by Jaleta Clegg
"Is something wrong?" Shomies asked. "Perhaps you don't feel well?"
I looked up at her smirk of fake sympathy. She laughed.
"It will only get worse. Right now, you should feel like you have a bad case of the flu. It isn't the flu."
I closed my eyes, trying to shut her out. I didn't want to hear what she had to say.
"It's a drug," she continued. "My own concoction. And yes, I did take into account your rather unique genetics. It's extremely addictive, especially for you. One dose, perhaps two, and you need the drug to live. As you are beginning to realize, withdrawal is excruciating. Very few can live more than thirty six hours without the drug. It's been thirty one. How are you feeling?"
She leaned over me, her massive folds of fat wriggling and crawling towards me. I was in too much pain to move away. I couldn't hide from her. I opened my eyes, watching her while she tormented me with her words.
"First is the pain. It only gets worse the longer you wait. Some subjects began to hallucinate near the end. Your internal organs should begin to shut down soon. That causes massive seizures. All of your muscular tissue begins to contract spasmodically, including your heart and lungs. The real beauty of the drug is that it doesn't affect your brain functions until the very end. You stay aware of everything. You feel yourself dying."
She straightened up. She smiled down at me, an evil twisting of her lips. She held up a small vial of clear liquid. "Beg me for it," she whispered. "You have only a few hours more to live. The pain will only get worse."
Something deep inside me snapped. I was through pretending I was helpless. I was filled with a strange swelling of energy. I'd only felt that strange power once before, on Trythia, when I'd managed to push back the pain of the slave collar. Every muscle screamed in pain as I pushed myself to my feet. My stare burned into Shomies. I put every ounce of anger I had into that stare. Her smile faded and died. I could see a spark of fear ignite deep in her eyes.
"You'll die with me," I said, very quietly. I stood very still, daring her to make a move against me. I wasn't sure what I'd do if she did. Already I could feel my muscles beginning to tremble. The pain was intense. I didn't let any of it show.
She backed away one step, then two, and a third. Then she turned, trying to make it look deliberate. I read the fear in her movements. She waddled away from me, her wide back twitching with nerves as she moved. She put the tiny vial on the kitchen counter.
"Feed her and see she gets this," Shomies instructed Rivian.
I stayed on my feet, holding the tremors at bay with sheer force of will. Shomies glanced back once, her face betraying her fear. She waddled quickly across the room and through the hidden door. It slid shut behind her.
I collapsed, every muscle cramping and shaking. The pain was even worse. I couldn't help the muffled whimper that escaped as I dropped to the floor. I was barely aware of Rivian crossing the room to me. I was going into convulsions, each jerking movement sending waves of pain through my body.
Rivian knelt next to me, lifting my head. He brought the vial close to my mouth.
"No," I said. I could be strong, I could fight my way through this.
"Dace, you're going to die if you don't take it. The convulsions are the last stage. You've got less than an hour to live. You have to take it now."
He pressed the tiny vial to my mouth. I gave in. I let the liquid flow into my mouth, a bare sip. There was no taste to it but it burned across my tongue. He tucked the empty vial into the front of his tunic.
He cradled my head in his lap while the convulsions gradually grew less. The pain receded. I could feel the drug working in my system. I wanted to cry. Shomies held my life in her hands. And there was nothing I could do about it, not yet. If I could steal some of the drug, enough to last me a few weeks, there was a chance I could get someone to synthesize it for me.
I didn't want to spend the rest of my life addicted to a drug. I wanted to be free.
Rivian laid me gently back on the floor. I felt wrung out, too exhausted to move. He fetched a plate from the kitchen and brought it back to me. He set it on the floor.
"Eat it," he said. "Or she'll punish us both."
I pushed myself up. It took a huge effort just to sit. Rivian waited until he saw I was upright before he went back to his cooking.
The food looked good. He'd even given me a fork to eat with. I picked it up and toyed with the idea of hiding it and using it as a weapon later. It was a stupid idea. A fork against Shomies and her thugs and her poisons. It was hopeless. I ate what I could. Despair makes a lousy seasoning. I pushed the plate away, with the fork on top, and curled up on the ragged blanket.
