Soul of a Predator

by Angela Verdenius

  She had no doubt what he meant, and turned back to face the planet. “About what happened in the dining cabin—"

  "We'll discuss that once we're safely back on your ship and away from here."

  She waited a heartbeat. “Fair enough.” She had no doubt that that little chat wasn't going to be comfortable. Bloody interesting, perhaps, but not comfortable. In fact, it was going to be hellishly uncomfortable. “Forget about it."

  "Not bloody likely.” His words hissed out.

  Silence fell again in the control cabin, and she was more than aware of the man sitting beside her. No way could she be unaware, she thought sourly, considering he was partly responsible for the unaccustomed soreness between her thighs and a couple of new bruises. A reminder of the wild passion they'd shared hours before. Don't go there.

  In relief, she turned her attention to soaring through the sky, breaking from space black to planetary late night-time on this side of Vultan. Steering through the heavy traffic to land in the docking bay, she pulled in alongside another planet shuttle from which the disgruntled passengers were disgorging.

  The two planet shuttles behind her landed, one on her right, the other in front.

  In silence, Shaque and Elyse stood and donned the travel robes and hoods that a lot of the passengers wore against the chill night air. It provided warmth and a disguise of sorts, as well as effectively covering their weapons.

  The night streets were crowded and noisy, and judging it better to blend with the rough crowd rather than risk being spotted cautiously moving along side streets, they entered teeming throngs of outlaws, whores, settlers and space pirates fearlessly.

  Staying at the end of the almost deserted street, Elyse melted back into the shadows and watched as Shaque approached the unlit shack and disappeared into the darkness. Leaning back comfortably against the stone building, she flicked her gaze up and down the street, but all was silent.

  After several minutes, she saw Shaque reappear and walk down the little path. He moved like a wraith in the dark street, slipping easily through the shadows. When he came abreast of her, his eyes were a faint gleam of blue in the cover of his hood.

  "The shack was empty,” he said. “Nothing there of Nerissa but this.” He held up a small disc. “It has her name on it.” Slipping it into his pocket under the cloak, he added, “The Man now."

  The three story glass and stone building stood in the middle of the settlement. It was lit up, and several guards stood near the front and rear entrances. The rough crowds walking the streets didn't spare it a glance.

  Getting inside wasn't going to be easy.

  Dropping down onto the spare bench in the shadows of a veranda, Elyse studied the building. Silently Shaque did the same, propping one ankle on his opposite knee, assuming a relaxed posture. No one who saw him would think for a minute that a bounty hunter was in their settlement.

  How to get inside? Elyse observed the comings and goings in the building. Those arriving showed something to the guards at the door. Those leaving had to show something as well.

  She looked up at the second story. A lone guard stood on a balcony. The third story had the same guard. Higher up ... she narrowed her gaze. Higher up was a single window. No balcony, no guard.

  "Top of the building,” she said softly.

  Shaque nodded. “We need to scout out how to get up there."

  Without another word they both stood and walked around the street, crossing to the other side and melting again into the shadows as they looked at the building.

  No balconies on this side, no guards. A tangle of vines crawled up to the second floor, but Elyse knew at first glance that it wasn't strong enough to climb. From all accounts, the building was impenetrable unless one went through the doors, or had another way to get to the lone window at the top.

  There was one way ... a risky way, but a way nevertheless...

  "Disc,” Shaque said softly.

  "My thoughts exactly."

  "What time does noise at this place go down?"

  "Almost never."

  Shaque glanced up at the sky, and she followed his gaze. Planet shuttles, planet cruises and smaller ships slid through the sky. Elyse looked around at the crowd. No one looked up at the sky.

  There was a way in.

  "You can fly my ship over the building,” she said quietly. “I'll come out of the cargo hold on disc, straight through that window and into the building. Find The Man, get info on the slaver he sold the children to, and fly out again."

  "I was thinking more of you flying the ship and me doing the info gathering."

  Elyse looked at him coolly.

  He returned the look just as coolly.

  "If the shit hits the fan,” Elyse said ironically, “I can just go mutant and kill them all."

  "The shit won't hit the fan if I go in."

  "Very sure of yourself, hunter."

  His lips tightened. “It's my sister, and possibly my niece or nephew who may have been sold into slavery. It's my job to find out the info."

  She had another stake in the whole operation, but unless she wanted to reveal more than she wanted to, she had to agree ... plus the annoying fact that he was right. In a way.

  "You know your ship,” he added tonelessly, his gaze watching her with a cold burn. “If I need help, you can get to me faster than if I had to try and get to you. You fly your ship and let me do what I know how to do."

  In that second, she really wanted to hit him. Staying behind was something she wasn't used to. Being in the thick of things was what she did, and did well. But damn it, he had a point.

  Unless they both came on disc...

  "We may need the ship for a fast getaway,” he added as if he could read her mind.

  Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to think clearly. Yes, he had a stake in this, and she wanted to ensure she got the correct information about the children in case one was Nerissa's child with the knowledge she needed. But she needed to think clearly.

  Shaque needed to know as much as she did, and he was a canny bastard besides. She had to trust him sometime.

