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

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  “True.” Tabitha knocked a tumbleweed out of her path. “We’re pretty resilient as a species.”

  They left the box canyon they’d landed in and made their way toward the buildings in the near distance.

  “It’s pretty grim out here,” Tabitha remarked, kicking one of the many small rocks that littered the ground beneath their feet. “I always wonder why people choose to settle so far from home in such harsh environments.” She stuck a finger inside the collar of her armor in the vain hope it would provide some relief from the irritation it was causing her. “Why not find somewhere all lovely and lush, where things grow, and the planet doesn’t try to turn you into a pot roast inside your armor?”

  “It’s the desire to push the boundaries, Kemosabe. To be human is to crave individuality even as you close in with your fellow man to fight for survival against the odds. Surely you of all people understand that?”

  Tabitha screwed up her nose when she almost tripped on an embedded rock. She was still sweating in her cloak-covered armor despite the temperature controls being set to full. “Yeah, I do. But still, this is not the kind of environment I would choose to live in just so I could express my need for individuality.”

  Hirotoshi turned his head to look at her. “The Empire is always in need of source materials, and colonies like this supply a great deal of that. That’s why they had so much assistance from the Empire in the first place.”

  Tabitha’s eyes lit up. “Do you think they still have the original colony ship? I haven’t seen one of those in forever.”

  Hirotoshi shrugged. “It is likely. We have visited many places over the years where the colony ship was repurposed as a monument for the colonists to gather at.”

  Tabitha was in the mood to argue. “Yeah, but there have been more where the colonists stripped their ship down to components and repurposed the whole thing as soon as they began to build.”

  Hirotoshi nodded. “That is true. I suppose we will find out soon enough.”

  The buildings ahead soon came into focus, as did the small group of armed colonists standing between Tabitha and Hirotoshi and their goal.

  Tabitha waved at them. “Hey there!” She counted two men and four women, two blasters, a shotgun, and a pair of nice-looking pistols of a rough make she assumed was local. Interesting. They manufacture weapons here. More interesting is, Barnabas didn’t know that.

  I noticed, Kemosabe. I think we may have the reason our colony was invaded.

  One of the men stepped forward with his blaster raised, wavering between her and Hirotoshi. “Who’re you, and what are you doing here, strangers?”

  Tabitha shrugged back her cloak and tapped the Ranger badge that hung around her neck. “We’re here about your gang issue.”

  The man primed his blaster, and it began to emit a high-pitched sound. “You ought to turn around and go back to the Empire, Rangers. There’s nothing you can do here except get us all killed.”

  The noise coming from the blaster was like a drill to the brain in Tabitha’s enhanced hearing. Achronyx, can you do anything about that whine?

  Achronyx made a noncommittal noise. I can’t, but I can hack the blaster.

  Tabitha snickered. I suppose that will have to do.

  The man’s blaster fell silent. He looked at it with a puzzled expression and banged the power pack a couple of times with the heel of his hand.

  Tabitha shook her head. “Nobody is getting anyone killed. We want to know what’s really going on here so we can resolve the situation. You can start by telling us about the gang that is feeding drugs to your children.”

  A woman looked at her, surprised. “How do you know about that?”

  Hirotoshi smiled. “The Rangers find out everything in the end.”

  “Why should we trust you?” another man called. “For all we know, you’ve been sent by Brooks to trick us!”

  The ghost of a smile touched Hirotoshi’s mouth. We have a name.

  It’s a start. Tabitha didn’t think it was good enough. She needed to earn these people’s trust. “Listen, let’s start over. We’re here to help. What’s your name?”

  The man hedged a little, then softened at her warm smile. “Tailor Reid, ma’am.”

  “Tailor. Good. You can call me Ranger Two.” Tabitha walked over and pushed Tailor’s impotent blaster down to point at the ground. “You won’t be needing that just yet. Maybe later, when we get the kids back.”

  “How are you going to get them back?” a distraught woman asked. “They’ll die if we take them back.” She dropped the shotgun she’d been pointing at Tabitha to her side and waved the others down. “Just forget it, Ranger. It’s hopeless.”

  Tabitha’s heart hurt. Her face softened just a bit. “What do you mean, they’ll die? What is going on here?” She looked from one face to another, seeing if anyone would give her a hint.

  Hirotoshi looked up at Arista, which was nearing its peak over the parched sands. The clouds in the distance did not look to be getting any closer, putting an end to any hope of cover from the searing midday heat. “We should discuss this inside.”

  Tabitha nodded solemnly. “Yeah, preferably somewhere that serves food and cold drinks. It’s too Gott Verdammt hot out here.”

  “We can go to the Hub,” Tailor told them. He turned and started walking back toward the settlement.

  The other colonists went home after they passed through the huge gates on the south side of the perimeter wall, leaving them with just Tailor and Sarah, who turned out to be married.

  The husband and wife led Tabitha and Hirotoshi through the busy marketplace, which they stepped straight into as soon as they were through the gate.

  The market stretched along the outer wall. There were brightly-colored awnings for as far as Tabitha could see, and the competing voices of thousands of vendors hawking their goods filled the air. She was tempted to stop for a snack at a few of the better-smelling food carts they passed, but they were headed toward food, and more importantly, information.

