by Tamsin Ley
Kashatok paced in front of the door, legs still unsteady. Aleknagik had always been good at dominating the crew. It was part of what made him a good first mate, or so Kashatok’d believed. “Why’d we do a second burn so soon?”
“Troopers caught our signature and were hot on our tail. Aleknagik says they’re after your woman.”
Kashatok paused, only halfway registering that Chignik had referred to Joy as his woman. “Why would they be after her?”
Chignik blinked slowly, lids slightly out of synch. “Her mother broadcast a reward. Moore caught it on one of the Syndicorp channels he was monitoring from the slave ship.”
“Mother?” For some reason, he hadn’t pictured Joy with family, let alone a mother with enough power to put an entire trooper ship into action.
“She’s offering one point five mil to anyone who leads the authorities to Joy’s kidnappers.”
Kashatok clenched his fists. Joy’s family assumed she’d been kidnapped. But what kind of family could offer a one point five mil reward? That was an anaq-load of creds, worth the crew’s total shares for an entire solar year at least. “Who the fuck is she?”
“Syndicorp’s CEO. Joy’s last name is Mulholland-Aird.” The words felt like pulse blasts coming from Chignik’s lips, stunning Kashatok for a few heartbeats.
He ran a hand down his beard. He’d never bothered with last names among his crew. “That’s ridiculous. It can’t be.”
Shrugging, Chignik dabbed at his bloody lip with the back of his hand. “She called Joy by name and had a picture of her with longer hair.”
Kashatok put one hand against the wall to steady himself. Syndicorp? How was that possible? And how did that play into Joy seeking a spot on his crew? Had she been after the nanites all along? Fuck, he needed a drink. He was about to reach through the damned door shield and rip the bottle from Chignik’s fingers.
Next to Kashatok’s ear, Jhikik purred softly. Kashatok absently rubbed the soft fur under his pet’s chin. There had to be a good explanation. Joy might’ve disguised herself to get on board, but she wasn’t a very good liar. She’d told the truth about her name; he’d chosen to mishear it. When Gassy first mentioned the nanites, she’d been completely clueless. And she’d flat-out told him she wasn’t a Syndicorp spy. He believed her.
But the others didn’t and now she was alone on the other ship. Uminaq! He straightened, staring helplessly through the door shield. “What did Captain Qaiyaan say?”
Chignik shook his head. “Don’t think he knows. Aleknagik wants to keep it that way.” A queasy look came over the big man’s bearded face. “He says after we have our fun, the ransom is ours.”
Both of Kashatok’s hearts slammed against his ribs. There was absolutely zero chance Aleknagik would honor his promise of leaving her aboard the Hardship now—if he’d ever intended to in the first place. “You can’t let Aleknagik and his men get their hands on Joy.” His insides tightened as he thought of her at Aleknagik’s mercy. What would Qaiyaan and his crew do once they found out she was Syndicorp? At least they valued her for the nanites. “Think you can get a message to her?”
“Like I said, my access codes are no good,” Chignik said. “But maybe I can sweet talk Ekwok into doing it. Or get Gassy up long enough to send one.”
“You have to try.”
Chignik turned to go and Jhikik chirped again, tail in a stranglehold around Kashatok’s neck. Still hungry. At least he could try to get Jhik some food.
“Chignik?” Kashatok called after him. “Open the hydroponic gate in my cabin so Jhikik can eat?”
None of the crewmen liked the netorpok, but Chignik looked over his shoulder and nodded. He disappeared unsteadily around the corner, leaving Kashatok and Jhikik alone once more.
Kashatok pulled Jhikik off his shoulder and placed him near the grate. “Feast while you can. Aleknagik’ll probably toss you out the airlock with me.”
Jhikik chirped with alarm, tail clinging to Kashatok’s wrist.
For the first time in a long time, Kashatok realized he might regret dying. He’d probably never see Joy again. The thought created a void inside him that wanted to fold in on itself. “I know, buddy. Go back to her if you can.”
