Labyrinth (Deuces Wild Book 3)

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  The house bots can definitely attest to that, Meredith piped up. Lefty says if you don’t start hanging up your wet towels he’s going to file a complaint.

  Grim noticed Nickie’s faraway expression. “What’s Meredith saying.”

  “Nothing,” Nickie denied.

  “Not true,” Meredith informed them via the ship speakers. “I was merely confirming the truth of Nickie’s statement about her slovenly housekeeping.”

  “We don’t need it confirmed,” Grim replied. “We live with her. We know.”

  Nickie huffed. “I’m sitting right here! I take back my compliment, Grim. You suck.”

  John finished loading his plate and came to sit across from her. “This is all fantastic, Grim. It’s so damn good to eat something cooked with care after so long on rations.”

  “They’re going to miss you on the colony, my friend,” Keen agreed.

  Grim beamed with pleasure. “I’ve got to say, it was nice to cook for people who understand the difference between a meal I spent the whole day preparing and a can of cold beans.”

  Nickie looked up from her plate and pointed her fork at him. “I never said that. I said that when you’re hungry, it doesn’t matter where the calories come from. You all should be grateful that we evolved beyond needing blood to survive. That shit would not be pretty at mealtimes, let me tell you.”

  “Who is ‘we?’” Durq inquired in a trembling voice.

  Grim put a hand out to comfort him. “Nickie is referring to the enhanced humans of the Federation, Durq.”

  Durq’s fork landed on his plate, forgotten. “Like Ranger Two? When I was a Skainlet, the older Skaines told stories about the Ranger that gave me nightmares. If she came, Skaines died.” He picked up his fork to resume eating. “Not that they probably didn’t deserve it.” He went on to tell them about a distant relative. “She must have been feeling merciful that day since she only arrested my uncle and his cohort. The few who survived her massacre, anyway.”

  Nickie thought the story sounded familiar, but Durq’s take on it was far bloodier than the one she’d read in her aunt’s diary. “You can bet they deserved whatever she gave them,” she assured Durq. “My Aunt Tabitha always knew a scumbag when she saw one, and apart from you, I’ve never met a Skaine who wasn’t a scumbag.”

  Durq shrugged and looked down at his food. “That’s true. I’ve met a lot more Skaines than you, and none have ever treated me with the kindness you have.”

  Keen slapped the table and guffawed. “That reminds me of the time I visited this planet full of these pod-like creatures. We came across them on a jungle trek when we were lost, out of comm range, and low on supplies. When we saw them we thought they were fruit and went to cut them down, only the suckers spit nasty, foul-smelling gunk all over us. You can guess we weren’t too pleased by that.” He wrinkled his nose at the memory.

  John clapped Keen on the back. “I feel for you. There was this delegation that visited our planet to trade with us. Beautiful, and I mean beautiful, women. Every one of them. I was their chaperone while their queen met with my parents. I wanted to take them to the theater, shopping—all the things women like.”

  “Women all like that stuff, huh?” Nickie interjected. “You do know that we all have distinct personalities? Makes me wonder if you’d even know what to do with a woman if one looked past your flaws.”

  “I have flaws? You’ll have to tell me what they are so I can try to get you to look past them.” John fixed her with a lopsided grin. “It’s neither here nor there, but you’re welcome to do so.”

  Nickie snorted. “In your dreams. So, what happened with the delegation?”

  John waved a hand. “Oh, I took them out to the forest like they wanted and they transformed into arachnids and tried to eat me. All I had was my belt knife and my will to survive. My father wasn’t very happy with me when I turned up at the palace covered in blood and spider silk. Of course, when he realized I’d uncovered an assassination plot, he calmed down some.”

  Nickie snickered, and Adelaide giggled a little.

  John winked at them. “True story, every word.”

  Nickie listened to them banter back and forth for her and Adelaide’s amusement as she ate. Grim threw in a couple of anecdotes too, although his were a little drier than either Keen’s or John’s. She hadn’t wanted any of this, so she had to wonder why she didn’t completely hate the easy rhythm they were beginning to settle into with the help of Grim’s good cooking.

