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

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  Tabitha placed the staff she’d been practicing with back on its mount when she heard the hesitant footsteps approaching.

  Tabitha had returned to the Meredith Reynolds with the colony ship in tow behind the Achronyx like a whale guided by a sardine. The rush to get the children taken care of had eaten up the hours, but they were out of the woods and expected to recover in time.

  Tabitha’s work hadn’t ended there. She had also thrown together support for the parents, found them accommodations aboard the Meredith Reynolds while the kids were in recovery, put the colony leaders in touch with the appropriate people to deal with selling the weapons they made now they had control of their manufacturing again, and scheduled them for a discussion on planetary defenses with William.

  All in all, it had been a hectic few days, and there had been no time for Tabitha to catch up with Tiera until tonight. She still had a couple of things to straighten out with the arrangements she had begun to make before leaving for the Arista System, but they would wait for now.

  She grinned when the top of Tiera’s head and her wide eyes appeared around the corner of the door. “Hey, you made it! Come in.”

  Tiera stepped in and closed the door gingerly behind herself. She looked warily at the weaponry mounted on every available surface in the wide room. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to be in here?” she whispered in an awed voice.

  Tabitha waved her over. “Of course it is. I invited you. Otherwise, Meredith would have lasered you into ash at the door when you requested entry.”

  Tiera’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  Tabitha snickered. “No, but feel free to start the rumor. Did you bring your training gear?”

  Tiera shrugged off her backpack. “Is there somewhere I can get changed?”

  Tabitha indicated a screened off area in the corner. “Yeah, you can use the cubicle over there. Didn’t Sebastian want to come with you today?”

  Tiera crossed the mats and went into the cubicle to change. “Oh, he wanted to, but it’s a school night. He’ll have to wait to visit.”

  Tabitha felt bad for the kid. The Ranger offices were completely out of bounds ordinarily. Tabitha would have put money on Sebastian being at home stewing instead of studying or sleeping like he should be. “Fair enough. I could have scheduled this earlier in the day if you’d asked.”

  “It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Tiera called. “This was the only time I had free all day to do this.” She came out wearing her workout gear, and the two women went over to the barre to stretch before they got started.

  “Are your hours still sucking?” Tabitha asked.

  Tiera snorted. “Sucking? They blow goats. But the bills are paid, and Sebastian has everything he needs. I haven’t been in that position for a long time so I can appreciate it even if my body is kicking up a constant protest. Hell, if I get more than five minutes free, we can even afford to go and do some of those fun things he’s always talking about.”

  “If you’re happy, then I guess I can’t keep complaining.” Tabitha gestured for Tiera to join her on the mat. “What have you learned from Maxim so far?”

  Tiera listed some of the techniques Maxim had taught her since their lessons had begun. “But mostly it’s been about how to use my size to my advantage instead of being afraid to attack because I’m smaller than my opponent.” She frowned as she twisted her hair into a quick bun. “I still haven’t been able to take him down, though.”

  Tabitha chuckled. “Oh, that’s easy. You just go through his legs and up his back, and before he can do a thing about it, you put him in a sleeper hold, and it’s night-night, Maxim.” She shrugged at Tiera’s incredulous look. “Don’t judge until you’ve tried it. We short girls have to make use of every advantage we can.”

  Tiera giggled as she took her stance. “I know all about that. Just wait and see, you’re gonna be surprised!”

  Tabitha played completely fair. Which was to say, she pushed Tiera to her limit over the next hour but never beyond.

  By the time Tabitha called an end to the punishing session, she was satisfied that Tiera wasn’t going to flake if she got caught up in a dangerous situation in the line of duty. “You’ve improved a lot already.”

  Tiera shrugged. “I took basic hand-to-hand in school, same as everyone. I just don’t enjoy it, that’s all.” She mopped her face with her towel, then turned to get her water bottle. “I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.”

  Tabitha waved her off and went to collect her own water bottle. “Don’t worry about it. My motivations aren’t completely selfless. I want my favorite genius designer in one piece. I just wish you would let me find you a better job than station security.”

