by Skyler Grant
“How bad is it going to get?” Quinn asked.
Tamara shrugged. “It depends. Prince Constantine has the strongest claim and most of the nobles should rally around that. His uncle Shelby is likely the one with other ideas. He’ll have resources to put up a fight, but not to win.”
Quinn rubbed at his eyes. It had been over a day since he’d gotten any sleep and he was feeling it. “I was afraid of that. Wanted to avoid the Core for that reason.”
“You shouldn’t have much to fear. You aren’t important enough. You smuggle? Can you change your transponder signal?” Tamara asked.
“Melody might be able to work something out. What did you have in mind?”
“Set yourself to being a merchant vessel out of Setonis. Duchess Olivia is going to be playing neutral in any conflict going down and is too powerful for any Imperium faction to want to upset.”
Quinn really hated taking advice from her, but when it was good advice he wasn’t so stubborn as to ignore it. Quinn opened a comm and gave the instructions to Melody.
“So are you going to tell me who is after you? What should we expect?” Quinn asked Tamara.
“If I knew, I would give you some warning, truly. Most likely mercenaries, perhaps an assassin,” Tamara said.
“You going to tell me why?”
“I wasn’t planning on it. The less you know the better, for your safety and ours.”
That wasn’t helpful, but it was perhaps true.
Quinn opened a commline again. “Dela? You said you had some piloting. Can you come to the bridge and keep an eye on the autopilot? I need a shower and some sleep.”
“Waterslide wasn’t enough for you? On the way,” Dela answered.
“Waterslide?” Tamara asked with a quirked brow.
“The less you know the better, for your safety and mine,” Quinn deadpanned. When Dela reached the bridge he gave her a few basic instructions and headed back to his cabin.
Most cabins aboard the Kathryn were fairly cramped, not so for the Captain’s quarters. A study, bedroom, and large bath gave him lots of room to sprawl out. All were cluttered, if not full-out messy, the study filled with astrogation charts and jotted notes from Quinn’s past attempts to figure out profitable trade routes missed by the big consortiums.
Quinn slipped out of his clothes and made his way into the shower, soon surrounding himself by steam and for the first time in over a day able to relax. The adventure was great, it was, but always being on the run took a lot of out the mind and body. A hot shower and a good sleep would do a lot to finally refill some reserves that had been drained.
The relief was so relaxing he missed the sound of the door to his quarters opening, although he heard the shower door sliding. Quinn spun, fist lashing out. The blow was deflected as was the knee that followed, and he was slammed against the wall of the shower.
Naked flesh, olive skin. Not an attack then, not exactly. It was Tamara who’d come to the shower and undressed for the occasion. Her form was lean, athletic and completely hairless from the shoulders down. Quinn figured her chest was just a bit on the small side, but would still make a comfortable handful. He tried not to think about that too much.
“Now, perhaps I didn’t make my views of trespassing clear enough on the bridge but …” Quinn managed to say before Tamara pushed herself against him and claimed his lips in a kiss. There was nothing exploratory about it, but raw and hungry, and she already had a hand reaching out to fondle.
Quinn pushed her back, suddenly finding it a lot harder to put his thoughts in order.
“We’re not doing this. I don’t even like you,” Quinn said.
“I don’t like you either, but I know an invitation when I hear one,” Tamara said.
“Saying I was going to take a shower is not an invitation.”
Twice, twice in one day in a predicament like this. This was why Quinn wasn’t eager to take on new crew. Taki had never wound up in his shower.
Tamara stretched her hands over her head, arching her spine as the water sluiced over her perfect physique. “Captain, we’re going to be working together for awhile and as you said, neither of us much likes each other. It’s going to be so much easier to get over our disagreements if we do get along, at least a little bit.”
“This how lawyers usually handle their disagreements? Because I’ll be honest, us criminals tend to just shoot each other,” Quinn said.
