Harken’s eyes bore into hers. “Well, nervous jitters? Oh, Giselle, did you bring me a virgin? Unmodified? How adorable of you.”
Kylie shook her head. “I’ll teach you a thing or two in the bedroom, trust me. I’m just nervous to see you in person–so sexy and alluring for a woman of such power.” Kylie ran her fingernails down Harken’s neck onto her chest, lifting them away before they slipped between her breasts. Peering up at her, she pouted and gave Harken her best puppy dog eyes.
Harken’s tongue flicked and touched her ruby red lips, and her eyes crinkled ever so slightly. “There’s something familiar about you….”
“Why not sample me, then? See if my flavor strikes you. I won’t bite,” Kylie smirked slyly, “unless you ask me to.”
Harken’s hand flashed out and took Kylie by the throat. Squeezing, not hard, but enough to give her a little scare. Kylie went with it and passionately kissed the other woman. She triggered the device she wore on her wrist twice, which flooded her senses with desire. Harken’s hands cupped her ass, and she moaned. “This one. This one’s for me, and we won’t be disturbed.”
Giselle’s face fell, and she gave Kylie a hard stare. “Yes, ma’am…whatever you wish.”
Harken took Kylie by the hand and led her away. Kylie glanced back at Giselle, who shook her head. “You’ll be sorry,” Giselle mouthed silently to her.
Kylie doubted it. Soon, it’d be Harken who was sorry, and if she tried whatever it was that Giselle seemed to think would happen in the bedroom, it wasn’t going to work out the way she wanted. It would be Harken who would be sorry—she’d teach her something she couldn’t forget. She owed the woman for past indignities.
Harken’s private bedroom was on the far side of the seating area, and Kylie glanced down at the doll-girls as they walked past. It made her sick to think that these girls weren’t here of their own freewill. But they weren’t her mission, and she followed Harken to her room.
Inside, it wasn’t cozy or warm, but Harken did keep the lights muted. Over by the bed, there was a bottle of champagne and mood-enhancing snacks. She noticed that cuffs and straps were attached to the bedframe. She’d seen worse.
“Champagne? I have a lovely synthetic blend.” Harken said as she slipped off her bolero and tossed it on a dresser.
“Sure, sounds nice.” Kylie sauntered over to her. Harken slid the champagne from the ice bucket and Kylie wet her finger on the ice. She picked up a glass and traced her finger over its rim, producing a soft, resonant tone that filled the room. She danced her fingers across the glass, altering the tone and playing a little song, before handing the glass to Harken.
Harken raised an eyebrow as she filled two glasses. “That’s a nice little trick. I bet it impresses all of your clients.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised the tricks I have up my sleeves.” Kylie accepted the champagne glass from her and crossed her ankles, pushing her ass out to create the perfect hourglass look. She wanted Harken’s eyes on her body as much as possible. Harken could run a facial scan on her at any moment, and then the game would be up.
“To adventure,” Harken said with a hungry smile, and they tapped the rims of their glasses together. Kylie downed her champagne and licked her lips, encouraging Harken to do the same.
She took the bait, taking a long draught from the glass. “You’re going to have the night of your life. I’m going to make you squeal.” She grabbed Kylie by the waist and pushed back Kylie’s hair and nuzzled her neck. “You might even scream.”
Kylie moaned and tilted her head back. “Just what every girl wants to hear.”
Marge said.
“What you did to me out there, I’d almost say you’re using some sort of pheromone system to cloud people’s minds. You should know, it doesn’t work on me—been around it too much—but I appreciated the gesture.”
Kylie shrugged as she reached back and tugged Harken’s hair. “I just wanted to play with the big boss, not a bunch of squints who don’t know how to please a girl. I wanted to take the best for myself.”
“I like that,” Harken laughed. “I like that in you. I can already tell that you’ll be a great addition to my stock. But what I don’t like…” Harken began as she slid her hand along Kylie’s thigh and pulled out her pistol. “What I don’t like are Maverick’s scraps.” She shoved Kylie down onto the bed and aimed the gun at her. “You think I don’t recognize you? You think I don’t know Kylie Rhoads when I see her? Whatever you’re planning, it isn’t going to work—for you, at least.”
Kylie considered pretending to be worried but decided against it. “I just happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time. And now I’m here to collect what our friend, the bounty hunter, wants.”
“And what’s that?” Harken asked.
“Lana.”
