by JC Cassels
Royce’s mouth twisted in a grimace. “I’m a little busy right now, Galen…”
Galen forced a bland smile. “Sorry to inconvenience you, Royce,” he said. “The diplomatic pouch is ready. I need you to deliver it to her and pick up her Ostra message.”
“No can do,” Royce said. “Hang on…”
The image swung crazily as Royce pressed his com-set against his chest, blacking out the visual. Blaster fire barked across the speakers, followed by muffled voices shouting commands and footsteps pounding across rocks and gravel.
“Fall back and regroup!”
Galen tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, chafing at the delay.
“I can always call back later,” Galen said.
The image shifted as Royce swung his com-set around once more. “It won’t do you any good,” he said. “Look, I’m tied up here for a while. Send Jaden or go yourself…and tell her I said happy birthday. Royce out.”
The sound of heavy machinery creaking and grinding closer roared over the speakers before cutting off abruptly, leaving the office silent once more save for the storm outside.
“Arrogant prick.”
Royce never failed to rattle his calm. Even as a child he’d had that smug superiority that marked the Daecus-born. Bo’s father Brhuic had it, too.
He glared at the package. Leave it to Royce to upset his plans. He hated to involve Jaden in this delivery. He’d been so careful to make all the signs point to Royce. Galen sighed in resignation. It couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t delay the delivery. He needed the Ostra message to go out on schedule or the people would begin to doubt his ability to manage things. Before he could talk himself out of it, he sent a message summoning his son.
***
“You look like a dominatrix.” Tese wrinkled her nose. “Really, Marissa, black is nobody’s color.”
“I think she looks stunning,” Gena said, “all slinky and dangerous.”
Bo rolled her eyes and stepped onto the flight deck. “It’s a spacer’s suit,” she said. “It’s comfortable. It’s warm.”
“It hugs your curves like an outer skin,” Tese said. “There’s a fine line between Kiara and Skyhopper. Kiara are always elegantly sexy. That,” she pointed at Bo’s outfit, “crosses the line.”
“I’m not sure about that jacket, though.” Gena tapped her lips with a well-manicured finger. “It’s too…”
“Paramilitary?” Bo supplied, edging past them to the controls.
Tese hummed. “The heels on her boots need to be higher.”
“No, they don’t.” Bo shook her head. “I’d break my neck.”
“Silly Bo,” Gena laughed. “You’d break your ankle first!”
“I saw a lovely pair of heels that…”
“No!” Bo’s eyes narrowed. “Look, I appreciate the advice, but the suit is practical for what I do. I’m not a Joy Babe. I’m a pilot. I’m a hired gun. I’m a smuggler. I take the odd recovery job. The jacket fits over my weapons and it has enough pockets to hold extra equipment. It’s out of the way of my blaster.” With a sweep of her hand she drew their attention to the Capre X2S Mergent Arms blaster pistol strapped low on her thigh.
“I still say you look like you’re trying to service the fetish crowd.”
A throaty, knowing laugh burst from Gena’s lips. “I’ll bet that yummy bad boy of hers loves it.”
Just a vague mention of Blade caused her stomach to lurch sideways. Bo dropped into the pilot’s seat, not bothering with g-locks. “Don’t you two ever think about anything but clothes and sex?” she snapped.
Bo winced at her tone and glanced over her shoulder at her cousins. Tese sat stiffly, her chin held high. She was the very picture of poise, save for the slight pout to her lips. Kiara were too well-trained to show displeasure or hurt. She looked at Gena, who watched her in guarded silence.
“I’m sorry,” Bo said with a small sigh. “I just…” Shaking her head, she turned back to the controls with a frustrated growl. “Men!”
Gena leaned over and rested her hand gently on Bo’s shoulder. “I didn’t think you were upset with us. I think we sometimes forget that you weren’t brought up like we were. You’re in love with him.”