Tamara flashed him that smile. Once again Quinn was somehow convinced it was one that didn’t go deeper than her lips. “You obviously want me and you have absolutely nothing to lose here. I know it may seem a novel concept, but when a finer thing in life beckons, you should seize the opportunity.”
Quinn took a deep breath, the steam-laden air filling his lungs. Right, she’d just tried to flirt by telling him she was better than him. That made things a little easier, a little.
“It’s not going to happen. Get out of my shower,” Quinn said.
Tamara studied him through the water, arms lowering to fold over her chest. “Really? Interesting. I wonder what you’d do if I tried to compel your agreement. You do owe me a yes.”
Quinn thought it was power with her. It was all power with her, that was what this was really all about. Now that they were aboard his ship Tamara felt her power slipping and wanted to prove she still had it. Perhaps the best way to get rid of her was by convincing her she still had it.
“I’d do it. In the shower, in the bed, anywhere and everywhere until I finally got you where you’re going and I get the pleasure of kicking you off my ship. I keep my deals. You calling in your marker?” Quinn asked.
Tamara didn’t look as pleased at that as Quinn thought she would. Instead she seemed almost disappointed, and thoughtful.
“No, Captain. I think I’ll be saving that for something that matters,” Tamara said, and she leaned forward again, her breath warm against his ear before she nipped sharply at his earlobe.
That done Tamara slid the shower door opened and then frowned at the bundle of straps that made up her outfit.
Quinn shut off the water. “How long does it take you to get dressed?”
“Ninety minutes, if I do it properly, which is the entire point of doing it. The current fashion is bad for shower-based seductions,” Tamara said wryly and moved to scoop up the clothing. “I’ll not make you suffer the process and will change in my cabin.”
Quinn wondered if she meant to just go wandering the passageways of the ship naked. That was probably exactly what she meant. Core values. The Rim was a good bit less libertine.
“I don’t think anyone aboard even appreciates your gear. Got anything else to wear?” Quinn asked.
“I don’t know if you had the displeasure of browsing a clothing store on Corono. I did. I do not,” Tamara said.
Fantastic, she was too tall for anything of Taki’s and Melody didn’t have much that wasn’t overalls.
Quinn hated it, but they weren’t doing any good. Stepping out of the bathroom he made his way over to one of the closets and opened it.
“You can find yourself something. They’ll be close to fitting you,”
Tamara was surprised. “Kathryn’s? I shouldn’t.”
No, she really shouldn’t—and Quinn shouldn’t even be offering.
“You’re not wandering through my ship naked. Put some clothes on, take an outfit or two extra, and get out,” Quinn said, throwing himself into the bed.
12
Quinn woke up to the feel of a boot on his groin. Fantastic.
“Tamara, I’m really not in the mood for more of this game,” Quinn said.
“Wrong girl, stud,” said an unfamiliar voice. Quinn’s eyes flickered open.
Definitely the wrong girl. The one with her boot so indelicately placed was dressed in form-fitting body armor and had a rifle pointed at his chest. Green skin meant she wasn’t human, although she was something close. Pretty though, in a murderous way, with long white hair that came down almost to her waist.
“Well, you didn’t tell me your name before getting intimate,” Quinn said.
“Kara, you won’t need to remember that. I’m not after you, Captain. You picked up some passengers on Corono. I just need to take them off your hands. Help me to do that and you and your crappy little ship can go on your way.”
“Don’t even like them. Can’t see us having a problem. You want to move your foot and let me get dressed? Then we can go find them,” Quinn said.
Kara moved her boot clear and stepped back. “Shame to ruin the view, but I like a sensible man.”
Quinn seized the moment to reach under his pillow where he kept a loaded pistol for just such situations like this. It wasn’t there.
There was a buzz as Kara discharged her rifle. The blast took him in the chest like a kick and drove him into the mattress, knocking the wind out of him.
“Now, that was the low setting. I was being sociable. Next time it will break a few ribs. Of course I took your gun away,” Kara said.