  How are you feeling about the intrusion now?

  Why do you always want to know how I’m feeling? I’m fine, obviously.

  The time lock on your aunt’s next diary entry has expired.

  Nickie considered leaving to read it immediately. She even went so far as pushing her chair back to stand, but then a fresh wave of laughter went around the group in response to whatever Keen had just said. I think I’ll wait until after dinner, Mere.

  Meredith paused a beat before replying, That’s fine, Nickie. It will be there when you’re ready.

  John leaned over with a bottle in his hand. “Top up?”

  Nickie held out her glass and grinned at his slightly flushed cheeks. “It was decent of you to bring this over from your ship.”

  Grim held up his own glass. “It was more than decent. This is damn good wine. Of course, the sugar content could be higher, but human vintners all seem to prefer these dryer varietals.” He paused a moment. “Hey, I don’t suppose you have anything like amaretto in your stash? Oh, the things I could do with that…” Grim was lost in fantasies of desserts.

  John refilled Adelaide’s glass and inclined his head. “Only the best for the two most beautiful women on the…” He looked around, his face reddening further. “Well, on the ship. Damn, that was so much smoother in my head.” He sat down and shrugged. “It’s the good wine, good food, and good company.”

  That brought amicable chuckles from them all, and the pockets of conversation resumed.

  Nickie eyed him carefully as she sipped her drink. “You know that trying to be smooth rarely results in success, right?”

  John raised his hands in supplication to Nickie. “A man has to try.”

  Nickie wagged a finger. “No, he doesn’t. They should teach you that shit in prince school, or whatever. But you can bring wine whenever you like.” She lifted her glass and snickered at the look of confusion he wore as he tried to work out the sting in her reply.

  John started to speak a couple of times before he gave up and shook his head. “No, you’ve lost me. Are you saying bring wine, and don’t try too hard?”

  Nickie sighed. “No. I’m saying don’t try at all. But yes, you should definitely bring wine while you’re not trying.” She stood and gathered the empty plates. “And just to prove I’m not such a terrible housekeeper, I’m going to take care of the dishes.” She looked pointedly at Grim before she stalked out with them.

  They heard her mutter as she left, “Can’t be that difficult. It’s just soap and hot water…”

  Grim got up to follow her. “I’d better go help.”

  Durq smirked. “She doesn’t know about the dishwasher, does she?”

  Grim cackled as he left. “Why would she? She only comes into the galley to raid the food stores.”

  Adelaide smiled. “It’s the thought that counts. Come on, let’s all help.”

  An hour later Nickie dragged her tired feet into her quarters. She’d said goodnight and left everyone to finish up in the galley, unable to resist the siren call of her Aunt Tabitha’s diary entry any longer.

  She activated the light and took a step back. Meredith, what the fuck?

  Her cold, hard slab of a bed had been topped with a thick mattress. She went straight to the bed and lifted the soft blanket, which was also new. What is all this? Where did it come from?

  Ah, yes. John had it brought from the Briar Rose. It’s new and unused. I checked before I let Grim bring it in here.

  Nickie didn’t know wha
t to say. As much as she hated to admit it, John’s gift was actually pretty thoughtful. She wondered why she felt the need to be such a bitch with him when he’d treated her with nothing but respect.

  Are you okay? You’ve gone very quiet.

  She heard the concern in Meredith’s question. I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all. She changed out of her coveralls and shook out the blankets before getting into her bed. Oh, wow. That’s just…

  How is it?

  Nickie stretched out and snuggled into the pillows. Can’t talk right now, too comfy. She closed her eyes for a moment and savored the luxury. Mere?

  Yes, Nickie?

  Having everyone on the ship…it’s not as bad as I expected. She stared at the ceiling, unseeing. I’m not saying it’s great, but I thought I’d have spaced them all already for pissing me off, and instead, we all had an okay dinner.

  It was good to see you laughing again.

  Nickie turned that over in her thoughts for a moment. I suppose it felt good to laugh. I’m even starting to look forward to the mission a little bit. I don’t know how I’m going to work with them all, but I’m going to try.

