“Before you leave, allow me to restock your ship. I understand that you were not able to finish your shopping on Lycus.”
“That is very generous of you, Deviant,” Sky grunted. “Is this a bribe to coerce our Captain into your contract?”
Deviant smiled sadly at Sky and shook his head, the tight rolls of hair bouncing around his face. “No, it is a gift for protecting and transferring Rana to her next destination. The insurgence owes her for this sacrifice.” He turned his melancholy smile to Rana. “I wish you would reconsider.”
“Not today, but perhaps one day I will return.” Rana smiled as she dipped her shoulders slightly in a respectful bow. In return, Deviant, slammed his fists against his chest and dipped into a bow.
“You would honor us. May I send you our CyNet frequencies? It would be prudent to have an army at your call if you run into trouble.”
Rana offered her UAB to Deviant, and when his large hands circled her wrist, she blushed demurely. Jo was amused by their exchange, but held in the chuckle that bubbled in her throat. It was like watching teenagers flirt for the first time. The average youth would probably have more experience in the romance department than Rana, though.
After the transfer was complete, goodbyes were exchanged between all, except Sky, who kept her keen eyes locked on Deviant. Jo wondered what her issue was with the man. She obviously didn’t see any deceit in his actions, or she would have informed Jo long before now.
Deviant followed her crew to the Kismet, his head tilted in conversation with Raiden. They didn’t look as if they were plotting, but it rankled Jo. Still, maybe it was time to trust him, so she let the irritation pass. When she stepped into her bay, crates were already stacked against the wall, secured with the magni-clamps. She lifted a brow and looked at Deviant.
“You work fast.”
“That I do. Safe travels.” He tipped his head in respect and fisted his hand over his heart. Jo returned the gesture and scanned her wrist over the lock panel. As the door lifted, Jo leaned to the side, her view of Deviant shrinking with each passing second until it was just a sliver.
“Hey, Deviant! Send me those contracts.” He beamed as the door slid closed.
Sky whispered coordinates before slipping out of the cargo bay. Jo shook her head. She had no clue how to read the woman, but Jo had discovered Sky was fiercely loyal and trustworthy. Otherwise, Apollo wouldn’t have hired her. Still, Jo wished she knew what was going on in the stoic woman’s head.
“Elek, I’m sending you coordinates. Get us out of here. Jax. Siaren. Go to engineering. I need the Kismet at max speed. Everyone else, if you’re supposed to be on duty, head to your stations. If you’re not, get some rest.”
“Aye, Captain,” a chorus of voices sang before they dispersed.
“Haedus, can you gather a small team and log the contents of those crates? Let’s make sure Deviant’s people didn’t sneak anything unwanted in there.”
Haedus nodded and walked away. Jo felt the jerk of the clamps releasing them from the Deliverance. Soon they would be in open space. Exposed. Vulnerable to attack. Unease curdled Jo’s stomach as she thought about how she was blindly following Sky’s directions. The woman wouldn’t lead the Kismet to danger, but she didn’t like feeling clueless. She typed a quick message to Sky requesting her presence on the bridge.
Jo wanted answers.
“Deviant wouldn’t do anything to betray your trust,” Raiden declared as he wrapped an arm around Jo’s waist. She didn’t lean into him like her body desperately wanted, but she didn’t step out of his embrace.
Baby steps.
“I don’t know him, but I do believe he wouldn’t act in any way that would bring harm to Rana.”
“You will have to learn to trust people,” Raiden whispered in her ear. Her spine quivered at his nearness, and a delicious heat shot down from her ear, landing somewhere below her belly.
“Trust is earned.”
“You do realize that committing to the CCI in any way would label you and your crew as rogues. Why did you agree to work with him if you didn’t trust him?” Raiden leaned away and Jo met his curious gaze with a nod. She did know the risks involved, but they were outweighed by the benefits.
“Because he’s offering us a paid job and I agree with his mission. It’s worth the risk.”
“Anything else?”
Jo shrugged. “It helps that you trust him.”
