can’t handle me.

  You are rather intense, but that’s standard for your genetic line.

  Thanks. Nice to know the rejection is because of something I didn’t choose.

  It isn’t why people move on, Nickie. Life happens, and they move with it or get sucked under.

  Nickie frowned and squirmed to adjust her position in her chair. What do you know about it?

  I’ve had two hundred or so years between iterations to observe humans and learn how they work. You wouldn’t have entertained this conversation just a few months ago, and now look at you. You should feel good about the progress you’ve made.

  Nickie’s first reaction was to tell Meredith that nothing had changed, but it had—and she did feel good about where she was now. It sure as fuck beat the anger and hurt she’d lived with for the majority of her sabbatical.

  Meredith continued, Do you still want to push everyone away? How about the crew?

  Well…no. I do kind of like having them around. Grim is good. He gets me. Durq is Durq, and I have to work not to scare him, but he’s not too jumpy these days. I’m kind of getting used to having Adelaide and Keen around. I like Addie. She reminds me a little of my Grandma Jean.

  Their heuristics are markedly similar in areas. Have you noticed a difference in the way the crew reacts to you compared to others?

  I…um.

  They appreciate that you care about them, and they show it in return.

  Nickie found that a stretch. I wouldn’t go that far. They like that I provided a way off the colony.

  I hope you realize that isn’t true. What about Grim? He could have gone anywhere, but he chose to stay with you.

  Nickie smiled. Grim is…my friend. But don’t tell him I said that.

  Why not?

  She didn’t answer.

  You believe he will leave if you show your affection for him?

  Everyone leaves, Meredith. Everyone. Nickie sighed.

  You left, Meredith reminded her gently.

  Yeah, because my aunt made me. It wasn’t like I had a choice.

  I meant before that. You left the Meredith Reynolds. Your mother.

  She didn’t want me around! What was I supposed to do, hang around and wait for her to drop me a few crumbs whenever she pulled herself from her work? She banged her hand on the armrest of her chair. All I wanted was to be a Ranger like my Aunt Tabitha, and even she didn’t want me enough to fight for me when it came down to it.

  Meredith chuckled softly. You think Tabitha didn’t want you? I thought you blamed your grandfather for her absence.

  Yeah, well. I’ve had a few experiences lately that made me see he might not be completely to blame for Tabitha leaving.

  So you have shifted your hard feelings to your aunt?

  No! I’d never blame her. She’s a Ranger, and she had a duty to uphold. She had to do what she had to do, regardless of how I felt about it. I suppose my grandfather had to make the same kind of hard decisions when the Empire broke up, but my mom…well. She could have come here with everyone else and started a new life on High Tortuga. She chose to separate us from the rest of our family.

  Meredith was quiet for a moment. I think you are getting closer to the truth.

  What more truth do I need? I could have grown up here with my aunt and been a Ranger, but instead, I spent a miserable childhood alone on the Meredith Reynolds while my mom buried herself in work. Then, when I had issues, she was more than happy to wash her hands of me.

  You weren’t an easy teenager to raise, Meredith pointed out. It couldn’t have been easy for her when you started abusing every substance known to man, woman, and alien.

  It wasn’t easy for me, either! Nickie didn’t want to cry. She’d cried enough as a kid to make her want to hit things instead of feeling—things like bars, clubs, and anywhere else the music was loud enough that she didn’t have to think. Why do you think I did all the drugs in the first place? What, does everyone think that teenage me just decided one day to get high for the fun of it? They fucked me up, Mere. She scrubbed her sleeve across her eyes to stop the stinging. Fuck, I should blame my mom for all of this! I’m fucking glad I left!

  Meredith made a soothing sound as Nickie’s tears flowed. It’s okay, Nickie. I know. And you are past that now, because you are stronger than any pain or any drug. You have me, and I will never leave.

  I know, Mere, she sobbed. I know.

  Chapter Two

  High Tortuga, Northern Continent, Space Fleet Base, Hangar 126

  John was
slightly unnerved by the single robed figure waiting for him when he disembarked from the Briar Rose.

  There was nobody else there. No welcoming parade, no banners. It was a touch disconcerting since his father had told him to prepare for both. However, he was pleased to avoid the usual rigmarole associated with a royal visit. Maybe he could get his father to drop some of the traditions once he got back home.

  He ducked back inside the ship to dump his regalia, squared his shoulders, and paced down the ramp toward the solitary figure with what he thought was a princely enough smile.

  John held out a hand. “You must be Barnabas.”

  Barnabas shook the offered hand. “And you are John of Reinek. Follow me, please.” He led John to a buggy and drove them off the base. “Your father just called a short time ago to ask if you had made the journey safely.”

  John chuckled uneasily. “I almost didn’t.”

  Barnabas gave him a questioning look. “Do tell.”

  John shrugged, a little embarrassed. “Devon. It’s a little crazy there. I ran into a little trouble in the bazaar during the stopover. I was lucky there were some friendly humans nearby.”

  Barnabas’ mouth twitched. “Rather. Well, you are here now, and in one piece, as it were. I was delighted to hear your father is recovering from his sickness. It cannot have been easy for your mother to believe he was going to die.”

  “How did you know about that?” Only John’s immediate family had known how close his father had come to death.

  Barnabas inclined his head to hide his smile as he made a turn. “It is my job to know these things.”

  John had to school his face as the city opened up before them. He’d seen the city from orbit, but it was a different beast entirely now he was on the ground. High Tortuga was a far cry from Zuifra. In fact, it outclassed most other places he’d visited outside the heart of the Federation. He leaned his head against the frame of the buggy and soaked it all in while Barnabas drove in silence.

  Tall, dark buildings made of glass hemmed them in on all sides, making John feel like he was traveling a mirrored walkway rather than the wide, perfectly maintained road they were on.