Quinn was a bit too busy gasping for breath to make any sort of reply. He did do the next best thing he could do though. Quinn had a comm panel by the bed. By default it was set to the whole ship as he never knew where Taki or Cass might be. Unseen by Kara, with his foot he toggled it on and set it to broadcast.
“I’m waiting,” Kara said.
Quinn pushed himself off the bed, limped over to the closet and started to get dressed. When able he asked, “What do you want them for? Tamara and Jinx? They haven’t told me anything about their business.”
“To be honest? I don’t have a clue. I overheard someone was offering four hundred bits for taking a head and gave a description of your ship. Wasn’t even thinking of taking the job, but I left Semara station and took the long way out-system and here you are,” Kara said. “A happy coincidence.”
Well, if Quinn was going to be taken captive at least she was a chatty bounty hunter. That was rare, too rare. Giving away details tended to mean lower life expectancy—for him.
“Know who offered the contract?” Quinn asked.
“Not splitting it with you, Captain, and you aren’t killing me and cutting me out. Just lead us to my target and you get to live. It’s a good deal for you.”
“I’m not actually going to take you to them, you know that. I’ve just been buying time for them to get away,” Quinn said.
“Figured, but I like the chase before the kill. Nobody is paying me for you though. Get in my way, I make this bloody.”
The door to Quinn’s quarters was kicked in and several shots rang out. Kara was flung backwards, the scent of ozone in the air, and her gun buzzed in return. Quinn could just glimpse Taki, still bandaged up, being thrown back from the doorway to crash against the far wall.
Kara was crouched, gun lowered. Quinn wasn’t going to get a better chance. He charged and swung a fist into her face. Her head snapped sideways at the impact and her arm came up to knock him across the room. Strong, really strong.
Kara wiped black blood from a split lip, the wound already looking as if it were closing. “I’m a Yek, Captain. Famed mercenaries? Rapid healing? Strong?”
“Never heard of you,” Quinn said, from the floor. It was true, he really hadn’t.
Tamara stepped through the doorway with her arms raised high in surrender. She was wearing a black dress. It had been one of Kathryn’s favorites. “They’re almost never seen outside of the third arm. The Imperium lost a minor war to them, and they don’t like to go advertising the fact.”
Quinn was so ready for this day to be over. He said, “The whole point of warning you was so you could board a shuttle and get away. What part of you my being a distraction did you not understand?”
“She’s not my target,” Kara said, looking Tamara up and down, “Though I might take her head anyways. Kind of sets your teeth on edge, don’t she? Just irritating.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Quinn said, as he shakily pushed himself to his feet.
Tamara said, “I understand people. I didn’t understand the captain there at first, I do now. He’s simple. You’re even simpler, mercenary.”
“Real irritating,” Kara said.
Tamara raised one hand a little more. “It was four hundred for my client’s head? I’ll give you six hundred for providing us protection to our destination.”
Kara kept her rifle aimed in Tamara’s general direction, but Quinn noted that it did lower slightly.
“You think I’m that easy to buy after looking at me thirty seconds?” Kara asked.
“I have data core access. I know you, Kara Yek. I know every contract you’ve ever taken and I know every crime you’ve ever committed. I know the very worst parts of you. Seven hundred bits and the possibility of a long-term contract,” Tamara said, and slowly lowered her hands.
Quinn could read people too. The money interested Kara, it did, but it was that last part that sold it. Quinn didn’t know why, but it had.
“How do I know you’re good for it?” Kara asked.
Tamara now dropped her hands completely and tapped below her ear. She seemed to focus on nothing for a moment. “Deposit transferred. Standard contract, half funds up front. We’re good?”
Kara tilted her head and the rifle dropped. “We’re good. I’ll be needing a bed, Captain.”
“She was going to kill you, and she was going to kill me, remember?” Quinn said.
“You can follow me, cabin next to ours is empty. Jinx? Taki is injured in the hall and probably has some bruised ribs. Could you have a look?” Tamara asked. Of course, the comm was still open broadcasting throughout the ship.
