“Will do,” Iza acknowledged with a small salute. “Any leads yet on who took them?”
“No, but if you’ve got a scientist on board, I suggest you keep an eye on ’em.” His image disappeared, and the viewport once again showed the stars with the planet in front of them.
“Was that his idea of a joke?” Iza asked, but neither Trix nor Jovani responded.
Missing people weren’t altogether uncommon in the outer reaches of the Taran colonies. The authorities didn’t like to admit that more and more criminal elements were taking root throughout the border worlds. Though those organizations weren’t new, the recent shift in governance on Tararia had provided a prime opportunity for power-plays. She hated to think what might be in the works if scientists were being abducted. No doubt, it was to craft tools of war rather than for anything altruistic.
While Iza was trying to think of another witty comment, Braedon entered. He sat down in the pilot’s seat, his shoulders slumped forward in defeat. His last bout with Cierra hadn’t gone his way, it seemed. Anyone with eyes saw the connection between them, but their differences seemed to outweigh everything else. Braedon started mumbling to himself.
“Something wrong?” Jovani asked.
“I don’t get it. I do everything I can to make her happy, but it’s never enough. How am I supposed to improve when she runs away from me or shuts down?”
Jovani gave Iza a significant glance that made her pulse quicken before turning back to Braedon. “Women are a mystery and we may never fully understand them, but trying and getting it right five times out of ten makes it all worthwhile,” he said.
“Braedon, run a check on the local broadcasts to see what we can find out about the scientists that were abducted.”
“Abducted scientists?” Braedon’s fingers tapped the smooth screen of the console for a moment before he turned back to Iza. “Ah, looks like there was an official statement from a local governor about the abductions and the information in that is just being repeated everywhere else. The governor didn’t seem overly concerned about the kidnappings. He must not be into science.” Braedon shrugged. “I’ll keep checking, maybe dive into the Sensationals for more news.”
“You’re not going to find any real news there, don’t waste your time,” Iza said with a wave of one hand. “Trix, once we have the all-clear, put us back on course for the pickup coordinates and let’s get our haul.”
“Yes, Captain.”
—
They parked the Verity on the outskirts of town. It was still a remote, dusty area that hadn’t yet been developed beyond a rudimentary ship port and related services.
“What are we picking up today?” Braedon asked, standing up from his seat.
“Sheep.”
“Sheep?” Jovani tilted his head. “I guess that explains the hay.”
“Yes, there’s a breeder on Beurias who needs good stock. The sheep will be quite the haul, since they’ll be live cargo. That’s extra credits for the crew. Once the sheep are on board, it’s going to be noisy and messy down there. So watch your step.”
“Got it. And will there be some time to handle necessary business while we’re here?” Braedon rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
“I won’t stop you if you’ve got stuff to do. Trix and I can handle the sheep for now, but stay out of trouble. If you get yourself arrested by Enforcers and thrown onto Sarduvis again, I promise I won’t be waiting around.”
“It was just the one time. When are you going to let that go?” Braedon shouted and then grabbed Jovani by the arm. “Don’t leave without us. Jovani’s cute to look at, but what would you do without me?”
“We do not need another pilot,” Trix said. She seemed annoyed he would imply they needed him at all.
Iza rolled her eyes and smiled back at Jovani, who grinned at her.
“Bye,” Iza sang as Braedon dragged Jovani off the flight deck. “Trix, adjust the temperature controls. I swear Braedon has been playing with them again lately; it’s blazing hot in here.”
— — —
Joe followed Braedon down the metal ramp from the Verity’s cargo hold into the warm sun. As he stepped into the red dirt, his handheld signaled a message from his TSS commander, Ian Mandren. Joe ignored it, making a mental note to report in later once he had something useful to pass on. Trouble at the border and missing scientists weren’t exactly breaking news for the TSS. Maybe he could investigate a little more after Braedon revealed his latest scheme.
