by Kyle, Celia
“C’mon, Swipt. It’ll be fun, and I promise I won’t bite—unless you want me to.”
I had expected him to laugh, and Solair and Varia certainly do, but Swipt just seems uncomfortable.
Guess he doesn’t like me horning in on his territory of being the resident jokester. Did I just think of the word horning?
This could prove to be an interesting away mission indeed.
Chapter Seven
Swipt
“Sorry you got roped into being my bodyguard, Swipt.”
I turn to regard the lovely woman walking abreast and flash her my famous grin.
“Not to worry, Ilya. Truth to tell, it’s nice to get off the ship once in a while.”
We take the lift to the lower deck, where the cargo bay is located. I can’t believe my luck in being able to spend time with her alone. I’m not about to tell her about my suspicions—that she might be my mate, namely—but I’m hoping for a chance to get to know her a little better.
With her spending most of her time in the engine room, and me spending most of mine on the bridge, our paths seldom cross unless we choose to intersect them. Of all the Frontier refugees, she seems to appreciate my sense of humor the most. Or at least, she tolerates it with the least complaint. It’s a start, even if that’s the case.
The cargo bay’s interlocking doors slide apart, allowing our ingress. Ilya consults her datapad, and frowns when she sees the readout on the console.
“According to this, Markov’s Gulch is forty miles away. That’s a hell of a walk, and the Queen’s not going anywhere.”
“It is a long way to walk, which makes it a good thing that we have—this.”
I dramatically whip a metallic hued tarp off the chassis of our small but elegant two-man hoverpod. It’s been sculpted to resemble a crustacean, with a glass windscreen forming the “eyes” and the side nacelles appear like folded in pincers. Like most Kilgari vehicles, it combines aesthetics and utility.
“What is that little thing supposed to be?” Ilya arches an eyebrow as she walks around the diminutive craft.
“It’s for making slaw, of course.” I open the canopy and gesture grandly inside. “Step right in to be ground into little ribbons for dinner.”
“You’re a nutter.” Ilya chuckles as she accepts my hand and my offer to climb inside. When our skin touches, I get that prickly feeling all over again. Even if she’s not my fated mate, I still feel a strong pull toward Ilya. She’s cute, fun, and smart—my favorite combination.
I climb into the driver’s seat, and flip the engines on. The chassis shudders slightly and then lifts off the deck plating to hover a few feet in the air.
Smooth as glass, I taxi us around one hundred and eighty degrees and then remotely open the rear cargo bay doors. Golden sunlight shines into the bay, particles of dust that had been hitherto invisible drifting with the gentle breeze.
We glide down the gangplank and onto rolling plains. Twin suns shine down from the sky, the much larger yellow one all but rendering the smaller blue disc obsolete. The air is crisp and fresh with a faint tinge of ozone. There’s just something about these barely colonized worlds that you can’t put your finger on, something I find most appealing.
I flash my gaze over to Ilya, who seems to be enjoying the ride. Her head is on a swivel taking in the sights, even though for the time being we see mostly featureless plains. Unlike many of the women from the Frontier, Ilya doesn’t seem to be anxious or frightened of our journey. In fact, she seems downright eager to explore the galaxy on the Queen.
I recall something from one of our earlier conversations and use it to break the ice.
“So, I guess a simple farming world like this one is a far cry from Glimner.”
“You can say that again.” Ilya peers out the front windscreen, her hair whipping around as we zoom along the plains. “I still don’t see this settlement.”
“It’s a ways off yet. Do you ever miss it?”
“Miss what?” She turns to face me, her brow furrowing in query.
“Glimner. Your home world.”
“Oh. Yeah, sometimes. I lived there with my dad for years.”
“I see. And do you ever miss him.”
Ilya’s face splits in a devious grin.
“Sometimes…”
We share a laugh, and I pry a little further.
“Parents can be trying at times. I take it the two of you didn’t always see eye to eye?”
Ilya purses her lips, clearly gathering her thoughts before she replies.
“Well…it’s not like he was abusive or anything. I mean, sometimes he worked so much I didn’t see him for a week.”
“Where did he work?”
She glances at me, her eyes narrowing to slits. At first I think I’ve made her angry, but then she relaxes and gives me my answer.
“Our family owns the Crystal Lagoon resort.”
“The—for real? What part of it?”
“All of it.”
I whistle in appreciation. Crystal Lagoon is one of the largest and most prestigious resorts on the entire planet of Glimner, which is saying something as the entire planet is one big resort after another.
Now I understand why she was reluctant to talk about it. Once someone knows you have money, they tend to treat you differently. I resolve not to make a big deal about it.
“Why didn’t the two of you get along? Was he one of those toxic men who wanted a boy?”
“No, nothing like that. In fact, he wanted me to take over the family business when I came of age. Even sent me to a university so I could learn how.”
“And that held no interest for you?”
She rolls her eyes and turns a fierce grin on me.
“Come on, Swipt. We’ve been palling around for a while now. Do I seem like a girl who would be happy sitting at a desk all day watching numbers rise and fall on a datapad?”