  So you’re coming around to the idea that isolating yourself isn’t the way to move forward?

  Whoa, that got deep fast. All I’m saying is that I want to succeed in the mission. Don’t have to read so much into it.

  If you say so.

  I do say so. I also say it’s time to read my Aunt Tabitha’s journal entry before I fall asleep.

  Chapter 12 Tabitha

  K’nthel System, Zaphod, QBS Achronyx, Armory

  The information they’d wrung from Tallinger had brought them to a spot above one of the many temples of Zaphod. Tabitha glanced at the console screen as she strapped on her weapons.

  This temple below was a far cry from the lovingly-crafted monuments Tabitha had seen so far. Even with the approaching twilight to soften it the lines of the building were harsh and unforgiving. “Um, guys? It looks more like a prison compound than a place anyone gets taken care of.”

  Hirotoshi agreed. “I believe this temple’s isolation is not accidental.”

  Tabitha grunted with frustration and banged her hand on the console. “I wish Achronyx wasn’t in hiding. He gets so much more out of the scanners.”

  Ryu patted her shoulder on his way past. “I’m sure we’ll find out what’s in there soon enough.”

  Tabitha smirked and stopped typing. “You’ve got that right, I just made those scanners my bitch. Here, guys. I’ve got what we need.”

  Hirotoshi came over to the console. “What did you get from the infrared?”

  Tabitha expanded the scan results to show Hirotoshi and Ryu. “We have warm bodies all over the temple. There’s a group on the upper level. They’re pretty concentrated, but they’re moving between rooms. Since they appear to have freedom of movement around the temple we can assume those are our bad guys. There are also the isolated heat signatures in constant motion around the perimeter and grounds. Those must be the guards. Then it gets weird.”

  “How so?” Hirotoshi asked.

  “There’s a basement level, which is like really deep. All I could get was a rough impression of maybe six people and this large heat source, so there’s someone down there.”

  Ryu scrutinized the image. “It’s too big to be human, so it has to be our Loren.”

  Tabitha nodded. “I think so. Whether the other sources are Stacy and the missing courtesans or just more guards, I can’t tell without Achronyx to assist.”

  Hirotoshi and Ryu regarded the image onscreen for a long minute, then Hirotoshi nodded to Tabitha. “Either or both is likely.”

  Tabitha asked, “Want to make it interesting?”

  Hirotoshi raised an eyebrow. “These things usually end up being much more interesting for you than they are for Ryu or me.”

  “You can’t go up against all this awesome and expect to come out a winner.” Tabitha laughed as she flounced out of the armory and made her way to the drop doors in the cargo bay with Ryu.

  Hirotoshi tightened a final strap and sighed before heading out of the armory after them.

  Tabitha leaned out of the ship to look at the temple below and whooped at the feel of the wind rushing in her face. “You guys ready?”

  Hirotoshi eyed the exit warily. “I am still not certain about using the G-bars without Achronyx to operate them.”

  Tabitha straightened up and made a face at Hirotoshi. “Can you not be so stuffy? We need to get down there quietly and quickly, and we haven’t got Achronyx to help since the Order refused Bethany Anne’s request to make an exception for him.”

  Ryu came to stand by the drop door with his G-bar. “I find that suspicious in the extreme. Why refuse if they have nothing to hide?”

  Tabitha pointed at Ryu. “Exactly. It just confirms that everything we’ve learned about them is true. It doesn’t matter, though. We’ll get to the bottom of this one way or another. Let’s go.” She activated her G-bar as she dropped out of the open door.

  The wind wrapped around Tabitha as she fell, the G-bar slowing her descent into something manageable. Hirotoshi and Ryu were right behind her as they plummeted toward the ground, three streaks of death in the darkening night.

  They landed softly on the temple roof, and Tabitha exchanged her G-bar for her drones.

  Ryu eyed the marble-sized spheres skeptically. Will they work?