“Are you saying that you trust my judgement?”
Jo turned around inside his arms and leaned against him until her body was flush against his. She rested her head on his shoulder and took comfort in his familiar presence.
“I’m starting to.”
On the bridge, Jo scanned the holomap as she waited for Sky to respond to her summons. To her relief, there weren’t any vessels within range, but Jo would not delude herself that they were in the clear. The coordinates Sky gave her would send the Kismet to the very edge of the Consulate’s domain, but unless Sky planned to leave the system itself, Jo couldn’t figure out her plan. Raiden sat at Sky’s console, cycling through the external camera feeds and monitoring the CyNet for any additional announcements from the Consulate. Every person was on full alert.
Jo barely heard the hiss of the door over the noise of her crew, but as soon as Sky glided in the room with Rana close behind, the clamor lessened significantly. The women stopped next to Jo’s station. Sky leaned against Jo’s console and studied the holomap on display.
“It’s clear for now.”
“Yes, for now,” Jo agreed as she leaned back in her chair and propped her feet up on the console. She watched her security officer fidget with the straps crossed over her chest. Was she nervous? That would be a first. Jo crossed her arms and didn’t break her stare as she waited for Sky to explain herself.
Sky lifted her gaze, and Jo’s heart clenched at the sadness she found in those depths. “Captain. I was hoping to explain my history with you under different circumstances. The last time I spoke of my past was when your father interviewed me for this position.”
“You don’t have to go into details here, but I will need to know where you are sending us and what we are to expect.”
Sky sucked in a deep breath, releasing it slowly through pursed lips. “I’m sending us to the savage moons.”
Jo dropped her feet to the ground and stood. That she didn’t expect. Her heart fluttered in her chest. The savage moons were the one area her father never traveled to—for good reason. There were plenty rumors about the type of people raised in the Orus system. They were a violent people who had shunned all outside influence until the GCM decided to expand their empire. That happened just before Jo’s eighteenth birthday, but she still remembered the pictures of tattooed men and women in sleek graphene armor shared all over the CyNet feeds.
Everyone was shocked that the supposedly barbaric moons had their own advanced technology.
No one had expected them to fight back with such obstinate determination and to be so recalcitrant that to this day the GC didn’t have a strong hold over the moons. Jo studied her security chief in a new light. She had always assumed Sky obtained her gear from one of the core worlds, but as she studied the unique gear, Jo could see how it looked quite similar to armor worn on the savage moons. It had been modified to look like the sleeker models worn in the core worlds. How did she not see the resemblance before?
“I see you have begun to piece it together,” Sky stated. Jo shook her head, not wanting to believe the evidence standing in front of her, but unable to ignore the truth.
“You’re from the savage moons.” Sky subtly flinched.
“Yes. Does that change things?” Sky looked at Jo warily.
“Yes…and no,” Jo answered. “I can’t help but see you differently. The things I’ve read about your culture are both eccentric and disturbing.”
“Not everything over the CyNet is true, but I can see how our customs would seem…unconventional to outsiders.”
“I didn’t realize the clans traveled off world.” Raiden studied Sky with a new curiosity.
“I’m a special case.”
“Why is that?” Jo asked.
“That I don’t want to discuss on the bridge,” Sky said, a sharp edge to her voice. Jo wanted desperately to ask why Sky was allowed to leave. Was she forced? Did she flee? The tribal culture of the savage moons was foreign to most living under the Consulate’s leadership. No one outside of the military had deigned to visit the two moons, prioritizing their safety above their curiosity.
“Okay,” Jo nodded. “Will there be problems with the locals when we land?”
“No,” Sky sighed. “I have already messaged the elders and informed them of the situation. They are willing to let Rana stay on clan lands as long as I accompany her.”
“Oh.” Jo was curiously saddened by the idea of Sky leaving her ship. Although the woman was combative and at times insubordinate, Jo had grown to trust her. Maybe even care for her.
“My absence will be temporary. I will have to leave before Va’letu, our highest holy day. It’s…important that I not be on either moon during that time.”