Then an idea occurred to him—maybe Jhikik could go back. He could carry a message to her. Kashatok patted his pockets and glanced around the barren room as if he might find something to write on. Or with, for that matter. Nothing. Blinking, he wiped a dribble of blood from his forehead with his sleeve, absently noting the stark turquoise blood against the white fabric. He may not be able to write a message, but he could send a warning.
Tearing a strip of fabric from the shirt’s hem, he dabbed it against his forehead then tied it like a collar around a squirming Jhikik’s neck. Anaq, did she even know his blood was turquoise? As if she could even see it. She was blind for Ellam Cua’s sake. Yet it wasn’t as if he had any other options. Perhaps Mek would notice the collar and say something.
Nudging his companion toward the grate, he said, “Take it to Joy.”
The netorpok looked over his shoulder at Kashatok a moment, then disappeared down the black hole.
Kashatok prayed like hell the creature didn’t get distracted by the open hydroponics cage.
The burn ended, and Joy sagged with mental relief. She’d aligned enough nanites that the tiny machines could continue stacking on their own, like a chain reaction. She’d always had a knack for mechanics, but the nanites were painting a more rounded picture of the ship’s systems than she’d ever imagined possible. She could sense the slight variation in the gravity system Tovik had chattered to her about. Knew Mek’s centrifuge needed balancing. Next to her, she detected the report on her biological systems from the scanner Mek held close to her ear.
But the volume of information was also exhausting and it took everything she had left to shut it out. She’d never worked so hard in her life. Deep in her chest, she trembled with fatigue, her eyes glued shut as if each lid weighed a thousand pounds. Even her hands ached as if she’d been wielding a wrench for hours on end. She could fall asleep for days and still not feel rested, yet a small part of her refused to let go of consciousness in case the nanites decided to get frisky once again. If they returned to chaos, she’d drown under the onslaught.
The emanations from Mek’s scanner changed frequencies and she groaned.
“How’re you doing, Joy?”
“Can you not do that?”
“Sorry.” The scanner ceased, but Mek jabbed her arm for what felt like the millionth time. “I’m taking another sample.”
Something beeped and the nanites jittered like toddlers refusing to take a nap. She heard Mek shuffling around the room as she lapsed back into semi-consciousness.
“I have some good news for Captain Kashatok about his DNA test.” The doctor’s voice startled her alert.
Then she realized what he’d said. News for Kashatok. As if responding to her curiosity, her nanites sifted the nearby information, returning the DNA results; Kashatok did not have carayak disorder. Her eyes flew open. Bright whiteness sliced into her brain, and she slammed her lids shut again. What the hell?
She must’ve made a noise, because Mek asked, “Joy?”
Carefully slitting her right eye, her heart fell. Black void. Shutting it, she cracked open her left lid and winced as a crescent of light filtered through her lashes. Filters, she ordered out of habit. Her camera responded by dialing down the lens receptors. The light became bearable. She opened her eye the rest of the way.
The brilliant overhead light of the med bay came into focus amidst the grooved ceiling panels. Her heart skipped several beats, and excitement filled her limbs. She wasn’t blind! Then everything grew fuzzy again and she wanted to cry before she realized things were fuzzy because she was crying. She lifted her hands and pressed away the tears, letting out a sobbing laugh. “I can see!”
She turned her head to find Mek beside the bed, a grin splitting his face. “That’s wonderful n
ews! I have to admit, I was worried your optic nerve was permanently damaged.”
He grabbed a scanner and pressed it to her temple. She winced as the nanites did their dance, but bore it. This was worth the discomfort.
Mek’s face grew serious. “You’re sure you can see? Your optic nerves are still nonresponsive.”
She closed and opened her left eye, confirming her suspicion. “It’s my camera.”
Even as she said it, she bit her lip. She was still blind. Her camera would never be the same as her real vision. For one thing, it was only in one eye. For another, extended use brought on a migraine.
“Let me run some tests.” Mek pursed his lips as if mulling something over, then turned to his workstation.
Joy knew she should turn the camera off, reserve using it for when it was needed, but she was too relieved and excited. “I want to tell Kashatok.”