  The market gave way suddenly to the next ring, which was the outer residential area. The buildings passed quickly, and they turned onto a cross-street that gave them a straight shot to the center of the settlement.

  Tabitha took it all in as they walked briskly and in relative silence. The settlement had an air of tension hanging over it, which was evident in the posture of the people they passed. They were defeated, worn out; damn near resigned to their lot.

  Tabitha’s anger rose another notch. She walked along with her fists clenched beneath her cloak. She almost didn’t notice that they’d reached the center of the settlement until Hirotoshi caught her arm.

  “Would you look at that?” His normally impassive face was split by a wide grin. “It’s the colony ship.”

  The buildings that wrapped around the massive colony ship obscured it at street level, but it rose above the mudbrick constructions, the midday sun reflecting from every dent in the grit-polished panels.

  Tabitha spotted a neon bar sign tucked into the shadows beneath the ramp and nodded. “‘All Roads?’” She glanced at the scaffolding around the sides of the ship-turned-building as they wove their way around the steady stream of people using the ramp. They skirted the lines and headed for the bar. “What’s the ship used for?”

  “It’s the Hub,” Sarah told them as they walked inside. She nodded to various people they passed as she talked to Tabitha. “We began from here and built outward, which is why the settlement is this way. We’re constantly refitting it to serve our needs. It’s used as a communal area for those who don’t want to eat alone. In other parts of the ship we have public services, since we lost the administration center. There’s an infirmary on the third deck, but we’re stretched to provide proper care because it wasn’t in use before we were invaded.”

  They went through a set of double doors into the bar. A short time later they were all sitting in a secluded corner with their meals and drinks in front of them.

  Tabitha
placed a device in the center of the table and pressed the little button on top. “Okay, that will prevent anyone from listening in.”

  The couple looked at the jammer skeptically.

  “Really?” Tailor asked. “I heard that tech existed, but I’ve never seen it.”

  “Me either,” Sarah agreed.

  Tabitha smiled brightly and drew an X on her chest. “Cross my heart and hope to kill every motherfucker who has caused harm to one of your children. Tell me how I can save your kids.”

  Sarah shook her head. “That’s what I tried to tell you, Ranger. You can’t. They injected our children with a biochemical weapon, or something close to that. If the children don’t receive the antidote every twenty-four hours, they die.”

  Tabitha covered her mouth to speak with it full. “So we get the antidote before we get the kids.” She wiped her lips with her napkin. “That’s no problem, I’ve got the facilities aboard my ship to synthesize enough to get you all back to Yoll and get the kids Pod-doc treatment.”

  “Can you get into an underground vault?” Tailor looked hopeful for the first time. “That’s where they store the antidote, in the treasury vault. We can get you to the treasury, but we can’t get into the vault.”

  Tabitha shrugged. “Probably. Where is the treasury?”

  Sarah paused with her glass halfway to her mouth. “It’s in the basement of the administration center.”

  Tabitha frowned. “The compound where they’re keeping the kids?”

  “Uh-huh.” Tailor sighed. “You see our dilemma?”

  “I do.” She turned to Hirotoshi. “What do you think?”

  Hirotoshi spoke after a moment. “We may have to think of another solution.”

  “Can we get into a locked vault without blowing the place up?” she asked.

  “Or risking the bad guys hurting the children once they realize they are under attack?”

  Tabitha thought about it before she answered, “I don’t know.”

  Achronyx spoke up in her mind. I don’t need the antidote. A blood sample from one of the children would suffice. In fact, it would be more useful than the antidote alone since I could begin analyzing the constituent elements of whatever poison they have been given.

  Tabitha liked that idea even better. That would be a hell of a lot easier than breaking into a vault. “Apparently all we need to synthesize the cure is a blood sample from one of the children.”

  Tailor grimaced before he sighed in resignation. “That could prove to be difficult as well.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Arista System, Terminus, Administration Center, Later that Night

  Tabitha and Hirotoshi took turns watching the night guards patrol the walls from a warehouse across from the compound. The Pod was cloaked on the ridged rooftop a short distance behind them, ready for a quick exit once their objective was complete.

  Tabitha passed the binoculars to Hirotoshi. So, all we need to do is get past those guards and the ones patrolling the grounds, then get into the building and get to the top floor where they’re keeping the kids.

  All without alerting any of them to our presence, Hirotoshi finished. We will only have a few minutes to get in and out between guard rotations.

  Piece of cake. Tabitha carefully shuffled to the edge of the warehouse roof and eyed the distance to the ground before she dropped onto the wall below. Come on, they’re about to change shifts.

  Hirotoshi stowed the binoculars in his pack and followed on silent feet.

  The two made their way across the top of the wall, sticking to the shadows to avoid being seen. They soon covered the short distance to the administration center.

  Tabitha and Hirotoshi waited until the guards left their position, then scrambled up the high wall while the new shift was distracted by getting settled. The wall was easily scaled since the soft stone it was made from was pitted and full of easy handholds thanks to the dry climate and the ever-present desert wind.