“How did you even get aboard?” Quinn asked Kara.
“Oh, my shuttle is parked beneath you. Cut my way through with a plasma torch. You’ll be wanting to fix that and I’ll be needing a proper dock. Looks like you had one open?” Kara said.
Jinx was already in the hall outside and kneeling beside Taki. Melody was there too, pistol awkwardly in hand.
Melody said, “I can fix that. Your shuttle’s only small, and we’ve got an open bay we can tuck you into. I’ll clear you for access.”
This was all moving very fast. Quinn was used to situations changing quickly, but not on his ship without his say-so.
Tamara said, “Perfect. Kara, you can wait out in the hall for a minute. I just need a private word with the captain. Captain, you can kill the comm.”
The hubbub of voices in the hall became muted as the door was closed. Quinn hit the switch offering some more privacy.
“That was quick thinking, Captain. Thank you for not giving us up,” Tamara said.
“See, I surprised you. You don’t know me at all,” Quinn said.
Tamara looked wry. “I wasn’t waiting until the very last moment on that hellhole because I wanted an unreliable captain to hire. No, there was never any question that once you took the deal you’d honor it. It doesn’t mean I am not appreciative of the fact.”
“Do you think you can trust her?”
“Kara Yek? I know her as I know you. You’ll find her utterly ruthless when it comes to a contract. Had our enemies hired her directly I’d be dead now—there is a good chance everyone on this ship would be. They hadn’t, I did instead,” Tamara said.
“You think you’re so smart,” Quinn said.
“Captain, since we’ve met I’ve fixed two problems that ailed you with nothing but my mind, my words, and my money. I am very smart and if you are even a fraction as intelligent, you’ll start appreciating it and stop being intimidated by it,” Tamara said.
Quinn’s ribs hurt, his groin hurt, and Tamara was still wearing Kathryn’s dress.
“Thank you for your help,” Quinn said.
Tamara nodded. “Was that so hard? I know you’d planned to put in at Semara station, but from what she said …”
“That’s where she overheard the message. Every mercenary aboard Semara is going to be gunning for us. I got it. We’ve got enough for one more jump and I know just
where to take us,” Quinn said.
“Then I’d best go show our new guest to her quarters. Good night, Captain,” Tamara said, sweeping from the room.
13
Quinn, still short of sleep, gathered the crew and passengers for an early breakfast. Back in the days of the First Imperium when the Kathryn had been a long-haul freighter, she also provided a small passenger service. The extended trips demanded good quarters and facilities. Most of the more elegant areas were in long disrepair, but the kitchen and pantry had been maintained. Proper meals weren’t just a possibility, they were the norm.
Melody was happily cooking up omelets. There was clusters of their new arrivals gathered around talking and he sought out Taki.
“You doing okay? We haven’t really had a chance to talk,” Quinn said.
“Yesterday was a rough day, sir. I thought I’d broken my ribs when our guest shot me, but that girl Jinx took me to the med station and we ran a scan, I’m good. You think we can trust her? Don’t even know which her I mean, take your pick,” Taki said.
Quinn was kind of happy he wasn’t the only one suspicious about all the new arrivals. Paranoia is no fun when you’re the only one indulging.
“Tamara and Jinx are obviously trouble, but they got you free and are paying to be irritating. We’ll get them where we’re going. Monk, we’re just dropping off at our next port, although Dela is staying on. One that shot you I figure you shot first. Hoping we can avoid any more of that,” Quinn said.
Taki grunted.
Everybody took their seats at the table.
Quinn announced, “Mealtimes are a usual thing aboard our ship here. You don’t have to show, but you’re encouraged to. If we’ve something affecting the ship I’ll usually discuss it here.”
“Before the captain goes too far into business I’d like to speak up and just ask how everyone is settling in?” Taki asked.
“Some showers aboard seem to have a shortage of hot water,” Tamara said.