  Only one way to find out. She tossed them up into the air, and they went a little way from her before dropping to the roof, inert. Guess not. She shrugged and picked them up again, dropping them back into their pouch before she drew her Jean Dukes and checked it. At least I have something I can rely on.

  Hirotoshi patted the sword at his hip. You can’t get more reliable than cold steel.

  Tabitha snickered. If you say so. I’ll stick with Jean’s best, thanks. She nodded toward the temple roof access, and they padded over in silence.

  Ryu broke the lock on the door with a twist and Tabitha led them into the temple with her Jean Dukes at the ready. They worked their way down into the main complex through the dark corridors, avoiding alerting any of the occupants to their presence just yet.

  Tabitha turned to them when they reached the staircase that went down to the basement level. Just like we planned. Hirotoshi, take out the guards at the top. Ryu deal with the ones on patrol. Then both of you get back here and cover me and whoever I find down there who doesn’t need introducing to Saint Payback while I get them out.

  Ryu grumbled a little about his assignment as he and Hirotoshi peeled off in separate directions

  Tabitha grinned and wiggled her fingers at them. You two have fun now, okay? She moved on silent feet down the stairs into the underground level of the temple.

  She realized she’d been a little hasty in calling it a basement. Deep-rooted vines crept over every carved surface and the frescoed wall of the cavern. The roof was supported by a double row of elaborate pillars that created an imposing avenue to the other end of the vaulted space, where a green-blue pool lay in front of what looked to be an altar. You guys should see this, she murmured over her mental link to the Tontos. You’re going to love what they’ve done with the place.

  Little busy, Hirotoshi replied tersely.

  Need a hand? Ryu asked. I’ve got two here that are doing nothing.

  That would be good.

  Are you okay? Tabitha asked. I can come up there if you need me.

  No, Kemosabe. You have more important work. Hirotoshi grunted, Tabitha recognized the noise as his exhale on a downswing.

  I’m with him now, Ryu assured her. Go rescue Stacy and the sexy tentacle alien.

  Tabitha snickered. You think the Loren is sexy? I’ll be sure to tell her when I find her.

  Ryu spluttered. That’s not what I meant!

  I know what you meant, she teased. Now finish up what you’re doing and get your asses down here. This place is unbelievable.

  Tabitha’s eye was drawn by
a slight movement near the altar and she walked down the center, alert to the possibility of a surprise attack. She reached the altar, but there was no one there. The vines swung lazily behind it.

  “This is creepy,” Tabitha muttered. “Not as creepy as talking to myself. Damn, I miss Achronyx.” She climbed up behind the altar and discovered that the apparent solidity of the back wall was nothing but an optical illusion. She peered around the façade into the dark passage beyond.

  Hey, guys? I’ve found a secret passageway, and I’m pretty sure I saw someone go into it. I’m going to follow and see where it leads.

  We are on our way, Hirotoshi responded. We will find you.

  Tabitha pushed the vines aside and set off down the downward-sloping passage at a light jog. Behind the altar, you’ll see the fake wall. She took note of the rapid decline as she negotiated the twists and turns of the passage and wondered how deep underground she would be at the end of the passage.

  Tabitha grinned as she ran through the darkness. Her enhanced vision meant that the darkness was her ally instead of a hindrance. She was a Nacht, a badass, hot-as-hell creature of the night. Unstoppable in her bodaciousness.

  Nevertheless, it made for a shock when the passage suddenly turned a corner and her night vision was destroyed by the light of a thousand candles.

  She stumbled, shielding her eyes just a moment too late, and fell backward…into Hirotoshi.

  She recovered and grinned at him and Ryu. “Nice of you to join me.”

  Ryu pointed behind her. “Um…”

  Tabitha wheeled around, her Jean Dukes up and ready for— “Stacy?”

  The young woman in question was pressed up against the bars of one of the cells that lined both sides of the room, staring at Tabitha and the Tontos in complete shock. “R-ranger Tabitha?”

  Tabitha rushed over to free her. “The one and only. Let’s get you out of here.” She snapped the lock and pulled the barred door open.

  Stacy tumbled out into Tabitha’s arms. “I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life.”