Phoenix in Flames

by Jaleta Clegg

  "That entry is coded," the woman said. "And your face doesn't match the one in my file."

  "Try code seven four alpha," Darus suggested.

  The woman studied his face for a long moment. She glanced at Ginni then back at Darus. She typed in the code. Whatever came up on her screen frightened her even worse. She jerked her hands away from the keypad as if it burned her fingers.

  "I don't know what I can do for you," she said, her voice very small and scared. "But, whatever I can, I will."

  "Just show me what's on your screen," Darus asked.

  She glanced behind her, at the closed door that led into the rest of the base. "Just look quick," she said. She twisted her screen halfway around.

  Darus leaned close. He glanced at Ginni. "Lowell tied the file to Dace. We may have just triggered a worse problem."

  "Why?" Ginni asked.

  "The Patrol wants her," the receptionist said. "They want her bad. Are you Lowell's people?"

  "Are you?" Darus asked back.

  "I wanted to be," she admitted. "Do you work for her?" She nodded at the picture on her screen.

  "Sort of," Darus admitted. "We're looking for her."

  The woman shook her head. "She isn't here. If she were, I'd know about it."

  "Then that blows that idea," Darus said.

  "You think the Patrol—"

  "No, I never really thought that," Darus cut her off. "I was hoping, though. It would have made it easier." He pointed at the screen. "She disappeared several days ago. We want to find her."

  "She was here? On Tireo?" The woman's eyes were huge. Her com beeped. She jumped. She held up one finger. "Yes?" she answered the com. She listened for a moment. "Yes, sir. Right away." She clicked the com off. "They'll know I accessed the file."

  "We wouldn't want to get you in trouble," Ginni said. "I can fix it for you. If you just let me use your station for a minute?"

  The woman hesitated, torn between her hero worship and her job. Darus passed her another five credit note. Hero worship and money won.

  "Just for a moment," she said. "I have to take a file up to the boss. You were never here."

  "Understood," Darus said, winking at her.

  Ginni didn't wait for her to leave. She was in the woman's seat, typing on her keypad before the door shut behind her.

  "Do you know what you're doing?" Darus asked.

  "Clark showed me how."

  "And what are you doing?"

  "Sending Lowell a message," she answered. She hit a few more buttons. "That should send the message. Now I have to erase my tracks." She frowned at the screen. "I can't remember how."

  Darus didn't wait for her to ask. He pulled out the com and called the ship. He handed it to Ginni. She talked technical terms with Clark for a minute. She typed a final string. The computer beeped.

  "That should take care of it," Ginni said. "Lowell's name is tagged. I sent the message to Paltronis."

  "And in a week or two, they may show up to help. It's too little, and too late, Ginni," Darus said. "We wasted our time here."

  "At least they'll know," Ginni said. "What were you hoping for? A full ground assault troop looking for Dace?"

  "It would have been nice," Darus said wistfully. "We'd better go before she gets back."

  They walked into an argument on the Phoenix.

  "You aren't going by yourselves," Jasyn said to Clark.

  "Beryn and I will be fine," Clark insisted.

  "Not without someone as backup," Jasyn insisted.

  Clark glanced over at them. "Darus can be my backup."

  "Darus is going to stay here and check the engines," she answered. "The refueling should be finished in about an hour."

  "Jasyn," Clark protested.

  "You and Beryn go walking into that bar and how do I know you're going to come back out again? Ginni and I will follow you. At a distance. And we'll keep in contact with Twyla here on the ship."

  "Is arguing with you going to do any good?" Clark asked.

  "No."

  Clark shrugged. "What did you find out?" he asked Darus.

  "Dace's name is flagged by the Patrol," Ginni said. "They want her. I did get the message sent to Paltronis. And I think I wiped the record trace."

  "If you did what I told you, then it should be gone," Clark said.

  "No help from the Patrol?" Jasyn asked. "I'm not surprised. Let's hope this woman has more information."

  "We'll beat anything useful out of her if we have to," Beryn promised.

  "Not until after dinner," Twyla said. "Since I'm no good at illegal activities, I cooked. And you are going to eat it."