I laugh and shake my head as the gently rolling hills flash past us.
“No, not at all. I can’t imagine you without at least some engine oil on your clothes.”
“Exactly.” She pounds her fist into her thigh. “You get me, Swipt. Yeah, I was always more interested in mechanics than finance. I used to help our maintenance staff repair the bots and landscaping equipment at the resort.”
“How did your dad take that?”
“How do you think? He shipped me off to school, and tried his damnedest to make me into a clone of him. Worse, he wanted me to account for every credit I spent, which put a serious crimp in my social life.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It wasn’t so bad. I used to fix the pads and devices of my classmates for spending money.”
Our voices die down as Markov’s Gulch comes into view. The gulch itself appears to be long dried up, just a series of shallow flat stones, which form a sort of path through the center of the settlement. Steep banks of what used to be an ancient river loom up on either side of the town, which is mainly concentrated on a single main thoroughfare.
The buildings are all either cheap, prefabricated models or made from native materials. None of them are in good condition, though I hope they at least keep the rain out.
“Looks like a rough place.”
I nod in assent.
“You’re right, but so long as we keep a low profile, there should be no trouble.”
Ilya glances over at me as we continue on our approach vector to the gulch.
“What about you, Swipt?”
“What about me?’
“Don’t be a dork. I mean how did you wind up being a pilot on the Queen?”
“Well…” I sigh heavily. “My father was in the Kilgari military, a bona fide war hero. Guy could pick up any weapon and use it like he was born with it in his hand. Me, I never cared for shooting people.”
“Then what did you care for? Besides telling silly jokes, I mean.”
“You laugh at those silly jokes, and I should think it’s obvious that anything with an engine
drive appeals to me greatly.”
“So you always wanted to be a pilot. I totally get it. But how did you wind up working for Solair?”
“I used to be on a rival crew, serving on the Sojourn. There was a derelict Coalition freighter, just ripe for the picking, and both Solair and my former captain sent teams to strip it. We reached the power core first, thanks to some fancy flying by yours truly. Solair was so impressed he offered me double my current contract to work for him instead.”
She nods, suitably impressed by my tale. I slow the hoverpod as we near the outskirts of Markov’s Gulch. Every single pair of eyes either studiously ignores us or gives us the death stare.
I make a mental note to get myself and Ilya out of this place as quickly as possible. Preferably before sundown.
Chapter Eight
Ilya
Swipt parks the hoverpod, his long sinuous fingers dancing over the console keys, and we settle down into the dusty lane. I get out on my side and stretch my back as he anxiously secures the hoverpod, constantly scanning the busy street. I notice more than one pair of avaricious eyes staring at the golden hoverpod, so I understand his determination to keep it safe.
I’ve been hoping to spend some time alone with Swipt for a while now. Our duties tend to keep us separated, but now we’re finally alone on a mission. Who says Varia should have all the fun?
I’m not an idiot. I know it’s dangerous, and the potential for hazards are everywhere, but I can’t help being excited to be on a mission of my own at last. Especially one that has me teaming up with a certain golden-skinned, dimple-faced horned hottie.
Swipt peers about, shielding his eyes from the bright afternoon sunlight with his hand.
“I don’t see any part shops around. This place is a few hundred years in the past.”
“Hmm.” I point up the street at an establishment named The Sun Shark. “Taverns are a good place to pick up information as well as the latest gossip.”
Besides that, I can smell something wonderful wafting out of the wide-open double doorway, and it’s been a while since I last ate.
“Very well.” I can hear his belly rumbling, so I guess I’m not the only one feeling peckish. On our way up the avenue, we pass by an alleyway and freeze dead in our tracks.
A dead man hangs from a noose, his eyes wide open in silent stoicism. Worse, he’s been dismembered as well, and no one seems to even notice or care.
“What in the name of…” I relax, and sigh. “Never mind. It’s just a Synth.”
“Synth?”
“An AI helper in humanoid form. They’re not real common except in places where there’s a manpower shortage. Looks like someone tore this one up for sport. Poor bastard.”
“But it’s just a machine.”
“I like machines.” I glower at him until he relents.
“Fair enough. I’m sorry.”
The two of us work our way up to the Sun Shark and enter through the double doors. This is definitely not a high-class establishment. Sawdust has been sprinkled on the floors, and some of it has gathered into wet clumps formed by the spillage of bodily fluids. I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I really hope it’s blood instead of something more vile…
Rough and tumble customers turn their beer-soaked gazes our way. A lot of frowns are directed at Swipt, though he’s not the only Kilgari in the tavern at the moment. We select an empty table near the back corner, which Swipt says will let us watch the entire room just in case there’s trouble.
“Should we start working the crowd? Find out if anyone knows about a phase conversion unit?”
Swipt purses his lips, and then grins.
“In a bit. For now, let’s get a bite to eat and maybe a drink. Or two.”
I arch an eyebrow at him.
“But the Queen is grounded until we get back.”
“True, but if we just start pumping people for information, they might throw us out. If we’re paying customers, that’s a lot less likely to happen.