Rivian collected the plate without a word. I watched him work in the kitchen.
It wouldn't matter if Lowell came for me now. I was dead without Shomies and her drug.
I understood Rivian, better than he realized. He was still a slave, though he pretended he was here by choice. I wondered if the three girls were slaves to her drugs. Shomies was pure evil.
Chapter 48
"Welcome to Pelucid," Clark quipped as he shut down the engines.
"It looks miserable out there," Ginni commented from her side of the controls.
"Everett's in port," Jasyn said. "He says he's got something for us. He'll be here soon."
"I thought he went to Tebros," Ginni said.
"Maybe he found something there for us," Jasyn answered, but she didn't sound very hopeful. "We've got a name but no location."
She didn't need to add that time was running out. They all knew that.
"What's our excuse for being here?" Clark asked. "We don't have any cargo."
"We don't need a reason," Jasyn said.
"No!" Louie shouted in the lounge. "Want cookie!"
Jasyn just shook her head. Clark looked over his shoulder at her.
"I'll deal with him for a while," he offered. "You can talk to Everett. I'll send Beryn and Darus to deal with the port officials. They know what the ship needs." He flipped a final switch and left the cockpit.
She nodded and shut her station down. Ginni swiveled her chair around and tucked her feet up.
"She's a survivor, Jasyn," Ginni said. "She'll be all right. She has to be."
The message light on the com flashed. Jasyn answered it, expecting the port officials to be calling. She had it on speaker.
"This is the Phoenix Rising," she said, her voice flat.
"Hail the ship and all that," a familiar voice boomed from the speaker. "How's my favorite employer?"
Jasyn smiled. "Leon? What are you doing here?"
"I got wind of your search. I've got something you need to know about."
"How fast can you get here?" He had something and she didn't want it broadcast over the com signal where anyone could intercept it.
"Give me half an hour," Leon said. "I got some business docs for you to sign."
"You're just trying to hit dinner time," she said with a smile in her voice.
"You read my mind. Be there as soon as I can get free." He clicked off.
"Didn't we leave him on Tebros working with the Gypsy Council on trade regulations?" Ginni asked.
"He's not Gypsy," Jasyn answered. "They probably threw him out after the first two days."
"Because he's a weasel?"
"Probably. But he's our weasel." Jasyn stood up and stretched. "Everett's on his way," she said, glancing at the main viewscreen.
"No!" Louie shouted. "Want momma!" He began to wail.
Jasyn rolled her eyes. "I've been summoned."
"Everett will understand," Ginni said. She grinned at Jasyn. "I think he's cute."
"Everett or the monster?"
"Both."
"He's too old for you, Ginni."
"I didn't mean it that way." Ginni followed Jasyn as she left the cockpit.
Most of the rest of the crew were assembled in the lounge. The ship was definitely getting crowded. Tayvis, Darus and Beryn were down in the engine room. He
rrison and Manson played dice in one corner. The medic, Sikura, was on the couch talking to his girlfriend, Linnea. Paltronis cleaned her weapons, again. Lowell watched her, leaning against the galley counter. Clark wrestled with Louie, trying to wash food from his face. Louie was howling. Ghost was on her perch above the storage locker, watching and twitching her tail. Twyla and Ananda played Crystals on the table. Ananda was losing miserably. She didn't seem to care. Jasyn crossed the lounge to help Clark. Ginni drifted over to watch the dice game.
The knock at the hatch was expected. Clark went to answer it. Louie clutched Jasyn, wrapping his chubby arms around her neck and squeezing his baby face against her cheek. She smoothed his hair with one hand.
The hatch opened letting in a gust of cold, rainy air. Everett hurried in, dripping water. Clark shut the hatch again.
"I always hated this world," Everett said.
"I've never been here before," Jasyn answered. Louie sighed and put his head on her shoulder. She could feel him relaxing. Maybe if she was lucky, he'd fall asleep soon.