“I just tried to call him. His crew says he’s occupied, but he’ll call back as soon as he can.”
She fumbled with the nav-grav harness securing her chest and legs to the cot. Her fingers didn’t want to obey commands for fine motor skills.
Mek gave her a warning frown over his shoulder. “Slow down, Joy. More than just your eyesight is being affected.”
“I’m tired of lying here helpless.” Inside her head, the nanites responded to her agitation and excitement with another monster headache.
A tiny weight landed on her legs and she glanced down to find Jhikik scampering toward her.
“Jhikik! I can see!” She spotted a rag tied around his neck. He’d never worn a collar before. Reaching out, she tried unsuccessfully to untie the knot. “Who did this?”
“What?” Mek asked.
“There’s something tied on him. Can you help get it off?”
Mek raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think he likes me.”
She rubbed behind Jhikik’s ears. “Jhikik, will you let the doctor get that thing off you? For me?”
Jhikik purred, closing his dark eyes.
Mek sighed and moved closer. Jhikik’s purring turned to warning clicks, but he allowed the doctor to worry the knot free. Mek held up the white and turquoise scrap of cloth. “This appears to be blood.”
A chill settled into Joy’s veins. She took the cloth from him, fingering the soft pirelux fabric. Kashatok’s shirt had been made of the same material. “Try to call Kashatok again.”
Mek nodded and walked over to the comm. “This is Mekoryuk on the Hardship. I need to speak to Captain Kashatok immediately.”
Aleknagik’s voice came back. “Is it about the female? I can give him a message.”
Joy’s hackles rose. Kashatok had warned her his crew was dangerous, but referring to her as if she was some sort of livestock rankled her. Jhikik climbed to her shoulder and clicked his teeth in agreement.
Mek said, “This is for Kashatok’s ears only.”
A pause. “I’ll see if I can free him up. We’ll call back.”
Joy met Mek’s eyes across the med bay. Something wasn’t right. “Try his cochlear implant.”
“You have the code?” he asked.
She didn’t, but her nanites could get it. In fact, she could probably use her nanites to call him directly. “Let me try my nanites.”
“No!” The urgency in Mek’s voice stalled her. “Encouraging them at this stage could be dangerous. Lisa only escaped their control with her brother’s help.”
“But Kashatok may be in trouble.” She held up the rag.
“That’s different than trying to command them.”
The comm came to life once again, this time with Qaiyaan’s voice. “Mek, can you leave your patient for a few minutes and come to the bridge? We’ve just received some Intel and need to talk.”
Joy swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “I’m coming, too.”
The comm was still open, because Qaiyaan replied, “Crew only, Joy. Hang tight. We’ll only be a few minutes.”
Mek held up a palm. “Stay and rest. I’ll get the code from Qaiyaan and when I get back, we’ll call Kashatok.”
She settled back against the pillow, but inside, she knew something was very wrong. Jhikik knew it too, pacing the mattress beside her as if asking her what she was waiting for. Kashatok needed her and there was no time to waste. She could feel it in her gut. In her nanites.
Once the doctor was gone, Jhikik hopped down and, with a quick glance over his shoulder, disappeared through the door. She swore she heard him say, Come on.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. The nanites were under control. It wasn’t far to the boarding tube. She would just pop over with Jhikik, make sure Kashatok was okay, and come back.
Except her legs refused to support her. No way was she walking out of here right now. She slumped back to the cot. Fuck. If she could just reach Kashatok’s implant, she’d feel better. The nanites could do it in mere seconds. She winked her camera eye, testing the microcomputers now embedded in the interface. She appeared to have full control. Surely one quick search and a comm call wouldn’t be harmful? She’d managed with Mother easily enough.
Closing her eyes, she opened an interface to the comm.
A stream of information surged through her senses. She throttled the flow, focusing on what she wanted. Kashatok’s implant. There it is. Easy as she’d imagined. But some kind of firewall stood between her and the connection. An intentional block within the Kinship’s comm array. She recognized that signature from her work on the ship’s systems.
He was in the brig.
What the hell?