  "I can't argue with that logic," Beryn said. He sat at the table. "What's for dinner?"

  * * *

  The night air of Tireo was hot and still. The smell of engine oil flavored every breath. Clark and Beryn swaggered down the sidewalk, looking like a couple of spacers on shoreleave. Jasyn and Ginni kept their distance, walking slowly, dressed more like tourists than spacers. Jasyn clicked the com on.

  "You there, Twyla?" she asked.

  "Sitting in the cockpit and doing my nails," Twyla answered. "Darus says the coolant levels are good now. He's checking the rest of the fluids. Louie is fast asleep."

  "Good," Jasyn answered.

  "They're going in," Ginni said.

  They walked faster down the sidewalk to the quiet bar. This early in the evening, the traffic was still light. The bar had few customers. The decor was dark blue and pale gold with plenty of fake wood. Jasyn and Ginni took a seat at a table where they could watch Beryn and Clark at the bar.

  "Drinks?" a bored waitress asked them. They ordered. The waitress walked away.

  Beryn talked to the bartender. He leaned over the counter. "She was in here. Slender, red hair, green eyes to die for. He wouldn't believe me." Beryn jerked his head at Clark. "I tell you, she was the best looking woman I've seen for ages."

  "You've been on the ship too long," Clark answered. "If she's real, and everything you promised, you win the bet."

  Beryn turned back to the bartender. "So, you see, I need to find her. It's going to cost me next week's pay if I don't. You understand, don't you?"

  The bartender studied them both, his hands wiping the counter mechanically while he did. He finally shrugged. "Ananda," he called towards the back room. "You got a couple of customers out here."

  The curtain to the back room shifted. A woman walked in. She was slender, with more than a suggestion of curves under her revealing dress. Her coppery red hair was piled on her head. She posed in the doorway, pouting her very red lips.

  "If he looks more than once, I'm going to kill him," Jasyn muttered.

  "Told you she was real," Beryn said. He shot a glance past Clark at Jasyn and Ginni.

  The woman, Ananda, focused her smile on Beryn and Clark. Her eyes widened as she recognized Beryn. Her smile and seductive pose vanished. She gasped and ducked back behind the curtain.

  Beryn and Clark were right behind her. The bartender moved to block them. Jasyn was faster. She leaned on the bar, a small blaster in her hand.

  "You don't want to interfere," she told the bartender. "Just keep quiet and no one gets hurt."

  The bartender gave her a baffled look. He backed off from her gun.

  "They just want to ask her a question," Ginni added. She moved near the curtain. "If she's smart, she'll answer it. They really don't like hurting people."

  "Who are you?" the bartender asked.

  Jasyn gave him a very cold smile.

  "Just cooperate and we won't hurt anyone." Ginni leaned on the counter and helped herself to the nuts set out in bowls. "Who is she?"

  The bartender stood still, staring at them.

  Ginni sighed. "You don't seem to understand. You answer my question, and she won't shoot anything. Understand?"

  Jasyn raised the blaster, aiming at a bottle of very expensive liquor.

  The bartender gave in. He wiped a smudge from the counter. "Her name is An
anda. She works independent. She likes it here, because it's usually quiet."

  "See how easy this is going to be?" Ginni said. "Who does she work for? Who paid her to fish for information on us?"

  The bartender shrugged. "She works for herself. I don't know who paid her. Who are you and why would she want information on you?"

  "I ask the questions," Ginni said.

  Jasyn eased her finger onto the trigger.

  "Don't shoot up my bar."

  "Then just answer the questions," Ginni said. "Who's paying her to spy on us?"

  "I already answered. I don't know."

  "Think harder," Ginni whispered, leaning closer.

  "I don't know," he insisted. "I think she has ties to the syndicate here on Tireo, but I don't know."

  "And who are they?" Ginni asked, picking out another nut and popping it into her mouth.

  "Are you a rival gang moving in?"

  "I ask the questions," Ginni reminded him.

  "I don't ask. Look, I pay their fees and they leave me alone. I don't want trouble."

  "You don't know much, do you?" Ginni smiled, a mischievous grin. "Break something, Jasyn."