“No,” Tese said. “She’s not... Ohhh… You are in love with him!” She tsked. “That’s very bad. You’re not supposed to fall in love with them! That’s Aunt Misou’s first, cardinal rule!”
“What happened?” Gena asked, her tone soft and sympathetic.
Bo shrugged, sorry that she’d let it slip. “It’s nothing.”
“Obviously it’s something or you wouldn’t be so upset,” Tese said.
With a long-suffering sigh, Bo shook her head. Her cousins would worry her over this until she gave in. She wasn’t strong enough to fight them over it and, who knows? Talking might actually help. They obviously had more experience with men and relationships than she did. Her shoulders sagged as she surrendered to the inevitable.
“It’s my own fault,” she said. “Aunt Misou warned me not to let myself get emotionally attached to him. The bad boys just like to play.” Tears stung her eyes. She blinked them impatiently away. “I care about him way more than he cares for me.” Clenching her lips tightly together, Bo swallowed back the tears, nodding to herself. “He didn’t want me to have anything to do with his recovery. His brother, that IC agent and I were all fighting over where to take him. I told him I’d take him wherever he wanted to go and he completely blew me off. He ended up going off to Kah Lahtrec with some strange little man who came in with some bizarre story. I even offered to take him there, but he let me know in no uncertain terms that my presence was neither required nor desired.” She drew a deep breath and blew it out quickly. “So I’m…I know where I stand now.”
Forcing a bright smile, she met her cousins’ stares. Tese’s eyes filled with concern, Gena’s with compassion.
“You’re heartbroken,” Tese said.
Bo squared her shoulders and turned back to the ship’s control panel. “I’ll survive,” she said brusquely.
Gena’s arms went around her shoulders in a quick hug before she settled back into her seat. “What are you going to do?”
“Look, I’ll be fine,” Bo said. “I’m not the first woman to give her heart to the wrong man. I doubt I’ll be the last. At least now I know that he’s just not as…involved in this relationship as I am.” She shrugged again. “It’s just as well. I’m The Barron and he’s just an actor. I still don’t understand whatever possessed Aunt Misou to approve a contract with him anyway. It’s beneath the dignity of the Kiara D’or Choh.”
“Lord Marin contacted her personally and requested it,” Tese said. “I took the call myself.”
“Well he’s still nobody from nowhere!” Bo favored her cousins with a challenging glare, silently daring them to argue.
A wicked smile curved Gena’s lips. “Ah, but he is a beautiful nobody.”
Tese’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You can bet I’ll be fantasizing about him the next time I contract with the Doge of Kesai.”
Gena’s nose wrinkled. “Don’t tell me you’re actually taking contracts with that disgusting misogynist.”
Tese leaned back in her seat and fingered the glittering jewels around her neck. “The Doge gives such lovely gifts. Fantasies of Chase netted me this little trinket.”
“Will you keep seeing Blade?”
“I don’t know,” Bo said. “There’s a huge bounty on my head and he’s not interested in turning me in for it.”
“That’s worth something,” Gena said.
More than Bo was willing to admit, even to herself.
“Honestly, Marissa,” Tese said, “if you can regard this as purely a business arrangement, I think you’ll agree that you both benefit from it. That’s the Kiara way.”
***
Bo was still turning over Tese’s words hours after her cousins had left her on Chiron Station. She absently rocked her mug of Gallis Rye, swirling the amber
liquid around.
“I haven’t seen a face like that since you ended your first long distance flight by crashing into Mr. Pavo’s ground cruiser.” Jaden tossed a brown satchel on the table in front of her. It landed with a distinct thud.
Bo’s lips twitched at the memory. “It was a flawless flight.”
“Not if you flubbed the landing.” He grinned, leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Happy birthday, gorgeous.”
Unable to resist her cousin’s infectious good humor, Bo climbed to her feet for a proper greeting. Jaden swept her up in a tight hug, lifting her off her feet.
“Maker, it’s so good to see you,” he said.