  Tiera threw her towel into her bag with a dark chuckle. “Unless you can pull a job out of your ass that lets me work at my art and pays me more than security, with hours that are reasonable enough that I get to see my son before bedtime, I don’t even want to talk about it.” She sighed. “Jobs like that don’t exist.”

  “It’s just not fair,” Tabitha moaned. “You’re a good person, who works hard. You shouldn’t have to struggle just because you’re doing it alone. You deserve to be happy, too.”

  Tiera smiled wryly. “Those are the sacrifices you make as a single parent. Whatever pays the bills is a good job. Besides, I’m still young. My personal fulfillment can wait. This is my son’s time. Sebastian is all that matters right now.”

  Tabitha admired that attitude greatly. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Moms are heroes, especially single moms.”

  “And single dads,” Tiera reminded her. “I’ve been to a few support groups, and there are enough of those around, too.”

  Tabitha nodded her agreement. “All of you. I only have Merry for a few hours here and there, and she wears me out in just that short time. If I had to work a job I hated…” She paused as the implications of parenthood occurred to her for the first time. “Not even just your job. It’s like your whole reason for existing has to change, all your effort put into this new person you made.”

  Tiera raised her eyebrows and nodded sagely. “Yep, pretty much. But look at what you get in return.”

  “Attitude, rolled eyes, and a constant dull thudding beat wafting along on the wave of stink coming from under their bedroom door?” Tabitha winked. “Although Sebastian isn’t exactly the rebellious type.”

  Tiera laughed. “I know, right? I feel like he needs to act out at least once, but he’s so sensible it’s almost painful.”

  “He’s a good kid,” Tabitha told her. “You should be proud of him, and of yourself for the fantastic job you did holding things together after Jimmy decided that getting his dick wet was a higher priority than his duty to the two of you.”

  Tiera snorted. “I don’t need him; he did me a favor by leaving. Things will get better. They always do.” She caught sight of the time and started to grab her things and stuff them into her bag. “Oh, dammit. I need to get back before Sebastian’s bedtime.”

  Tabitha walked her out and then went back through the Rangers’ area to her office. She didn’t spend much time in here, so it was pretty bare as a result.

  Achronyx, remind me to do something with this room.

  Like what? Achronyx asked.

  She looked at the bare walls, the spartan desk, and the empty shelves. I don’t know, something to make it look like it’s mine?

  What would be the point? You don’t use this office, and if the rumors I’ve been hearing are true, we won’t even be here for much longer.

  Tabitha poked the cushion on the chair at the desk and took a seat. At least one thing had been chosen with care. We all have the decision to make. Mine is no decision at all: I go where Bethany Anne goes.

  I expected nothing different, Achronyx assured her.

  I wonder what everyone else will choose?

  Either way, the time of the Empire is drawing to a close, and preparations for the future must begin.

  T
hat’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Who does ADAM have lined up to take care of his fashion businesses? I know he has someone; it’s ADAM.

  Why not just ask him? Achronyx inquired.

  Because I haven’t got a whole plan yet, that’s why, Tabitha grumbled.

  Or even part of one? Achronyx teased.

  I have that much, Tabitha protested. I was going to talk to ADAM when I had all the pieces in place.

  What do you need to know? I have time for some research before we leave.

  You heard Tiera’s wish list. I want to know if that job exists and if it’s available. Tabitha replayed Achronyx’ last remark. We’re leaving? Since when?

  Since Barnabas messaged me a minute ago. We have an urgent call.

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Rangers’ Offices

  Tabitha and Hirotoshi arrived at almost exactly the same time.

  Barnabas was waiting for them when they got to his office. “Come in, we are pressed for time.”

  “What’s up?” Tabitha asked. “Achronyx told me it was urgent.

  Barnabas had the look of a cat who had gotten the cream. “I have a lead on a consignment of the weapons from Arista.”

  “That’s great!” Tabitha paused. “What’s the emergency?”