Harken laughed. “Unbelievable. If you think I am just going to let you walk in here and…” with a scowl, she stumbled forward. Her hands shook, and she was unable to hold the pistol steady. “What the hell did you…”
“I put something on the rim of your glass,” Kylie shrugged. “It’s what I planned originally to do to Maverick when we were rudely interrupted. So, if you could please finish passing out…”
Harken dropped to her knees. “You stupid, bitch. You’ll never…” she slumped forward and face-slammed into the floor.
Kylie retrieved her pistol from Harken’s hand. “Let me finish that for you. I’ll never get Lana out of here. I’ll never get away. How am I doing so far?”
Except for a snore, Harken was quiet. Beautiful.
Kylie did as her AI asked and looked at Harken’s teeth. They all looked normal to her.
Fake teeth? Who would have fake teeth when a quick visit to a med-tech could have you growing a new one in a day?
Kylie holstered her weapon and peered outside the bedroom. The scientists and the other girls were all occupied, none sparing so much as a glance in her direction.
She grabbed a couple of small sandwiches from one of the tables as she dashed by. She was going to need an extra bit of energy to finish this job.
A LITTLE FUN ON THE SIDE
STELLAR DATE: 08.46.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Treatis, Perseverance
REGION: Scattered Disk, Gedri System, Silstrand Alliance
Grayson watched as Rogers landed the Dauntless on the dusty dunes at the outskirts of Treatise. The pilot had skill, he’d grant him that. The Dauntless was markedly less aerodynamic than a brick, but you’d never know with Rogers at the helm.
Once the ship settled, they donned their environmental suits, locked the everything down, and headed into the settlement. Once again, Grayson felt like a fish out of water, only this time, the stakes were much higher.
Most of the buildings looked like dormitories and warehouses. The only business appeared to be a pub, and it was a dive, at that. They cycled through the building’s airlock, and by the time they took off their helmets and grabbed some stools by the bar, the bartender was giving them the once over.
“New workers, huh?”
“That easy to tell?” Winter said and leaned his elbows on the countertop. “Give me whatever’s freshest.”
The bartender spun a glass in his hand. “I know pretty much everyone that comes through here. The Lance is big, but not that big. Plus, your friend there is looking a little clean around the edges.”
Everyone threw a glance at Grayson, who turned a bit red under the collar.
“Oh, he’s not so bad,” Winter said. “Just likes to shower a little too much.”
Everyone laughed at that, except for Grayson, who let out a huff of air and reached into a bowl of peanuts.
“Everyone deserves a break now and then,” Rogers said. “How’s business? Doesn’t seem like a lot is going on here. I mean, not that I could really see.”
The bartender shrugged. “The GFF is happy with what the Lance pulls out, but you’re observant. They could double their production if they sent in more men who liked to work hard. No offense, but none of you guys look like you’ve worked hard a day in your life. Well, except maybe for that one.”
He pointed at Winter.
Rogers chuckled. “You got us, pal. Got us pegged.”
The bartender smiled and held his hands up as if to say, ‘it was no big deal, this is just what I do’.
Grayson watched Rogers turn and survey the room. There were a few other patrons present, and in the back, a trio of beautiful girls was coming down a flight of stairs.
“Be back in a bit, I need to go get acquainted with the locals,” Rogers said as he stepped off his stool and approached the women with open arms.
The bartender laughed. “Well, that’s what they’re here for.”
Grayson nursed his drink while Winter started up a game of darts with several men from a nearby table. The time passed slowly as they waited for Kylie’s call requesting distraction, backup, or rescue.
Grayson looked across the pub at the pilot half-buried in women.
Grayson sat fuming for a moment before he took a deep breath and asked,
Grayson waited several excruciating seconds.
Grayson sighed and turned back to the bartender, waving to get the man’s attention.
“You know how you noticed we’re new? Well, we’re here looking for…alternate opportunities, let’s say.”
“Oh, yeah?” the bartender replied, setting down the glass he had been cleaning. “And what makes you worthy of any special arrangements?”
“I have information I can sell for a little employment,” Grayson said and slid a credit chit across the bar.
Cautiously, the bartender picked it up and flipped over in his hand, seeing the symbol on the back. “SA? This can be verified?”
“It can.” Grayson drummed his fingers along the bar top. “I have information that would help the GFF get out of a jam. A serious one. I’m high-ranking enough, and fed up enough, to sing for a price. If there’s enough in it for me and my friends…”
“One minute.” The bartender took the chip with him and disappeared behind a closed door.