  Letting out her breath slowly, she nodded. She had another plan anyway.

  Returning to the ship, she went to the control cabin while Shaque strode into his cabin. When he joined her minutes later, he was pocketing something.

  Elyse held out a small communicating device attached to a minute camera disc. Shaque looked from it to her.

  "I need to be able to hear you if you're in trouble,” she explained. “And the camera gives me a view of what's happening."

  Taking the tiny equipment, he studied it. “You really don't want to feel left out, do you?"

  Ignoring the bite of cold humour, she added, “Place the camera disc earpiece behind your ear, and it will move out enough for me to get a view of both behind and ahead of you.” Her smile was slow. “I'll literally be watching your back."

  Curiosity was plain on his face as he turned the camera disc over in his hand. “Where did you get this?"

  "A friend. Put it on and try it. I need to ensure it works properly."

  Slipping the tiny hearing earpiece into his ear, Shaque secured the earpiece of the camera behind his ear. Immediately the tiny camera moved out from behind his ear several inches. An image of the control cabin from Shaque's point of view came onto the viscomm.

  Pulling the small control panel over to the console, Elyse plugged it into the power source. “Using this, I can direct where the camera turns.” She demonstrated, using the small lever. The camera coming out from the earpiece moved around, back, front and side to side. The image on the camera reflected what it recorded. “All conversation and sight is recorded and transferred back to the main viscomm on this cruiser, so we don't need to try and remember what we see or hear."

  "Handy.” Shaque studied the viscomm. “We have the same, but not as small."

  "Good things come in small packages."

  "A lot of good things come in unexpected packages." />
  Controlling her features, unsure of quite what Shaque meant, Elyse looked coolly up at him. His expression was blank, but his eyes were on her lips. Then he lifted his gaze to meet hers, and arched one brow.

  "You better get going.” She swivelled around to face the console. “Discs are in the cargo hold. Go choose one and get ready.'

  He left without another word.

  Shaking her head, Elyse concentrated on leaving the docking bay, bringing the small cruiser up into the air to join the throng of traffic above the settlement.

  Flicking a switch on the camera control panel, she watched Shaque's hand as he chose one of the four travel discs that were fastened on the side wall. The camera image was jerky at times, depending on his movements, but at least she would have good visual image.

  "Coming to the building now,” she said.

  "Okay."

  "Over the top. Stopping. In the right wall you'll see a small door slide open, that's your exit. See it?"

  The camera moved as he swung around, and the image of the little door sliding open appeared. He didn't answer, but moved over to the door.

  The night sky appeared, the lights of a planet shuttle flaring past, then darkness. Shaque flew out, and the building appeared right in front of Elyse on the viscomm.

  He landed on the roof to the side of the window, and crouched, staying still for several minutes. The camera angled up as he looked up, and her cruiser appeared on the viscomm screen before flying out of sight.

  "I'm going to land back in the docking bay,” she informed him. “I can better keep an eye on what is happening, as well as avoid suspicion."

  "Right."

  She kept a partial eye on the traffic, while glancing at the viscomm. Landing in the docking bay was done quickly and efficiently. It took her the same length of time as it did for Shaque to approach the window.

  Settling back in the chair, Elyse watched, swivelling the camera around to get a view of everything.

  The glass window was closed, and she saw Shaque palm something, the faint gleam of metal. He pressed it to the window, ran it around the frame. There was a faint click, a red ray flashed once, then went blue and disappeared.

  The window had been alarmed.

  "Alarm off,” Shaque murmured.

  And how had he done that? Elyse tried to get a good look at the little mechanism he'd used, but he pocketed it before she could see.

  Sliding the window open, Shaque entered the room. Looking around, he headed for a desk in the corner.

  She could see the room was some kind of office, for the desk had a viscomm and communicator link on it. Discs were piled high. The walls were bare expect for radar maps and scanners. A huge map of the settlement was on the other wall.

  Moving silently to the door, Shaque listened for several seconds and then slowly opened it to peek outside. The richly decorated corridor was empty. Closing it again, he returned to the desk, sat in the chair and turned on the viscomm. A garble of figures and letters came up, and he started touching the screen, entering commands she didn't recognize.

  "Shaque, you need to get your arse moving—"

  "Quiet."

  Pursing her lips, she moved the camera around, training it on the door and then the window, flicking back and forth.

  "This is like having you breathing down my neck,” Shaque finally said.

  "You wish.” The words were out before Elyse could think.

  Shaque went still, his fingers faltering in their tapping on the screen. Oops.

  She couldn't help it. Slowly she turned the camera around to try and see his expression, but the tiny camera was made to move on the spot, not go out and turn to face the wearer, so she could only make out the sharp planes of the side of his face, nothing more.

  "Elyse,” he breathed quietly. “We're going to have a little talk later."

  "Just get on with the job,” she replied.

  Biting her lip, she swore softly to herself. What the hell was wrong with her? She had to let her mind back on the work, and stop speaking before she thought. She'd never had a loose tongue in her life, and she wasn't about to start now.

  Silently he continued tapping the viscomm while she surveyed the room, keeping a watch on the door.