  Barnabas pressed his lips together. “I’ve tracked the weapons from Arista to Omidian.”

  Hirotoshi groaned. “Oh, that’s not good. Are they having another revolution?”

  Tabitha made a pained face at the mention of the settlement, a terraformed moonlet on one of the main trade routes just outside Yollin space. It was well-known for its propensity for breaking out into civil unrest every decade or two, and infamous among the Empire’s peacekeepers as a place where common sense went to die. “Whereabouts on Omidian?”

  Barnabas held up his hands. “I honestly can’t say. I only got word of this a few minutes before I called you here. I know the route until the consignment crosses into Yollin space, but that was as much as my informant had.”

  Tabitha drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. “Hmmm. Do you have the chain of supply going back?”

  Barnabas nodded. “Yes, I have someone on it. I need you to get out to the border and track the consignment from the moment it arrives in-system, then I want you to follow the seller to the buy location and arrest everyone involved. Preferably before the weapons end up in the hands of whoever ordered them.”

  Tabitha nodded. “Okay. What if the culprits are the royal family?”

  “Then I trust you to deal with it,” Barnabas told her. “If it does turn out that the royals are involved, they get the same treatment as anyone else. It shouldn’t be anything too difficult, but still, call for backup if it turns out to be a wider-reaching problem than we are anticipating.”

  Tabitha nodded. “That we can do. I hope it’s not another revolution.”

  “I sincerely hope it is not another revolution.” Hirotoshi rubbed his forehead. “I still have a headache from the last one.”

  “We all do,” Barnabas commiserated. “If it weren’t for the law, I would happily rid them of their leadership problems and institute a republic. Then there wouldn’t be any need to send Rangers in every time their elected leader decides they don’t need to be elected anymore.” He sighed. “These things are so tiresome.”

  Tabitha sat up suddenly. “You know who they are? They’re the planetary equivalent of that uncle who turns up drunk to every family occasion and starts an argument with himself over who said what thirty years ago. It’s embarrassing for them that we need to keep stepping in.”

  “It is,” Barnabas agreed. “However, they are still a relatively young settlement, and there are bound to be teething problems that will settle in a few generations. Perhaps the monarchy will work for them.”

  Tabitha raised an eyebrow. “What if it takes another fifty years?”

  “Then we will continue to monitor the situation.” Barnabas shrugged. “They will eventually work out a constitution that pleases everyone, and since Bethany Anne restricted weapons after the last war, there hasn’t been a problem. In fact, I would have guessed that they were in recovery since their economy is doing so much better.” His eyebrows narrowed. “It is a little strange. I have had no news of unrest from my informants. If there had been another incident within the royal court, I would have been informed.”

  Tabitha frowned in thought. “It doesn’t have to be the royals at the center of it. Although with their track record, it was definitely the first thing that came to mind when you mentioned the planet.”

  “Mine also,” Hirotoshi concurred. “There could be an assassination attempt underway. Or a coup. If some of the weapons from Arista are being funneled there, it could get nasty.”

  “That is my concern precisely.” Barnabas nodded toward the door. “The two of you should get going as soon as possible. There’s no time for delay.”

  Tabitha got up to leave. “Already leaving. Keep sending updates as you get them.”

  Barnabas inclined his head. “Of course.”

  Barnabas stood abruptly as Tabitha followed Hirotoshi out of the office. “Oh, and Tabitha? I’d like to discuss something when you return.”

  Tabitha frowned. “Is it important?”

  Her mentor’s face was grave. His pursed lips relieved a bit of her worry, but not much. “It is, but it will wait for now.”

  Omidian, High Orbit, QBS Achronyx, Bridge

  Tabitha and Hirotoshi sat forward in their seats while Achronyx guided the ship through the outer spread of rocks to get to the moonlet where the settlement was based.

  The challenge was avoiding the half-frozen spinning chunks of rock that were almost-but-not-quite too large to escape the weak gravity field that remained around the loosely clustered corpse of a broken planet.