He took a deep breath of the fresh air before he spoke. “So where are we really going?”
Braedon gave him a sly smile and then rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I can’t keep anything hidden from you. Are you always reading my mind?”
“No, reading you doesn’t require that much work. I know you well enough. If you have an agenda different from what you’ve told Iza, it’s best I’m made aware of it ahead of time.”
Braedon pouted in annoyance before he shrugged and kept walking. “You’re right. Guess, I better work on hiding my feelings. Maybe that’s my trouble with Cierra. Though I think she actually is reading my mind.”
He easily kept up with Braedon’s brisk pace. “Braedon, where are we going?” he asked, grabbing Braedon by the front of his shirt.
The teenager sighed. “All right. I’ve been monitoring my father’s activities, and he’s been attempting to hire several high-ranking scientists.”
“Do you think your father is involved in these disappearances?” Joe released his grasp.
“I dunno, it’s possible. When it comes to that artifact, he’s obsessed. Let me put it this way: if this is related to that thing, he wouldn’t lose any sleep over abducting a few people.” Braedon waved him forward. “I have an idea. I’ll tell you more on the way.”
Joe thought hard about that as they trudged along the road leading into the city. Braedon’s father, Victor Arvonen, had proven himself a real threat to Iza and the Verity in the past. He was prepared to fire on the ship and his own son in pursuit of the artifact. If the artifact gave the man more power within the Taran Empire, there’d be plenty of reason to report it to the TSS.
They passed from the pasture lands and onto the more spacious and populated transportation roads. Perhaps he’d have a chance to make a call in private.
After four kilometers in the heat, Jovani’s shirt was sticking to his back and he cursed the planet’s large sun. Braedon, his hair dripping with sweat, hired the first available transport. He didn’t even protest the price, which Jovani thought was exorbitant. The small shuttle craft sat four comfortably and blew cool air on their seats while the driver sped past residential buildings. The neighborhood transitioned into a commercial district, and the buildings grew taller and more ostentatious the closer they got to the city center.
“There were several well-known scientist types that I grew up with. They know my father and will have seen his requests in the Sensationals. If they can help us figure it out, I can ruin his plans,” Braedon explained.
Joe gave him a sidelong look. He’d been wanting to investigate on his own. Once again, his connection to Braedon turned out to be much better. After they had gathered proof against Arvonen, the TSS would have the justification they needed to move against him. “When did you first realize you were the son of a megalomaniac?”
Braedon squinted his eyes and laughed. “When he pulled me into his office and told me that power was the only thing that mattered. He said, ‘It’s our birthright, Son. It’s our duty as a family to acquire it at all costs.’”
Joe raised his eyebrows.
“Yeah, I was five years old and he’d missed my latest accomplishment. Later, I found it was almost an exact quote from a VR game I was into at the time.”
“Wow, you handled it well, considering.”
“If by ‘well’ you mean setting fire to my home. Then gambling away my inheritance, before disappearing in a stolen ship of my father’s, then yeah. I’ve adjusted pretty well
to being raised by a selfish and power-hungry man.”
“Okay, maybe the fire was a little over the top, but otherwise,” Joe said with a smile that made Braedon laugh.
The city bustled around them as the shuttle zipped in and out of traffic. Joe spotted a grouping of six large buildings designed to look like they were twisting into the sky at nauseating heights.
Braedon pointed up at one of the tall, twisted buildings. “That’s where we’re going.”
The shuttle let them out near the building entrance, and they entered the airy lobby, passing through the building’s security checkpoint.
“The labs here are where the top scientists work on innovative new technologies,” Braedon explained. “I have a friend in the astrometric lab who might know what’s going on.” He ambled to the elevator and ran a hand through his hair.
“What’s her name?” Joe asked.
“What makes you think it’s a girl?”
“You’ve touched your hair no less than three times since you caught sight of your reflection coming into the building. Once just before you pressed the call button.”