Jo opened her mouth to ask why, but Sky jerked her head, ending any questions before they began. Curiosity burned Jo’s insides, but she understood the haunted look in Sky’s eyes. Whatever rituals were performed during Va’letu, they ignited a deep fear in Sky. Jo wished there were any other way to stop Sky from returning to a place that brought forth such dark feelings, but the savage moons were probably the only place in the galaxy where the Consulate couldn’t reach Rana.
“We will miss you.” Jo squeezed Sky’s shoulder in a friendly gesture. The two women weren’t close enough for displays of affection, but Jo wanted her to know her absence would be felt. Sky dipped her head, her sad smile telling Jo that she would miss them too.
Twenty-Seven
The gas giant Orus loomed menacingly on the holoscreen. Its cerulean and viridian stripes of toxic clouds wrapped around the massive planet in a haunting embrace. Dancing in sync in an elliptical orbit around the giant were the twin savage moons, Kore and Erebus. The great storm swirling in the northern hemisphere seemed to glower at Jo like a vigilant guardian threatening to devour all who approached uninvited.
Jo had never seen anything like it.
By the astonished gasps from her bridge crew, Jo assumed that she wasn’t the only one who felt a reverence for the massive planet. Jo checked the sensors again, sighing in relief that there was still no sight of the GCM. Their fortune was good since they had arrived at the savage moons without incident. Jo had been certain they would run into at least one military vessel.
“Where to now, Sky?” Jo asked her security chief.
“Adjust course to Kore’s southern hemisphere, just below its equator. There’s a continent with a river that spans the entire width. When we get close enough, the clan will hail us.”
“You heard her, Elek.” One of the holoscreens on his console flickered for a moment and then zoomed to display the southern continent. Dense foliage choked any direct sight to the ground. Jo couldn’t see any cities and wondered where the clans lived.
“Sky, is there any etiquette we should know about before meeting your clan? I would hate to offend the people who are willing to hide the chancellor’s daughter.”
“Our customs will take longer to explain than we have time. Just be sure to bow to our elders and respect those in power. Make sure you pay the proper respect to the female elders too. Otherwise, let me do the talking.”
“Okay.” Jo worried her lip as she thought about meeting Sky’s people. People didn’t visit the savage moons, besides military personnel, so the CyNet was depressingly bereft of information on the people who lived there.
“Captain, we are being hailed,” Haedus announced, jerking Jo away from her thoughts.
“From where?” Jo demanded and then turned to Sky. “I thought we wouldn’t be hailed until we breached the atmosphere.”
“This isn’t from my people,” Sky mumbled as she leaned over Haedus’s console. “It originated from a GCM ship. Striker class.”
Jo knew their luck was too good to be true.
“Where did they come from?” Jo demanded. She pulled the feed from the forward camera to display on her holoscreen.
“They’re coming from behind Orus. Their shields are online and weapons are locked on us. Our sensors must not have been strong enough to reach the other side,” Elek declared as he minimized the holomap and activated the AI assisted guidance. The holodisplay warped and shrank to give him a better view of the surrounding space for evasive maneuvers.
“We need to upgrade our sensors.” Jo frowned.
“Think they’re close enough to read our designations?” Raiden leaned over the back of her chair, studying the readings scrolling across the bottom of her holoscreen.
“There’s only one way to find out.” Jo opened the comm.
“CS Kismet. You are wanted for inspection. Turn off your engines and prepare to be boarded.”
“I think they know,” Jo deadpanned.
“We cannot allow them on board.” Sky’s fingers flew over her console, but Jo’s wary gaze refused to move from the fast approaching ship.
“That’s obvious, but even with our cannons, I doubt we will be able to out gun their ship.” Jo zoomed the camera to their vessel. Although the ship was small, they were outfitted with proton cannons and anti-matter missiles. They wouldn’t need a fleet to destroy the Kismet.
“Convince them to land with us,” Sky grunted, still engaged with her holoscreen.