Rogers sat down beside him and let out a long breath. “Are you sure about this? Maybe this is more distraction than we need.”
Grayson smirked. “Afraid of a fight?”
“An unnecessary one? Sure.” Rogers dipped his hand into a bowl and pulled out a fistful of peanuts. “Far as final meals go, this one sucks.”
Winter chuckled as he rejoined them at the bar.
“Any moment now, he’ll come back out and say someone will come talk to me. Meanwhile, security personnel will leave the hidden outpost to apprehend me, giving Kylie the opening she needs.”
“I hope you’re right.” Rogers straightened up. “Because he’s coming back.”
The bartender returned with Grayson’s chit and handed it back to him. “My boss is sending someone to talk to you. Until then, drinks are on the house.” He clapped his hands and spoke a bit too loudly. “Why don’t you tell me what it is you’d like? Something I can call up special for you guys?”
“Fried chicken?” Winter asked, and Roger promptly elbowed him.
“On second thought,” Grayson slid the chit back into his jacket pocket, “I might have been too hasty. I’ve changed my mind. We’ll be on our way out. We have some emergency business.” Each of them stepped away from their stools, and the bartender’s eyes widened with disbelief.
“Wait a second, you’re not just leaving, are you? Stay for just a few minutes. I swear we’ll make it worth your while.”
“We really have to jet,” Rogers said and picked up his environment suit’s helmet, turning toward the airlock just as it cycled open.
Two figures in heavy armor walked through, weapons held ready. The other patrons moved to tables farther from the entrance as the newcomers blocked the only way out.
One removed his helmet—which was decorated in an elaborate pattern that looked skeletal in nature—and gave a menacing snarl complete with fangs.
“Gentlemen,” the bartender said with an abnormal amount of glee in his voice, “I’d like you to meet The Boss, as he likes to call himself.”
Great.
“Do your thing, Gray,” Rogers said and ducked out of the way as The Boss lunged forward, reaching for his neck.
“Gladly.” Grayson stepped in front of the armored man and threw a punch, nailing The Boss right between the eyes, but the beast of a man barely moved backward. “I think we might have a problem,” Grayson squealed as he was picked up and hurled across the pub.
Winter drew his weapon and fired at The Boss, hitting him center mass. The armor he wore absorbed the shot, but it was enough to drive the huge man backward. Winter flipped his pulse rifle around and bashed the other guy—who had been kind enough to remove his helmet after the Boss had—in the head, forcing him into the wall. Winter followed up with another blow to the head that drove the man down into a table, which shattered under the armor’s weight.
Grayson picked himself up, grabbed his helmet, and ran for the airlock. The inside door was still open, and the three of them piled in. Winter hit the control to cycle it, and Rogers pulled a concussion grenade from inside his suit and lobbed it through the closing door. It wouldn’t kill anyone, but everyone would wake up with a headache in a few minutes.
“Do you think this is a big of enough distraction?” Rogers asked.
“I think it’ll work.” Grayson led the team outside, and they sprinted out into Perseverance’s cold, unforgiving atmosphere. They’d have to hurry if they wanted to make it back to the Dauntless in time to lift off before The Boss and his goons got to them.
und like herself.
Grayson turned and gave Rogers a steady look as they charged up the ramp of the Dauntless.
“They’re coming,” Winter said as everyone raced onto the bridge. “What do we want to do?”
“Punch it!” Rogers leaped into his seat, and, without securing his restraints, leaned forward and took the controls. The Dauntless boosted off the surface leaving a molten patch of rock in their wake.
“Stay low. Don’t go too high. We want them to believe they can catch us and apprehend,” Grayson said.
“What makes them wrong?” Winter asked.
“Good question.” Rogers sucked on his bottom lip. “Someone man the guns and issue a warning shot to those nice gents taking off behind us.”
RESCUE
STELLAR DATE: 08.46.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Harken’s Brothel/Research Facility, Perseverance
REGION: Scattered Disk, Gedri System, Silstrand Alliance
Kylie snuck through the halls, following the route Marge had laid out. Her AI used Harken’s tokens to take her through security measures she had never seen Maverick, or the GFF, employ before. The route was like a maze, the passages continually turning inward through layers and layers of automated security.
She stopped just inside a doorway, spotting a set of cameras before they caught her. Leaning back against the archway, Kylie asked Marge.
Close Proximity - An Aeon14 Space Opera Adventure (Perilous Alliance) Page 23