Braedon laughed as he looked down at his shoes. “It’s not like that, she’s not interested in a gamer like me. Besides, I’ve got my eyes on someone else at the moment.”
“Yes, yourself,” Joe said punching him in the arm.
“When did you realize you were in love with Iz?”
Joe felt the punch in his chest whenever he thought about her. His TSS training kept his features neutral. “I’m not sure I’m in love with her yet, but my feelings for her aren’t shallow.”
Braedon nodded as if he understood. Considering his current situation with Cierra, it was possible.
They reached the eleventh floor of the building and Joe immediately noticed a change in the ambient energy intensity. A palpable shift in the air.
“Something’s wrong,” Joe said as he kept his back pressed to the wall, scanning the halls for activity.
“What? What’s going on?”
“They’re already here,” Joe said.
“Who’s here?”
“Your father and his people, at the end of the hall. We need to move quickly.” Joe sprinted ahead.
He held up a hand for Braedon to wait as he drew his pulse handgun and peeked around the corner. He didn’t spot anyone, but he could sense them coming.
“Stay back. They’re coming,” Joe said.
A moment later, a man and woman dressed in white lab coats came running in their direction. Their pursuers, presumably the men Arvonen sent, appeared from around the corner, closing the distance fast. Both were a head taller than Joe and wore fitted navy suits with masks over their faces.
Against Joe’s instruction, Braedon peeked around to get a look at the corridor. “We have to help them!” he pleaded.
Without hesitation, Joe used his telekinetic ability to push the masked men away. They flew backward, as if caught in invisible wind, and then collapsed on top of each other in a heap on the floor.
Braedon reached out, grabbing the female scientist as she reached out to him, her blue eyes wide with panic.
“We need to get out of here fast,” Joe said. “Any ideas?”
“I’m resourceful, remember? Follow me.” Braedon held tight to the woman’s hand as he ran to the closest stairwell.
“Thank you,” the male scientist said as he followed.
Joe groaned. “Where are we going? Those guys are going to be right behind us.” Joe dashed down the stairs behind them. While he could easily disable the pursuers, he was already close to violating the TSS code of ethics by using his telekinetic abilities to slow them down. Considering the thin ice he was treading with the TSS, he didn’t want to push his luck.
Braedon continued forward, undeterred. “We’ll get to someplace they’ll stand out and we’ll blend in.”
CHAPTER TWO
Iza was about to leave the flight deck when Trix held up her hand. “Captain, we’re receiving an incoming transmission for Cierra.”
Iza huffed, checking the local time. “Did you ping her?”
“She is not responding.”
“Fine, put it on hold,” Iza said with a sigh. “I’ll let her know. Head down to the cargo hold and I’ll meet you there.”
Cierra was a gifted Healer, but the woman was almost intolerable; she was never where she should be and she treated their everyday technology as if it contained some kind of transmittable disease. Iza jogged from the flight deck to Cierra’s cabin just beyond the infirmary doors. It only took a minute to reach it before Iza pulled back a fist and pounded on the door.
Bomaxed incense. The stuff seeped beyond the edges of the cabin door.
“Hey, open up!”
The door eased open and the musky heat that blew into her face made Iza take a step back and cough. Iza glanced inside, and through the haze she noted the abundance of plant-life and a fountain of running water that dominated the cabin. When did she accumulate so much junk? The stone fountain had an invisible water source, using engineering Iza had never seen in person before. There had to be more than a dozen plants of different varieties in shades of pink, purple, and blue accenting the green.
Iza scowled. “Really? Are you trying to turn my ship into some kind of botanical lab?”
Cierra rested a hand on her right hip, her curves accentuated by her pink body suit with a sheer overlay. As usual, she was barefoot—an enduring safety hazard on the ship—which showed off her painted pastel pink toenails. “I believe I can decorate my cabin as I see fit. If you’d like, I’d be happy to add some botanicals to the flight deck or your cabin as it does wonders for the brain energy.”