“Mek!” she called out, hoping he could hear her from here. She had to tell him. Now. Realizing she was still connected to the comm system, she opened a line to the bridge.
The men were talking loudly, Tovik’s voice overriding the others. “Kashatok probably did kidnap her!”
A sickening sensation filled her throat. They were talking about her. She should’ve known when Qaiyaan called for crew only. She concentrated harder, trying to make out who was saying what.
“Whatever the case,” said Qaiyaan’s deeper tone, “we can’t just let her run around free if she’s Syndicorp.”
She stiffened, breath catching. How could they know?
“One point five mil creds is a lot,” said a voice she wasn’t as familiar with, but she thought might be the first mate. “If she’s not matable, we should turn her in and collect.”
“We can’t let her go,” Lisa said. “It’d compromise our search for the lab if her mother finds out about the nanites. My brother…”
But Joy was barely listening. The pirates knew because of Mother. With a surge of adrenaline, Joy found herself on her feet. Trembling, but upright.
Tovik’s voice cracked loudly over the connection, “Are you suggesting we kill her?”
Holy shit, they were coming to murder her. Throat too tight to swallow, she cut the connection, not trusting her command of the nanites enough to use the comm and her camera at the same time. Forcing her feet to take one step after another, she stumbled to the door, gaining more motor control the closer she got to the boarding tube. Did the men on the Kinship know? Did Kashatok? Was he in the brig because of her? If she’d learned anything during her time on Kashatok’s ship, it was that Denaidans hated Syndicorp more than anything else in existence. These pirates would torture and kill her before ransoming her lifeless corpse back to her mother and the ‘corp.
Not Kashatok. He’d scared her at first, but she’d come to recognize the good behind his drunken, savage appearance. He’d tried to shield her, cared for her, made her believe he saw something special in her. Kashatok was the one man among all these pirates who might actually protect her, Syndicorp or not.
But first, she had to get him free.
Chapter Thirteen
Joy gripped the edge of the boarding tube and peered into the Kinship’s cargo bay. At the back of the dimly-lit cavern, Moore sat with his wiry back to her across one of the cargo crates from Ekwok. Without
being sure if they knew about Mother, she couldn’t risk being seen. But how was she going to get past them? They were obviously guards, and Ekwok had a clear view to the boarding tube.
The tawny-haired Denaidan glanced up then jerked his gaze back to his cards.
She trembled, bracing herself against the edge of the tube. He’d seen her. But a moment passed, then another, and he continued staring at his hand. Perhaps he had poor eyesight? She edged onto the deck and hugged the outer wall, hurrying toward the angular shuttle sitting in the starboard bay. Ducking behind the rear landing strut, she paused, leaning against the hard metal and panting. The nanites were going wild from adrenaline. She squeezed her eyes shut, imagining herself holding a spanner, tightening her hold on the little machines. The kill switch was not a preferable option; without the nanites, she’d be blind, and she wasn’t quite that familiar with the Kinship’s layout.
The single-cell brig lay around the corner just past the escape pods. Would there be more guards there? She was unarmed, unstable, completely unprepared—what the hell had she been thinking fleeing the Hardship without a plan? What had she been thinking going undercover in the first place? Now she was trapped between two pirate crews with nowhere to flee except the vacuum of space.
Next to her, the shuttle door stood open as if inviting her to try. Not that she’d get anywhere that way; the Kinship would never open the landing bay door, and the umbilical to the ship’s main diagnostic system was still connected to the shuttle’s belly. But there were tools inside the shuttle. Carrying something as a weapon would make her feel better.
She crept on board, crouching so she couldn’t be seen through the windows. On her hands and knees, she rifled through the emergency locker, tucking a screwdriver into her back pocket and gripping a large spanner. She turned to exit, but her gaze caught the open panel to the shuttle’s micro-drive. She’d been calibrating the power coil’s coolant system before they encountered the slave ship. If she adjusted it toward the negative end and engaged the shuttle’s life support, the coil would overheat in about five minutes, sending an alarm to the console in main engineering. A very loud alarm.