"You haven't missed much," Everett said. He brushed water from his hair with one hand. Lowell offered him a towel from the galley. Everett took the towel and started drying himself. "When it isn't raining, it's usually blowing. If it weren't for the deposits of hydrazine, no one would ever choose to live here."
"What happened on Tebros?" Jasyn asked. She took a chair, moving carefully so she wouldn't disturb Louie.
"Not much," Everett answered. He took another chair and put the towel on the table.
Lowell pulled out a plate of cookies and slid them onto the table. Everett picked one up and nibbled it.
"The Council hasn't officially met for the last three weeks. They're too busy scheming against each other. There were six assassination attempts last week. Daverius called for the old blood feud rules to be instigated. No one objected." Everett took another bite of his cookie. "They need a leader, Jasyn."
"I'm not the leader they need," she said. "I told them that before."
"There aren't any clan leaders who fit the description, either," Everett answered. "They are the ones leading the fights. Most of the ship captains are ready to desert the clans. You give me the word and I can have three hundred ships in Shellfinder within the week."
"What would I do with three hundred ships?" Jasyn asked.
"Knock the clans back where they belong. Without their trading ships, they don't have much power. Jasyn, it isn't just the Gypsies who want you back on Tebros leading the Council. The Federation wants you there, to keep things moving."
"And they can wait. I've got unfinished clan business," Jasyn said. "You said you had something for us. It had better be more than gossip about the Council."
Everett pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. He slid it across the table to Jasyn.
"Coordinates," he said. "Lowell's agent, Melia, made contact with someone on Tebros. They said you can find what you're looking for there."
Jasyn picked up the paper and unfolded it with one hand. She cradled Louie with the other. She studied the numbers on the paper.
The ship was quiet, waiting for her response. Ghost jumped down from her perch and meowed at Everett. He held one hand out for the cat to sniff. She jumped into his lap and started purring. Everett stroked her gray fur and waited.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Jasyn asked.
Everett frowned. "What do you mean?"
"These coordinates," Jasyn flipped the paper onto the table, "I can't be certain, but they put us within five light years of Tebros, at Jacinth, if I remember right."
"That can't be right," Everett said. He picked up the paper. "I didn't have Sy run them for me. I didn't think to ask."
"You got coordinates for us but didn't bother to find out where they would put us?" Jasyn asked. "Who is really paying you, Everett?"
Everett looked at the cat. Ghost put her head down and purred loudly.
"You're too suspicious, Jasyn," he finally said. "Paranoid comes to mind, actually."
"I have good reason to be," she snapped back.
"Look, Jasyn, the Federation is looking for Dace. They have a lot more resources than you do. They need you on Tebros defusing the blood feuds."
"You double crossing, lying little wretch."
"Will said you'd kill me when you found out," Everett said.
"I am not going to Tebros!"
Louie startled awake and started crying. She soothed him absently, still glaring at Everett across the table.
"No, you aren't," Linnea said behind her. She glanced at Lowell. "You're going into Patrol custody. They should be here within the hour."
Jasyn twisted her head around. Linnea stood behind her. She held one of the blasters Paltronis had stolen. Herrison and Manson also got to their feet. They were both armed.
It was Paltronis' turn to start swearing. "You sold me out, Sikura."
"No, he didn't," Linnea answered her. "All of you, over there by the bench." She waved her gun. Nobody moved. "I'll start shooting," she threatened.
"No wonder it was so easy to walk out of the base on Fedrithus," Paltronis said. "I should have seen it coming."
"I said move!" Linnea shouted. She raised the blaster over her head.
Herrison pushed Ginni with one huge fist. Manson waved his blaster reluctantly.
"You really don't want to do this," Lowell said. He was still half sitting on the counter.
Jasyn stood up slowly, Louie still cradled against her, his eyes closed in sleep. She turned to face Linnea.
"You brought them on board, Paltronis," she said. "You vouched for them."
"And I'll deal with them," Paltronis growled.