  They checked that the coast was clear and dashed at vampiric speed down the stairs on the inside and across the open space between the wall and the administration building.

  Tabitha pointed to an open window on the second floor. We can get in there. She sprinted over to it and jumped, grabbing the wall with the claws she’d formed while she ran.

  Hirotoshi was right beside her. They scaled the side of the building and paused just below the open window when they heard voices.

  Tabitha scowled. Our bad guys?

  Most likely, Hirotoshi replied. Let’s listen for a minute.

  The voices were very congratulatory. The men and women within were all extremely pleased that their profits that quarter had been so high, and some bragged that the unrest they had been fanning in another system nearby was about to bring them huge orders when war broke out.

  Tabitha saw red.

  So did Hirotoshi when her eyes began to glow. Tabitha, you must contain your emotions.

  Tabitha’s lips drew back in a silent snarl, and her teeth were suddenly much sharper than usual. They’ve enslaved these people and stolen their children for the sake of profit, Hirotoshi. They’re screwing around with other people’s lives as we speak to make more, and they’re fucking laughing about it. She started to climb again. Oh, no. I’m going to really ruin their day.

  We have time to ruin their whole lives, what little of them remains, Hirotoshi soothed. However, we need to remember what we came here to do.

  The red glow faded from Tabitha’s eyes, and she sighed. You’re right. We need another way in. Let’s just concentrate on getting what we came for and head back to the ship so we can get started on the antidote and spirit the kids out of here soonest.

  Hirotoshi glanced at the roof. We’ll find a way in up there.

  They shinnied up and pulled themselves over the lip of the building onto the flat roof.

  There. Tabitha pointed out an access door among the building’s air conditioning units and solar panels. The door was locked, but a quick twist of Tabitha’s wrist solved that issue, and the two vampires slipped into the building.

  Once inside, they made their way down the stairs to the top floor. The stairs fed into a dimly lit corridor which had doors on both sides. There was nobody in sight, and the desk at the other end was unmanned.

  Hirotoshi indicated the hulking shadows on the other side of the frosted glass doors. Guards. We should hurry.

  They went the opposite way from the doors and began checking the rooms along the corridor, looking for one of the rooms containing the colonists’ children.

  This place smells like a hospital, Tabitha grumped as she shut the door to an empty meeting room.

  That can only be a good thing, Hirotoshi assured her. If they are keeping the place clean, then they must also be taking care of the children.

  Hopefully, Tabitha agreed. She wrinkled her nose when they turned a corner and the disinfectant smell grew stronger. I think we’re getting closer. Come on, let’s find them.

  They found what they were looking for in the next room they checked. Tabitha and Hirotoshi paused with the door ajar. The large rectangular room was partitioned into cubicles with hospital screens and there was a nurse inside, snoozing in a rocking chair in the corner of the ward.

  Some of the curtains were pulled back, showing them the sleeping children in the beds. Tabitha touched the small box in the pouch on her belt and tiptoed over to the nearest bed. She touched the boy’s arm tentatively.

  Wow, he’s way under.

  The boy couldn’t have been older than thirteen or fourteen, but his sandy hair and freckled complexion made him look much younger.

  She laid a soothing hand on his forehead and looked at Hirotoshi as he closed the curtain around them quietly.

  Can you smell that?

  Hirotoshi sniffed and made a face. It smells like…corruption.

  What the hell is it?

  He frowned. It’s coming from the child. Take the sample. We will know more when Achronyx has analyzed it
.

  Tabitha took the blood collection kit from the pouch on her belt. She opened the box and withdrew the hypodermic needle with shaky hands.

  Hirotoshi saw her nerves. Who would have thought a vampire would have trouble taking blood?

  Tabitha looked at him, wide-eyed. That was almost a joke, Hirotoshi. Careful, you might break something.

  Hirotoshi smiled as Tabitha bent to take the boy’s blood with steady hands.

  The boy didn’t stir from his medically-induced sleep during the whole process. Tabitha located a vein and filled the three sample vials from the kit one at a time, passing each to Hirotoshi to put in the carry case he had in his pack as she exchanged it for the next.

  The nurse began to wake as Tabitha removed the hypodermic, cutting off any chance of obtaining samples from any of the other children. Tabitha passed the last vial to Hirotoshi and cleaned the boy’s arm, and they tiptoed out to the corridor and back up the stairs to the roof exit.

  They snuck out of the compound much the same way they’d gotten in, managing to avoid detection by the guards without any problems. It was a quick return dash to the warehouse roof where the Pod awaited.

  Tabitha headed straight for the ship’s lab when they returned to the Achronyx, while Hirotoshi went to the bridge to check in with the other Tontos.

  The lights came on in the lab as Tabitha walked in. She placed the carry case on the table and opened it to remove the three vials and feed the contents into the drawer Achronyx opened in the side of one of the machines.

  She did the last one and let out a huge yawn.

  You’re tired.

  Tabitha didn’t need Achronyx to tell her that. She stretched to accompany the next yawn that escaped her. You don’t say! I’m going to hit the sack. You’ve got this without me, right?

  Of course, Achronyx told her. Get some rest. I’ll be done with my analysis by the time you get up.