Bo closed her eyes and tightened her hold on him. “You have no idea.”
For a little while she could shut out the persistent vibrations of the station. With the low drone of voices speaking Gallic all around them, the familiar smells of Mondhuic cooking wafting out from the kitchen, and her arms wrapped around her cousin’s broad shoulders, she could forget the isolation and pain of exile. Bo lost herself in the moment, clinging to her best friend and partner in crime.
“I wish I could make these deliveries more often,” Jaden said softly.
“So do I.”
Bo lifted her head and leaned back for a better look at him. Jaden eased his hold on her until her feet touched the floor tiles once more, but he didn’t release her. Beaming at her with unfeigned delight, he studied her face.
“You look great,” he said. “You get more beautiful every time I see you.”
Tears stung her eyes. “No, I don’t. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
He assumed a look of mock indignation. She chuckled and ducked her head. Then she tried to step back, but he took hold of both her hands and pulled her to the chair she’d recently abandoned.
“I’ve seen you look happier,” he said, holding the chair for her. “What’s wrong, Bo?” Once she was settled, he dropped into the chair beside her. “You know, aside from the obvious fact that you’re homesick as hell.”
“Does it show?”
He leaned back and lifted his eyebrows in silent question. She sighed.
“Of course it shows,” she said, answering her own question. “I never could keep anything from you.”
“Mostly because I was just as deep into whatever it was as you were.”
Bo was spared from replying by the approach of the server to take their order.
Mondhuic establishments typically eschewed mechanized servers. The hard-drinking Mondhuic spacers tended to be difficult to manage, and serving mechs usually ended up damaged beyond repair. In the long run, it was cheaper to pay for the staff to do the same job. Sentient staff at least knew when to duck. The young woman waiting on them looked them over as she introduced herself. Her sharp brown eyes lit with recognition.
“Barron…” she said softly.
Bo slowly lifted her gaze to the young server, her hand closed around the grip of her Capre.
The girl looked to Jaden and swallowed hard. “Regent.” She looked nervously around the restaurant and licked her suddenly dry lips. She bobbed a quick and awkward curtsy.
“Good Ostra, Barron,” she said.
“Good Ostra,” Bo replied.
Jaden’s eyes gleamed with impish glee. “Could you bring us a couple of Gallis Ryes, please?”
Bo had to admire the young woman’s professionalism as she nodded and snapped back to the task-at-hand.
“Yes, sir,” she said. “Will there be anything else?”
“Not at the moment,” Bo said.
With a smile, the server keyed in their order and slipped quickly away.
Rubbing her hand absently over the grip of her blaster, Bo shook her head over her cousin’s obvious enjoyment of the situation. “This is why I don’t like to do these exchanges in Mondhuic businesses.”
Jaden laughed. “Because you get recognized?”
Bo shifted in her seat. “The Commonwealth is a big place. I’d rather be anonymous whenever possible.”
Shaking his head, Jaden covered her hand with his own. Bo stared at his long slender fingers, unmarred by calluses or scars.
“Our people love you,” he said. “You’ve missed the past two Ostra celebrations. It’s always been a big deal for you and for them…for us. You need to mix with your people every now and then, Bo. We need you. I need you.”
Bo jerked her hand away as if burned. “Don’t.” Her brow furrowed.
Jaden withdrew his hands and leaned back in his seat. “Alright, young lady,” he said. “What’s eating you alive?”
Bo sighed. “Man trouble.”
The server returned with their drinks. When they were alone once more, Jaden nudged the diplomatic pouch towards her.
“Here, maybe this will cheer you up.”
Bo eyed the brown satchel. “Budgets, bills, proposals, treaties, deployment requests…” she shook her head. “How is all that supposed to cheer me up?”
He grinned. “It’s not all agendas and shortfalls,” he said. “Some of it is citations of non-compliance with Commonwealth regs, boycotts and sanctions.”
“Hooray. I may have to shoot myself if things get any better.”