  "No!" he said, raising his hands. "Please. I don't know who's paying Ananda this time. Rumor is that she's got a deal with someone named Ren Matthias. I've never heard of him before. He isn't local."

  "Much better," Ginni said. "Who is the local thug leader?"

  "Ananda gathers information for several. From the amount of cash she's been flashing it has to either be Shfwa or McKane that's paying her."

  "And where would I get in touch with Shfwa or McKane?" Ginni asked.

  "Try the Blue Sheep Bar," the bartender said.

  Ginni cocked her head to one side. "Maybe we should break something to remind you not to go running to them with information as soon as we leave."

  "Maybe if we pay him something he'll keep his mouth shut," Jasyn said.

  The curtain to the back room opened. Clark and Beryn came out. Ananda walked between them, their hands locked on her arms.

  "We're only borrowing her for a while," Clark said.

  The bartender looked ready to object. Jasyn dropped a credit chip on the counter. He deliberately looked away.

  "Come on, sweetheart," Beryn said. "Cooperate and you don't get hurt."

  Ananda tried to jerk her arms free. "Let go of me, or I'll scream."

  "You really wouldn't want to do that," Jasyn told her. "I'd have to hurt you if you did."

  "She's going to introduce us to a man named McKane," Clark said.

  "Then let's go talk to McKane," Ginni said.

  Ananda jerked her arm out of Clark's hold.

  Beryn grabbed both arms. "Play it smart, Ananda. We really don't want to hurt you."

  "But we will if you don't give us someone else to hurt," Ginni said.

  "You're all crazy," Ananda said.

  "Probably," Beryn agreed. "Take us to McKane and we'll let you go."

  She sighed and seemed to deflate. "He's probably celebrating. Over at the Blue Sheep."

  "A party? How fun," Clark said. "Let's go."

  He and Beryn escorted Ananda out of the bar, Jasyn and Ginni at their heels.

  Chapter 20

  The lid of the crate banged open. I flinched at the noise.

  "Get out." The voice was male, flat, and mean.

  It took me several tries to get my feet under me. The owner of the voice lost patience. He dragged me out of the box by the neck of my shipsuit. Once my feet hit the floor, he shoved me. I landed against a wall. I clutched it in a vain attempt to try to stay on my feet. I slid towards the floor until he grabbed my suit again.

  I was on a ship, not a big one to judge by the size of the room I was in. Good, I thought. It gave me half a chance of finding some way to escape. If I could get my hands on the controls, I could fly it.

  "Move," the man behind me shouted. He shoved me at a door. It opened right before my face smashed into it. I stumbled out of the cabin and into a wider space.

  The ship layout was similar to the Phoenix. We were in a lounge that included the galley. Cabins opened off one side. The cockpit was at the front, behind a closed door. There were four other people in the room. Three of them looked like crew, one woman and two men, all with the same tough look to their faces. The last man was different. He leaned back in one of the chairs, his feet planted on another chair. He wore a leisure suit, not a shipsuit, made of mottled green and gold and black fabric. His face was thin. A twisted scar trailed from the corner of one eye up into his hairline. His hair was medium brown and much too long. It hung in shaggy layers around his face.

  "Captain Dace," he drawled. "Welcome aboard. It's such a pleasure to meet you."

  "I really doubt that." I was acutely aware of how many days it had been since I'd been able to shower or change.

  The man behind me cuffed me, knocking me forward a step. "You show respect to Mister Matthias," he growled.

  "Finally, a name," I said. "Do you know how rude you are? All of you know me, but none of you have seen fit to introduce yourselves."

  The man smacked me again. I stumbled forward, falling to my knees in front of the man he called Matthias.

  "Largo, that's enough," Matthias said. He lifted his feet down and leaned over me. "I do apologize for my rudeness. Not that it's going to matter much to you soon."

  I didn't bother trying to stand back up. I looked at him. "What do you want? Money? I can get it for you as soon as you land."

  "What about an introduction at court?" He laughed at his own wit. "No, last I heard, you were rather out of favor with the royal court. You do get around, don't you, Dace?"