  The camera dipped, and she turned it around to see what Shaque was doing. He was slipping a disc into the viscomm and tapping the screen, copying the data that was on there. She couldn't make out what it was, for the information looked to be encrypted, but obviously Shaque had found it of some interest.

  Resting her chin on one hand, she continued to survey the room while he copied the information.

  After several minutes, he started to move, and she turned the camera in time to see the viscomm flare, the screen flash, and the figures and letters go wild before the screen went blank.

  "What did you do?” she queried.

  "A little sabotage work."

  "You blew it up?"

  "Let's say some interesting info has been sent to certain parties."

  "You tossed outlaws to the hunters,” she guessed.

  He didn't answer, just pocketed the disc he popped out of the viscomm.

  Moving back to the door, he listened and reached for the handle, but before he could turn the knob, he stiffened and stepped back behind the door as it opened.

  Leaning forward, Elyse narrowed her eyes as the door swung open and someone stepped inside. It swung shut again and, what do you know, there was The Man, his velvet gown swinging as he moved across to the radar screen. His back was to Shaque, and he had no idea that an intruder was in his room.

  Interested to see how the famed Knifer handled the situation, Elyse leaned back in the chair and watched.

  Shaque moved forward stealthily, and had one arm around The Man's neck and a dagger pressed to the side of his throat before he knew what had happened.

  "What the—"

  "Silence.” The cold words sliced low. “You will answer questions and nothing else."

  "How dare you enter my home! I'll scream—"

  "One wrong move or word and I'll slice you open from ear to ear.” The dagger pressed deeper, and a drop of blood rolled down The Man's throat. “Information."

  The Man was breathing deeper, and Elyse just knew he wasn't used to being at another's mercy. As with all merciless, cruel people protected by others, alone, he was a coward.

  "Celia's children,” Shaque said quietly. “Where are they?"

  "I don't—” The Man's breath jerked and Elyse smiled slightly. No doubt the dagger had slipped a little deeper into his throat. “They were strays. I sold them to the slaver."

  "Which slaver?"

  "Crighton."

  "Where is he heading?"

  "I don't—shit!” Elyse didn't see the Man's face, or feel him flinch, but the image jerked a little, and she grinned. The blade had dug a little deeper. He started to talk faster. “Heading for Urion."

  Now that wasn't so good. Elyse rubbed her chin thoughtfully. That was deep inside the Outlaw Sector. Very deep.

  "Whereabouts on Urion?” Shaque asked.

  "Brocca."

  That was even worse. Brocca...

  "Are they going straight there?"

  "No.” The Man's breathing was getting choppy. “They're making stops on the way."

  "Planet and settlement names."

  The Man rattled off a list, many of the places Elyse knew and some she avoided.

  "Where did he plan to sell Celia's strays?” Shaque pressed.

  "I don't know, and that's the truth.” His breath hitched.

  "How many in the slaver's employ on board the ship?"

  "Not many. His apprentice, three under slavers and their apprentices. Eight in all."

  "How well armed is his ship?"

  "I don't know. I haven't seen it.” He gave a shuddering breath. “I swear on my mother's grave!"

  "And you probably killed her, too.” Shaque's arm moved suddenly.

  The Man gave a gurgle and dropped to th
e floor. Squatting down, Shaque riffled through the pockets of his gown and beneath.

  "So sure he knew nothing more?” Elyse queried.

  "Certain. Besides, I have the information we need right here.” Shaque patted his chest.

  "The information you got on disc?"

  "Right."

  "And you questioned him because...?"

  "Anything else he might know."

  "And killed him because...?"

  "He was a waste of space."

  She nodded.

  Standing, Shaque looked around. “You better come and get me now. I'll wait on the roof."

  "Be there in minutes."

  It was exactly three minutes from the time she left the docking bay to Shaque flying into the cargo hold on the travel disc. The door slid shut behind him. Veering away from the settlement, Elyse headed back to the hideaway on the nearby planet, and her ship.

  Shaque entered the control cabin minutes later and dropped the tiny camera and hearing piece onto the console. Discarding the robe, he sat down and pulled the disc from his pocket, looking at it thoughtfully.

  Elyse kept her attention on the surroundings in case someone had noticed them. One could never be too careful in the Outlaw Sector. But luck was on their side and they left the planet behind with no incidents.

  Glancing sideways at Shaque, she saw him turn the disc over and over in his hands. The hunter obviously had something else on his mind, for he pursed his lips—damn fine lips—and frowned slightly.

  And looked sideways at her.

  Aw, no. Looking back at the space passing in front of them, and the planet looming in the distance, Elyse kept her expression bland. The last thing she wanted was for Shaque to start talking about what had transpired between them.

  For the first time in her life, she was uneasy in the presence of another person. And that irritated her. A lot.

  But Shaque stayed silent, leaning back in the chair, stretching out his long legs and crossing them at the ankles. Because he had to angle the chair to the side to enable him to stretch, his disturbing gaze was now elsewhere.

  Taking a deep breath, Elyse wiped all thoughts from her mind and concentrated on the planet.

  The silence, rather than being the usual easy quietness, was suddenly fraught with unspoken thoughts. Emotions.