“Yeah. Easy,” Jo mumbled.
Raiden placed a hand on her shoulder. “Reply and tell them you carry cargo for the clans and will allow them access after we land.” Jo threw Raiden a questioning look. His idea sounded ridiculous and was sure to get everyone destroyed before they broke atmosphere. “Last I heard, GCM ships in Orus space were to allow all import and export from the twin moons.”
Jo didn’t reply. She had never heard of the Consulate allowing uninterrupted shipments to anywhere. It seemed ludicrous that they would allow her ship, wanted by the military corporations, to land without incident.
“I have informed the clans of our situation. They agree with Raiden’s plan and will be waiting to help us at the landing coordinates.” Sky turned from her screen and met Jo’s questioning gaze. “There is no other recourse that will keep us alive long enough to land.”
“Trust us,” Raiden breathed in her ear.
Jo’s spine stiffened at his whispered words before she nodded. She had no alternative, but she found herself wanting to throw in with him.
“GCM vessel. This is Captain Jo Cygni of the CS Kismet. We carry cargo for the clans of Kore and request that you follow us to the surface where we will comply without resistance.”
The entire crew waited with bated breath. Sweat pooled at the base of Jo’s spine and begin to bead on her forehead, but she didn’t move to wipe it away. The illogical fear that one move would turn the outcome against them gripped her.
“CS Kismet. We will follow. Keep your weapons offline. Any deviation from your current course and we will fire.”
Jo sank into her seat, relieved they would at least survive long enough to make it to the surface. She was unsure what the plan would be after they land, but at least Raiden gave her time to figure something out.
It was unnerving watching a military vessel shadow her ship with weapons locked and ready to fire. They entered the atmosphere, and Jo still didn’t have a plan to keep Rana from being discovered. They could place her back into the wall safe, but Jo doubted it was impervious to certain sensors. Somehow, she didn’t think there would be another soldier onboard the striker who was smitten enough with her to lie to his commander.
“How opposed would you be to me seducing the commanding officer as a distraction?” Jo nonchalantly queried out loud, knowing Raiden would hear it.
“Extremely opposed,” Ra
iden grunted through a clenched jaw.
“It could work,” Jo continued. “I have used my womanly wiles before to prevent disaster. It would be easier than meeting them, weapons raised.”
Raiden growled as he pulled her toward him. A puff of air forcefully escaped her lips as the harness slammed against her abdomen. “Sorry,” he whispered before lowering his mouth and sipping at her lips. Warmth traveled from her lips down to her stomach in an onslaught of raw physical desire. She melted into him, languishing in the sparks of desire that danced along her skin at the brush of his hand. Raiden’s fingers tangled in her hair and pulled as he deepened the kiss. Jo released a whimpering sigh as the world shrank to just her and Raiden.
A wolf whistle ripped Jo from her haze, and she stiffened under Raiden’s hands. He kissed her gently one last time before resting his head against hers. “Please, don’t speak that way. I can’t handle it.”
“Okay,” Jo whispered. She straightened in her chair, avoiding the mirth-filled gazes of her crew. She focused on the holoscreen, watching as they zipped over an indigo ocean. Her mind was still on Raiden. A stray finger massaged her swollen lips as she held back a smile. When did she surrender her trust? Was it one moment or a series of events? She couldn’t pinpoint the instant, but she knew that a huge part of her heart was open to him now.
It was exhilarating.
It was terrifying.
“CS Kismet. This is Titus, leader of the Erskin clan. Proceed to these coordinates and await our instructions.”
Elek adjusted course while Sky relayed the correction to the GCM vessel. No one spoke as they brushed the tops of the massive trees that concealed the forest floor. Ice filled her veins. They were still in grave danger, but Jo pushed aside her perilous thoughts and focused on solving their predicament. They approached a clearing about two miles from the massive river that bisected the continent. There were still no signs of civilization. Not a single tower to indicate that this world was inhabited.
As We Rise: Rogue (As We Rise Saga Book 1) Page 17