“You can’t do that,” Jaden said. “It’s against the law.”
Bo glared at him and reached for the satchel. The lock sprang open at her touch and she brushed the restraining strap aside.
“What’s got you so cheerful?” she growled.
Jaden shrugged. “Let’s just say that Father is starting to mellow in his old age.”
Bo peered into the pouch. A gaily-wrapped package sat atop the missives and diplomatic reports. Her hand stilled. She lifted her gaze.
Jaden’s eyes crinkled with his merry grin. “Good Ostra, Bo.”
“Ostra sweets?”
He nodded. “We didn’t see any reason for you to miss out on the sweets even if Royce wasn’t able to meet you.” He reached into his pocket and passed over a datacard. “Royce sent me this after I was en route,” he said. “He wanted me to give it to you.”
Bo picked up the data card and turned it over in her hand, studying it. “What is this?”
Jaden shrugged. “Schematics for a new asoning injector system. Royce said you were having trouble with them phasing with your hyperdrive. He found someone to take a look at your system and come up with a solution to your problems. He said to tell you this should improve your performance by twenty-three percent.”
“Twenty-three percent, eh?” Bo studied the data card.
Her asoning injectors were fine. For some reason, Royce didn’t want Jaden to know about whatever was really on the data card. Interesting. Why would Royce suddenly not trust Jaden?
Bo looked past the card and met Jaden’s stare. Nothing in his demeanor gave her any reason to doubt his sincerity, but there was no denying the subtle warning in Royce’s message. Bo forced herself to smile as though nothing were wrong. She tucked the card away into one of the secured pouches on her gunbelt.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll take a look at it when I’m underway.”
“Good plan,” Jaden said. “There’s no sense checking it out until you’re running them.” He gestured towards the diplomatic pouch. “And don’t worry about having to share the sweets. I’ve been threatened with dire consequences if I take any. Father says I get more than enough whenever I want them. I’m to leave them to you and tell you that you are not obligated to share. After all, it’s your birthday, not mine.”
Bo smiled. “Galen must be mellowing,” she said. “I can remember a time he wouldn’t let us have any at all. Keri had to sneak them to us.”
“She snuck them to you,” Jaden grinned. “The only reason I got any was due entirely to your generous heart.”
He lifted his glass in salute. “Here’s to your generous heart, Barron. May it continue beating for your people for many decades to come.”
Bo touched her glass to his and took a small sip. The smell of the drink
caused her stomach to lurch in protest. Unable to prevent herself from making a face, she set the drink back down.
“What’s wrong?”
With a small shrug she closed up the diplomatic pouch and pulled it across the table to her. “Just feeling a little queasy lately, that’s all”
Jaden’s expression closed and he studied the tabletop for a long moment. Clearing his throat, he traced the swirling pattern with his fingertips. “You’re not breeding with that IC agent, are you?” He glanced up at her.
Bo shook her head. “I don’t believe so.”
He sighed. “Just be careful, Bo. Too many offworlders don’t understand we mate for keeps.” Concern shadowed his eyes.
Bo pushed away from the table and rose, taking the diplomatic pouch with her. “Don’t worry about that,” she said. “I know the score where he’s concerned. I’m in no danger of losing my head over him.”
“It’s not your head I’m worried about,” Jaden said. “If you bond with him, you breed with him. Once you do that, you’re imprinted for life.”
A lopsided smile twisted her lips. “I’m only half Mondhuic,” she said. “I may have more of my mother in me than you realize.”
***
Bo keyed in the jump coordinates for Altair and engaged the hyperdrive. Outside the forward screens, the stars shimmered and stretched like a fireworks display as Sundance made the transition from realspace into hyperspace. From here, the navicomputer would take care of the minute course corrections.
Reaching into her belt pouch, she fished out the data card from Royce.
“Sundance?”
“Yes, Commander?”
“How are your asoning injectors?”
“The asoning injector system is functioning within desired parameters.”
Bo nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”