"I didn't know, I swear," Sikura said desperately. He rose from the bench.
"I said to move," Linnea repeated, her voice growing shriller with each word. She raised the blaster and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. She lowered the blaster and checked the charge. The lights glowed green. She pointed it at Paltronis and pulled the trigger again. Nothing happened.
"Darus and I rigged them," Lowell said. "None of them will fire."
"You knew about her?" Paltronis didn't look at Lowell. She kept her eyes on Linnea, measuring the threat the other woman posed.
"I suspected," Lowell said. "I was rather surprised to see her with you."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Paltronis grumbled.
Linnea shook the blaster and muttered swear words under her breath.
"She said to move," Herrison said. He pushed Ginni again.
"I really hate it when people do that," Ginni said.
She twisted to the side, yanking Herrison's gun hand up behind him. He grunted in pain and tried to move free. Ginni jerked up on his thumb at the same time she twisted her foot around his ankle. Herrison landed on his belly on the floor, a stunned expression on his face.
Linnea threw herself at Paltronis, the blaster falling to the floor behind her. Tayvis stuck out his foot and tripped her as she went past. Linnea stumbled and crashed into Paltronis' knees. Clark had her by the back of her tunic and on her feet before Paltronis could move.
"Are you going to do something stupid, too, Manson?" Lowell asked.
Manson jerked Herrison off the floor. "You're under arrest. I'm not sure what authority."
"You stupid beast!" Linnea shrieked at Manson. Clark shook her collar until she shut up.
"He always worked for her," Manson said as he shoved Herrison forward. "They assumed I'd be on their side because Herrison and I are friends."
"And you aren't?" Jasyn asked.
"Kick me off if you want, I'm not in the Empire anymore. The Patrol can't tell me what to do."
"What are we going to do with them?" Clark asked.
"Turn them in to the local Federation garrison," Everett suggested.
"I'm still mad at you," Jasyn informed him.
"Solve your more immediate crisis," Everett said. "Then you can deal with me." He calmly stroked the cat.
; "She was doing it for the reward," Lowell said. "Throw her out into the rain. She won't find much sympathy for her views here."
"Me and Herrison are going to join the troops here," Manson said. "I hear they pay pretty well in the Federation."
Herrison tried to say something. Manson landed an elbow into his stomach. Herrison doubled over, unable to talk.
"I'm not going anywhere," Linnea stated flatly.
"I don't think you have a choice," Clark said.
She twisted in his grip and landed a blow on his shoulder. She dove for her blaster. Tayvis kicked it out of her reach. Paltronis landed on her. They rolled on the floor, kicking and punching each other. Sikura was the only one who tried to intervene. Tayvis caught his arm and pulled him back.
"That wouldn't be very smart," Tayvis said. "How much of her plans were you in on?"
"None of them," Sikura said vehemently.
"It hurts, to have someone make a complete fool out of you," Clark said. He rubbed his numb arm. "How did you know her, Lowell?"
"I saw her picture in a file I shouldn't have seen," Lowell said.
Linnea and Paltronis crashed into an empty chair, knocking it over.
"You want us to take her with us?" Manson offered.
"If there's anything left when Paltronis is done," Lowell said. He looked up at Jasyn. "If that's all right with you."
"I don't care," Jasyn said. She stood up with her sleeping son in her arms.
"Jasyn," Everett said, asking for her attention.
"Go back where you belong, Everett," she said. "And don't ever claim clan affiliation with me again. Go work for the Federation if that's what you want."
Paltronis was on top of Linnea, pinning her to the floor. Linnea went limp.
"I don't work for them," he said.
"Don't give me that line," Jasyn snapped.
Everett smiled at her. "You gave me clan affiliation already. Which is why I stole the right coordinates." His smile turned into a grin. "I know where Will is sending his ships. If you leave within the hour you might beat them there."
Paltronis hauled Linnea to her feet and frogmarched her to the hatch. Lowell obligingly opened it for her. Paltronis shoved the other woman out into the rain.