  I looked down at my scabbed wrists and the cuffs. My blood stained the metal. I was going to have to play smart, let him think I was cowed and no threat. And as soon as he gave me half a chance—

  His fist caught me on the side of my head. I sprawled across the floor.

  "No games," he said as he leaned over me. "I know all about you. Don't try your tricks on me."

  "Or what? You'll beat me?"

  "I'll make your life miserable."

  "I don't even know you. Why kidnap me?"

  "Profit, pure and simple. Do you have any idea how many people are willing to pay me a fortune for the opportunity of getting revenge on you? No, of course you wouldn't or you would never have made it so easy." He grabbed the front of my suit and hauled me to my feet. He dangled me only inches from his face. "You behave, or you will suffer. Nothing personal, you understand." He let go of me.

  I staggered but I managed to stay on my feet.

  "Kolly," Matthias snapped his fingers at one of the men. "How soon until we arrive at Obydeon?"

  "Another two days, probably," the man answered. "Ren, I don't like this. She's got friends in high places."

  "Not anymore," Matthias answered. "No one's coming looking for her. No one even cares she's gone. Don't worry, Kolly. Two weeks, tops, and she'll be off your ship. You fly away with your money. Everyone leaves happy."

  "I still don't like it," Kolly objected.

  "You don't have to like it," Matthias said sharply. "Do what I paid you to do."

  His fist shot out and caught me again, smashing my nose this time. I fell backwards, landing awkwardly on a chair. Blood dripped across my lip.

  "Largo," Matthias shouted at the man who had pulled me out of the trunk. "Lock her back up. Feed her if she cooperates."

  Largo grabbed my arm and dragged me into the cabin. He threw me onto the one bunk that was folded down from the wall. I sprawled over it, rolling onto my back. Largo reached for my wrists. I lay limp and unresisting until he had the cuffs unlocked.

  I swung my hands up, throwing the cuffs into his face. He stumbled backwards, swearing. I rolled off the bunk onto my feet. I threw a punch at Largo. I missed. He moved to the side, grabbing for me. I twisted out of his reach.

  I got one knee up and caught him in the thigh. He growled and shoved me backwards into the wal
l. He kept coming, squeezing me against the wall. He grabbed my wrists and slammed them into the wall on either side. His body was blocking me in. I couldn't move even though I tried. I twisted my head to the side and tried to bite him. He butted me with his head.

  My head slammed against the wall. I quit fighting, gasping for breath and trying to see past the swirling dots of light in front of my eyes.

  "I was almost disappointed for a minute there," Largo breathed. He leaned against me for a minute longer. "What? No more last minute tricks?"

  "Will it do any good?"

  "Try and see," he challenged.

  He waited. I didn't make any moves. He pushed me up against the wall, waiting until I flinched at the pressure. He grunted and pulled me away from the wall. He twisted my hands behind my back and marched me back to the bunk.

  I kicked backwards, tangling my feet in his legs. He swore as we both fell onto the bunk. He elbowed me in the face as he got back up. I tasted more blood. He grabbed my wrists and slapped cuffs on them. These worked. The force field flickered on in a shimmer of blue. I lay back, defeated for now. Blood ran slowly from my nose.

  He grabbed my ankles and twisted another pair of cuffs between them, looping the chain on these around the handle of a storage bin at the foot of the bunk. He stood back, breathing hard and watching me.

  "You want anything, you are going to have to beg for it," he told me. "You want to use the bathroom?" He leaned over me. "Beg for it."

  I wanted to spit in his face. I couldn't find enough spit. I was thirsty.

  "You don't want anything?"

  "A drink would be nice. And Matthias said to feed me."

  "Only if you behaved." Largo's grin was nasty.

  "You expected me to fight you."

  "You didn't fight well enough. Put your heart into it next time." He turned away, leaving me chained on the bunk.

  I waited until the door slid closed behind him. Then I wriggled around until I was sitting up. The force cuffs on my wrists were good quality. There was no way I was going to short them out or pick them. The pair on my ankles was, fortunately, not energized. They were just metal bands linked by a length of chain. But, they were also unpickable. I was stuck for now.

  I lay on the bunk. I could just give up. And hate myself for it. I had to believe Jasyn would find me. I had to believe there was something I could do.