Changing Course

by Brey Willows

  “Swooper shits, Asol.” Kylin shoved her hands in her pockets, ill with the knowledge that she’d do it if she had to. She wouldn’t let Asol go back to that life. She wouldn’t get out of it twice. “Yeah. You have my word.”

  “Good.” She slapped Kylin on the back and gathered a pile of stuff from the ground. “Let’s go get dressed. If we travel by night we might slip by unseen.”

  Kylin liked that idea and waved Jessa over. She left the group walking around the unit, talking excitedly.

  “Want to play dress up?” Kylin asked, holding out a uniform top.

  Jessa gave her a sultry smile. “I think that would be fun.”

  Asol whistled, and Kylin elbowed her in the ribs. They went to a small hut and spent time finding the right uniforms, and then they went through the weapons. Jessa was surprisingly handy and knowledgeable about the various options, something Kylin found exceedingly sexy.

  “How long will it take us to get there?” Jessa asked.

  “About three hours if we can move fast. We landed at a good spot, and we’ll see the light of Quasi as soon as we get out on the sands.”

  Asol looked up, the excitement clear in her eyes. “Wow, I didn’t realize we were so close.”

  Kylin’s stomach was in knots. Now that they were that close, the enormity of what she had to deal with at home really hit her. “Yeah. We’ll be there soon.”

  Once they were repacked and ready to go, they sat with the tribe and had dinner, and they regaled Asol and Jessa with tales of Kylin’s wild childhood antics. She laughed along with them, but her mind was far away, trying to make plans, and backup plans, and exit plans. Once she had Jessa and Asol within the walls of Quasi, she could leave them with Auntie Blue and go deal with Orlin. And Maana. And her father. Then, once all that was done, she’d see if she could find Jessa and her crew a way to get to the Heathers. Jessa had credit chips, there was no question there, but finding a flyer to take them to the Heathers would still be difficult, especially if there wasn’t a transport due. But Kylin had no doubt that Jess and her crew would be safer and more comfortable in the Heathers than in Quasi.

  The thought of Jessa still being on Indemnion but so far out of reach that she might as well not be, hurt. But she’d do what she needed to this time. It would be on her terms.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kylin’s words rang through Jessa’s head, over and over again. You’d shoot someone? She’d answered without hesitation, but now, as the three of them jogged over the sands, only the first moon and stars to light their way, she felt the gun tremble in her grip. It was true, she’d shoot in self-defense, and if it meant saving Kylin and Asol, she didn’t think she’d wait to pull the trigger. But that didn’t mean it would be easy, either.

  But then again, these slavers were the worst of human kind. Their actions made Jessa ill, and seeing what had happened to Asol made it even worse. And although she hadn’t seen Kylin fully naked in the light of day yet, she’d felt the scars on her back. Those might not be from slavers, but they were unquestionably from a society that allowed that kind of violence against its people. The thing was, they wanted change. They just needed someone who could help them, and Jessa knew deep down she could.

  Kylin held up her arm and Jessa and Asol crouched low, like she’d told them to. She peered around Asol and saw the bobbing lights in the distance. They watched for several long minutes, and when it became clear the lights were moving away from them, Kylin motioned them forward again. They kept silent, moving quickly, and there was an element of thrill to it that Jessa hadn’t expected. It was so far from the life she’d known. Like Kylin said, the lights from Quasi made the sky glow, and Jessa was glad the sands had dunes they could duck behind if they needed to, but that also meant there could be things between themselves and Quasi they couldn’t see. It was a chance they had to take.

  Voices seemed to come from nowhere, and Kylin motioned them down again, but this time they ducked behind a dune. Kylin shimmied to the top to look over it and then moved back down beside them.

  “Small convoy of slavers. Two trucks, empty cages in the first one, two cages with people in the second one,” she whispered.

  “Can we save the two?” Asol asked.

  Kylin tilted her head. “We could, but we risk getting caught ourselves.”

  The sound of wheels spinning in dirt came over the sands, followed by shouts and angry voices. This time, all three of them crawled up to look over the dune.