  Tabitha pounded on the console when the small freighter hung a left and skated across the moonlet’s thin upper atmosphere before dropping like a stone into the cloud layer below. “Shit! Where did they go?”

  “My guess would be to an out-of-the-way place where they can make the exchange without being seen.”

  Tabitha thought differently. “Wanna bet? I say they’re going to do it somewhere public. Hide in plain sight.”

  Hirotoshi smirked. “I will take that bet.”

  The Achronyx swooped in, the only clue to the ship’s presence the disturbance it caused pushing the clouds before it when they broke through the cloudbank into the lower atmosphere.

  Tabitha huffed when the freighter adjusted its course to head east of the shining city in the distance. “Looks like you were right. They’re heading for the outlands.”

  Hirotoshi chuckled dryly. “It was just a lucky guess, but now I am in the position of having you owe me a forfeit since we did not set any stakes beforehand.” Hirotoshi didn’t exactly sound smug, but Tabitha could tell that he was feeling it. He tapped a finger to his lips in a show of indecision. “Hmmm. What should I do with such an opportunity?”

  “Okay, no need to make a big deal out of it.” Tabitha got out of the captain’s chair and headed toward the door. “We still need to find out who the buyer is.” She looked over her shoulder. “Double or nothing?”

  Hirotoshi raised an eyebrow. “Two unnamed forfeits? I would be a fool to pass up the chance.” He chuckled at her surprise. “What are the choices?”

  Tabitha considered it while they kept a close eye on their target. “I like this less stuffy side of you. Okay…how about you win if it’s the royals, and I win if it’s just a garden-variety scumbag?”

  Hirotoshi nodded. “Sounds fair. At least that way if I win, my headache will be offset by the victory of you owing me two forfeits.”

  “And if I win, I’m going to combine them into something you’ll never, ever forget,” Tabitha assured him with a wink. “You’re going to regret betting before you know the stakes.”

  “I want a taste of the action, too,” Achronyx complained. “You always forget me.”

  “I didn�
��t forget you. I didn’t think you’d be interested.” Tabitha looked at Hirotoshi and shrugged. “Sorry, Achronyx. Who’s your bet on? Royals, or criminals?”

  “Neither,” Achronyx came back promptly. “I’m going for vigilantes.”

  Tabitha’s laughter became chuckles, then they stopped and her lips pressed together. “I hadn’t considered that possibility.”

  Hirotoshi indicated the screen. “The freighter is coming in to land. We will find out soon enough.”

  Tabitha sat up straight and turned her chair back to the console. “Achronyx, bring us in above them and get the video rolling. As soon as payment changes hands, we’ll bust them.”

  The screen switched to an aerial view of a small gritty shipyard which was surrounded on all sides by dust, dirt, and a whole lot of nothing else. The place had clearly been abandoned years before, yet there were signs of very recent activity all over the property.

  “I have a group of people in the main building,” Achronyx announced.

  “What’s their weapons status?” Tabitha asked.

  “I’m detecting no weapons,” Achronyx replied. “Except the ones aboard the freighter, of course.”

  Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

  Hirotoshi tensed. “Stop squabbling. Something is happening.”

  On the screen, the freighter’s main hatch began to open, and a wiry space-suited figure stepped out. The figure looked around without removing their helmet.

  The casual way they held the handheld blaster in one gloved fist spoke volumes to Tabitha, as did the way their glance kept returning to the freighter. Her lip curled. “Looks like we have ourselves a gunrunner.”

  There was a shuffling sound from the speakers, and the doors of the building creaked open.

  “Here come the buyers,” Hirotoshi murmured.

  Tabitha rubbed her hands together. “Come on, show me the criminals. Mama wants her paperwork done for the next decade…”

  Hirotoshi glanced at her incredulously. “You would waste a free forfeit on getting your paperwork done?”

  Tabitha shrugged without taking her eyes from the screen. “Anyone would think you haven’t been paying attention this last century or so. You do remember how I feel about paperwork?”