Is she insulting my brain? Iza wondered. Cierra had a tendency to be just cryptic enough to make it impossible to tell.
“No, thanks. Keep your nature inside your own cabin. Don’t think I didn’t notice what you did in the kitchen,” Iza said, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
Cierra lifted one shoulder in an apathetic shrug.
“You realize if they’re not bolted down, those pots you put everywhere could go flying,” Iza said. Not that the sheep would be safe, either, but that’s not the point.
“I’ve used a special adhesive to keep the pots from shifting, don’t worry, Captain. I will tend to them as I do all of my plants. Is there a reason for your appearance at my door, or did you only come to berate me about my choice in decor?”
Iza had to bite down on another retort. Cierra Quetzali had a tendency to get under her skin. No wonder she and Braedon fought so much; she was a haughty little thing. She doubted he’d tolerate her at all if she didn’t have the big curls, tight figure, and prominent gray eyes. Iza let out a huff and held back her remarks, allowing the annoyance to show on her face.
“You’re getting an incoming call on the flight deck. If you prefer, you can take it audio-only right here.”
“No, if I’m to use the technology I would prefer a face-to-face conference.”
“Fine.” Iza turned away from her. Is she purposely trying my patience? Iza glanced down at her handheld again. If she didn’t hurry, the client would be upset and the haul might scatter to the winds. She needed to get moving. “The call is on hold, so all you have to do when you get to the flight deck—”
“I would like for you to come with me, Captain,” Cierra said.
No, I’ve got better things to do. Like pull my hair out from the roots. Iza tried to keep the dismissiveness from her tone, “I have business to attend to.”
“This won’t take long. My parents will want to meet you, to see where I am living and with whom. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, the ship’s computer systems haven’t been behaving properly and I’m the last person to be able to fix something on the spot.” Cierra strode out of her cabin toward the flight deck.
“Appeasing your parents isn’t my responsibility.”
Cierra waved a hand. “If I break your ship, it won’t be my fault.”
Iza gl
ared at the other woman’s back while she sauntered down the corridor. No wonder Braedon can’t break free from her. She’s a master manipulator.
The last thing Iza wanted to do was listen in on a call between Cierra and her parents, especially since it took daily meditation to keep from kicking her off the ship mid-flight, but she wasn’t about to leave the flight deck unattended after Cierra made that kind of remark. Cierra’s feelings about the technology were obvious by how she lived, but if it hadn’t been clear enough, she also refused to engage with Trix. Iza didn’t expect them to be friends, but she demanded respect for Trix not only as crew but as her oldest friend. She might be an android, but Trix was a sophisticated, sentient being. Her loyalty had been tested and proven, whereas Cierra was about as helpful as a pebble underfoot.
Iza slumped into the captain’s seat while Cierra accepted the video call, touching the console like it was infected.
A man and woman matching Cierra’s dark complexion, but with graying hair and lined faces, appeared on the front display.
“Daughter, how are you? Until we received your message, we thought you were lost to the cosmos.” Her mother’s concern was evident in her cat-like eyes.
“Mama, Baba, things haven’t been as I expected. However, I am well.”
Iza listened to Cierra recount her tales and watched her father and mother sitting side-by-side engaged in the story. Behind them, a framed picture of a small cottage in a large wooded area reminded Iza of where they’d found Cierra on Leveckis. Perhaps the image served as inspiration for her living choices.
Cierra had her father’s eyes, though his were kinder and more rounded at the edges. Her mother had the curls, but she kept them tamed under a bright floral scarf wrap. Several of the curls refusing to lie down, escaping at her neck and above her ears.
“You have abandoned your home to travel the stars. That doesn’t seem like you,” her father said. His playful smile and wink charmed a smirk out of Iza. They knew her well, it seemed.
Divided Loyalties (Verity Chronicles Book 2): A Cadicle Space Opera Adventure Page 2