  Nearby, one of the truck’s tires was buried deep in the sand, and it only got worse as the driver tried to gun their way out of it. Jessa studied the setup and leaned over to Kylin.

  “If we created a distraction, something up ahead that drew their attention, we could open the cages and set them free. At least if they run they’ll have a better chance, right?”

  “What kind of distraction did you have in mind?”

  Grateful that Kylin didn’t resist setting the captives free, Jessa pulled a glowing ball from her bag, one the children of Volare had given her. “We set this going. They’ll think it’s someone running and follow.”

  Asol grinned, her teeth gleaming in the darkness. “And we’re nowhere near it. Solid idea.”

  Kylin looked at the trucks. “We’ll need a laser cutter to release the cage locks, and we’re going to have to move fast. Asol and I can jump into the trucks, cut the locks, and then Jessa can help them down.” She took the ball from Jessa and moved back down the dune. “Give me two minutes to get it set and going. The moment you see them leave the trucks, head in. I’ll meet you there.”

  She loped off into the darkness, and Jessa thought her heart might beat out of her chest. If this didn’t work, they could end up in cages beside the people they were trying to save. She heard Asol counting the seconds, and it wasn’t long before they heard the excited shouts, and when they looked, the slavers had left their trucks to chase after the “person” running off into sands.

  They clambered from their position, ran to the trucks, and found Kylin already working on one of the locks. Asol jumped up, took out her own cutter, and started working on the other one. The cage Kylin was working on held a young woman, and the other cage a child who stared at them wide-eyed. Both seemed to understand that silence was important. The woman watched the laser, and the moment the lock broke, she pushed the door open and went to the other cage.

  Jessa motioned to her to get down, and the woman reluctantly accepted her hand down but never looked away from the other cage. When it was open, Asol took the child from inside and handed her down to the woman, who held her tight, tears streaming down her face.

  Kylin picked up a long pole from the bed of the truck and wrapped a piece of rope around the end. She handed the rope to Asol, who wrapped a piece around the other end. She motioned to Jessa to lead the way, and Jessa touched the young woman’s arm to guide her. They ran, covering enough distance that the voices and sounds of the trucks faded. Sweat dripped down Jessa’s back and her hands were slippery on the gun, but the elation of saving someone made her giddy. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Asol and Kylin were running almost shoulder to shoulder, dragging the pole along behind them to wipe away their tracks. Simple, but effective. The slight breeze would be enough to wipe away the edges left by the pole.

  They crested another dune and the young woman dropped to her knees, the child still clinging to her.

  The three of them dropped beside her, all breathing hard.

  Jessa opened her water pouch and handed it to the woman, who gave the child a long drink before taking one herself.

  “How much farther?” Jessa whispered. “I don’t think they’ve got much more in them.”

  Kylin nodded and jogged ahead to the next dune, where she crawled up it to look over before coming back to them. “Maybe another hour and a half. We’re nearly there. Can you make it?”

  The young woman drank some more and nodded. “If I have to crawl.”

  It was a good answer, and
it gave Jessa hope that they’d make it.

  “Let’s go. The more distance we put between us and them, the better.” Kylin stood, and the others joined her. “Ready?”

  They set off again, moving swiftly, and they didn’t come across any more noise or voices. The second moon rose, which didn’t help. While they could see their way better, it also meant they could be seen.

  Jessa’s legs and shoulders ached, and her head pounded by the time they made it to the city walls. Kylin walked right up to the guardhouse and demanded entry for herself, two other guards, and two captives. The gatehouse guard looked them over but seemed mostly disinterested. He opened the gate, and they entered Quasi. When the gate slammed shut behind them, Jessa thought she might crumble with relief.

  Kylin stopped and took a deep breath. “That was fun.” She smiled at the others, her relief clear. She turned to the young woman and child. “Do you have somewhere to go here?”

  The young woman nodded, the fatigue and terror of her experience obvious in the lines around her eyes. “Thank you so much. I can’t ever repay you for saving our lives.”

  Asol tousled the child’s hair, and Jessa saw the knowledge no one her age should have in her eyes.