“Good point.”
A tired-looking human waitress shuffles over to our table and listlessly takes our drink orders. She hands us two dusty menus with numerous stains on them that make it difficult to read.
“Pardon me, ma’am, but would you happen to know where we could purchase a phase converter?”
She doesn’t so much as bat an eyelid.
“Don’t ask me. I just work here.”
I sigh as she clumps two bottles of Geigerbrau Light on the table. Not going to get much help from her, it seems.
Well, here I am with Swipt, practically on a date even, and I can’t think of anything to say. It’s just anxiety because I’m actually pretty comfortable around him. No reason it should be hard to come up with something to talk about.
“So, Swipt…you told me how you started working for Solair, but you never said how you learned to be such a great pilot.”
“Oh, it’s all just natural talent.”
I smile back at him and give a little chuckle.
“No, seriously, no one’s got THAT much innate talent.”
He sighs and scratches the base of his horn.
“You know how I told you my dad was a military guy? Well, sometimes I could sweet talk him into letting me borrow a ship for practice, and other times I had to, ah…make do.”
“Make do?”
“It sounds better than ‘hot wire’ to use your Terran parlance.”
We laugh and look over the menus. His gaze narrows as he scans the unfamiliar fare.
“What in the world is a Yardbird Surprise?’
“Probably chicken. Looks like these folks have really embraced the old timey feel of the gulch.”
I keep catching Swipt checking me out over his menu when he thinks I’m not looking. He’s into me, too. I just know it. It’s obvious we have a lot of chemistry.
But it’s not that simple with Kilgari. They have a unique sensory system that lets them identify perfectly compatible mates with a single kiss. Apparently there’s real science behind it, according to Thrase at least. While I don’t always like her very much, I can’t refute her intelligence.
Varia kissed Solair, and he discovered their mating bond. Likewise for Lamira and Grantian. I’m no dope. I know how these things are done.
I get a little giddy warmth shooting through my belly when I make the decision that I’m going to kiss Swipt before we go back to the Queen. Come hell or high water. That way I’ll know for sure if we’re really compatible…
God, listen to me. I sound like a horny schoolgirl. The mission is what’s important. But damn it, just because I’m on a quest doesn’t mean I can’t fulfill a few side missions on the way, of a personal sort.
We wind up ordering the Tarvit stew, which seems the most palatable choice. Tarvits are Alzhon cattle, much hardier than Terran varieties and also capable of yielding far more meat. They’re popular on the frontier, where you can’t always count on a stable environment to raise your livestock.
The same bored waitress lays two heaping bowls in front of us as well as slightly bent eating prongs. When the aroma hits my nostrils, my mouth begins to water.
“I’m famished.” Swipt picks up his fork and prepares to dig in when he suddenly stops.
“What’s the matter?”
“Do you hear that outside?”
“I don’t hear anything outside.”
“Exactly. It’s like the whole town just…”
As in on cue, the sounds of heavy booted feet tromping on the boardwalk outside causes everyone in the tavern to cringe in unison. A black uniformed IHC marine in full class-four hard armor tromps into the tavern, his rifle held at his side though I know it can be ready in a heartbeat.
All you can see of his face is from the nose down, and his thin lips twist into a sneer.
“By order of the Interstellar Human Confederation, everyone in this tavern can consider themselves detained. Remain at your tables while…”
Before he even finishes his f
irst sentence, almost the entire tavern rises up and makes a mad dash for the rear exit. The marine curses, shouting on his comm for assistance. Swipt grabs my hand and half drags me, but not in the same direction as the stampede of humanity.
“Where are we going?’
“Out through the kitchen because I’m betting the marines have the rear exit guarded.”
We rush through the deserted kitchen. It seems as if even the owner and staff have decided to bail out. Can’t blame them considering the IHC’s reputation for frontier justice.
Swipt lifts me up so I can climb out the high kitchen window, and then he quickly follows. Hand in hand, we move toward a much busier portion of the small settlement, trying not to look up the street at the armored personnel carrier parked outside of the Sun Shark.
Maybe they weren’t looking for me and the other Frontier girls, but I have a bad feeling I’m wrong.
Chapter Nine
Swipt
I remain close by Ilya’s side as the main thoroughfare empties out into a grand market square. To say I’m anxious is an understatement. Other than the two men I saw in the Sun Shark, I appear to be the only Kilgari on this planet. Certainly I’m the only one on the street right now.
There are some other sapient species here, but mostly it’s wall-to-wall humanity. Not that I have a problem with humans, of course. I’m particularly fond of the auburn-haired mechanic walking next to me, in point of fact. But I’m very worried they might have a problem with ME.
“Slow down, Swipt, your legs are a lot longer than mine.”
“Sorry.” I slow my pace enough so she can catch up. “This crowd is murder. I can’t even see the wares with so many people crowding the marketplace.”
“They seem friendly enough.”
She’s most astute because everyone is smiling at her, and some of them even nod politely toward me. I guess it doesn’t matter as much what sapient species you belong to, as long as you have credits to spend.