  “Good luck. Stay behind the walls for a while, eh?”

  The woman thanked them again, then turned and disappeared down a narrow walkway between…Jessa wasn’t really sure what she was looking at. Rectangular boxes with doors and windows were stacked on top of each other, almost haphazardly. Stairs led to each box, and she couldn’t imagine being the person who lived at the top of a stack and had to climb all that way. There were stacks as far as she could see, towers of them sitting along wide streets and then divided by small alleyways.

  And there was so much color. The boxes were different hues, some painted with flowers or designs, some with dots or stripes. Plants hung from window boxes, and she wondered what they’d look like in the light of day. Lights were on in many of the boxes, but given how late it was, it wasn’t surprising many were dark.

  “Welcome to Quasi.” Kylin looked around like she was trying to see it as an outsider.

  “Cosmos dust and prowler balls,” Asol whispered, turning around, trying to take it all in. “It’s amazing.”

  Kylin grinned. “Come on. Let’s get out of these uniforms and off the streets.”

  She led the way down one street, then another, until Jessa was completely turned around and couldn’t have gotten back to the gate if she’d wanted to. Kylin stopped in front of a beautifully decorated box on the bottom of a stack, one with a bright red door with blue dots. In script along the front was a sign: Vesta Blue’s Inn. Only one light shone in the window.

  Kylin knocked, a rapid three-two-one-three knock, and the door was answered almost instantly by a large woman with beautiful pale blue hair and eyes that sparkled. She pulled Kylin into a tight hug. “By all the creators of the cosmos, Kylin Enderson. You’ve had me worried out of my skull.” She held Kylin at arm’s length. “I tried to tell them you had only gone to check the wreckage like everyone else. But Orlin wouldn’t hear it.”

  Kylin looked over her shoulder. “And my father?”

  Auntie Blue looked at Jessa, then at Asol. “The captain, I’m guessing, and another stray?”

  Jessa nearly retorted that she wasn’t a “stray,” but Kylin nodded.

  “Friends. It’s quite a story. You have room for us?”

  Auntie Blue motioned them inside. Jessa tried to ignore the way her heart hurt at being referred to as a friend, after what they’d shared. But then, it wasn’t like there was another label that fit better yet, either. She swallowed the emotion and forced herself to focus on the moment. She held out her arm. “Captain Jessa Arabelle.”

  Auntie Blue studied her for a moment before grasping Jessa’s arm with her own. “Your crew has told me a little about you. It’s good that you’re alive.” She looked at Asol. “And you, darling thing?”

  That was a far warmer welcome than Jessa had received, and she looked at Kylin, who in turn looked thoughtful.

  “Asol. Dock rat looking for a new life, beautiful lady.” Asol kissed Auntie Blue’s hand, making her laugh.

  “She’s just like you at that age,” she said to Kylin. “Come into the kitchen. Let me tell you what’s going on here. In the morning, we’ll gather all your people, and you can tell us your story all at once.”

  They sat at in a homey kitchen with room enough for ten. Various breads and spreads were arrayed on the table, along with pitchers of drinks. She motioned for them to help themselves, so they did. As they ate, she talked.

  “Kylin, your dad’s cough is worse.” She put a clear bag of what looked like thick grass on the table. “He’s been drinking his flagweed, but…” She squeezed Kylin’s hand. “I’m sorry, but I think that’s the most important thing to tell you first. He sleeps a lot, and he’s not in pain.”

  Kylin pushed her plate away, and Jessa wasn’t sure what to say. Kylin hadn’t mentioned her dad hardly at all and certainly not that he was sick. Now she understood why she was so worried about hurrying back. Her heart ached that Kylin hadn’t shared something so important, and she wondered why she kept that to herself.

  “Your crew are fine,” Auntie Blue said to Jessa. “Well, most of them.”

  Jessa’s stomach turned. “Something happened?”

  “The big one. Teckoe, I think his name was. My understanding is that when you left with Kylin, he thought you’d abandoned them. When they arrived here, he refused to stay indoors. He went looking for information and got duped in the Stables. He lost a bet and was sold to the slavers. He’s been gone for days.”

  Jessa ran to the sink and vomited. Tears ran down her face. She’d been impetuous and selfish when she’d decided to go with Kylin, and the result of that was that her chief crew member, someone she’d worked with for years, had been sent into a horrible fate.

  She felt Kylin’s hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, and she turned to her, letting Kylin wrap her in her arms.

  “It’s not your fault, Jess.” Kylin rested her cheek against Jessa’s head. “He would have done that if you were here, too. He just used it as an excuse.” She pulled away slightly to look down into Jessa’s eyes. “He told me it was every person for themselves in a situation like this. That you felt too responsible.”

  Jessa wiped at her face. “He said that?”

  Kylin helped wipe away her tears. “He did. And it doesn’t surprise me he got into trouble. I’m sorry, though. I know it must hurt.”

  “The rest of your crew said the same thing, Captain.” Auntie Blue remained at the table, watching them. “He was ungrateful and arrogant. We can lament his journey but not our part in it.”

  She let Kylin lead her back to the table, grateful when she kept her arm around her shoulders. “Thank you for taking care of them in my absence. It helped knowing they were safe.”

  Auntie Blue nodded, and Jessa didn’t miss the way she was looking at Kylin’s arm around her. “They’ve been good guests. And the credit chips they’ve offered will keep the inn running for some time. It’s been good for me too.”

  “And what other news do you have?” Kylin asked, picking at her food.

  “Orlin has doubled the bounty on your head. It seems he has an important—”

  Kylin interrupted her with a sharp shake of her head. “I told him I’d be back. My time runs out tomorrow. I don’t understand why he’s so worked up.”

  Auntie Blue shrugged and started removing plates from the table, though she glanced at Jessa, her expression thoughtful. “Who knows why Orlin thinks what he does. But you know he thinks you ran?” Kylin nodded, looking tired. “Well, that might be all he needed. He likes his theatrics.” She finished clearing the plates and then clapped her hands together and made a shooing motion. “Up the stairs. Take your bags. Sleep. We can discuss everything else tomorrow.”

  They dutifully followed her up two sets of stairs, past various doors with m
arkings on them, until she stopped. “You can take that one, Kylin.” She pointed at another door. “Captain, that’s yours.” And at a third. “Cute little dock rat, that one should suit you.”

  Jessa swallowed, unsure what the protocol was in this situation. She didn’t want to sleep in a room on her own. Not in a new place, and not without Kylin at her side. But she also didn’t want to be rude or presumptuous. Fortunately, Kylin took her hand.

  “We’ll share a room, Auntie, thank you.”

  Auntie Blue narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” She turned and made her way gracefully down the steps.

  “I don’t think she likes me,” Jessa said, watching her disappear through the door at the bottom.

  “Nope. I don’t think she does either. But she already adores me.” Asol laughed and opened the door to her room. “See you tomorrow.”

  Kylin opened the door to their room and tugged Jessa inside.

  “Don’t you need to tell your father you’re back?” Jessa asked.

  “He’ll be asleep, and I don’t like to wake him when he’s resting. I’ll see him in the morning.” Kylin sat on the bed, her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about him.”

  Jessa sat beside her and took her hand in her own. “May I ask why you didn’t?”

  Kylin stared at their hands. “I’m a private person. My dad is all I have left, and I do what I can to protect him and take care of him. I feel like the less people who know about him, the less I have to worry about someone coming after him. It’s a habit, and if you understood the way my life is here, you’d understand why I live this way.”

  “Can you tell me more about your life here?” It was intrusive, and yet, she remembered what Kylin had said when they’d first met. If you don’t ask, how will you ever know?

  Kylin kissed Jessa’s hand and stood. “Let’s save that for another day, okay? I’m beat.”

  Jessa understood a deflection when she heard one, but it was Kylin’s story to tell, and she wouldn’t push her. They stripped off the borrowed uniforms, changed into clothes they could sleep in, and curled up on the fairly comfortable bed together. Kylin turned out the light and wrapped Jessa in her arms.