by Eve Langlais
“What? No!” Lylyth turned a panicked gaze in Wulff’s direction. “Let’s not be hasty. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“No, we’ve been business associates,” Wulff corrected. “I pay you for a service, and you deliver what I’ve contracted. Except for this time.” He pointed to the cog he’d tossed aside. “While the glyphs are accurate, that is not the original. Where is it?”
“I don’t know what you mean. That’s what they sold me.”
Ursy pulled on the trigger and sheared off a lock of hair by Lylyth’s ear. “That is your only warning. Speak the truth or the next one is going to laser off one breast at a time until you tell us everything.”
“There’s nothing to tell. I don’t have it. I swear. Someone else bought it before I could.”
“How did you get the copy?” Wulff asked.
“The buyer found out I was interested and wanted to know why.”
“So you told them.”
“If it is any consolation, I demanded a high price for my information.”
“Betrayal should never be cheap,” Wulff agreed.
“When I said I was acting as a broker for someone else who wanted that specific gear, they provided me with multi-dimensional imaging that I might make a copy.”
“Why bother? They must have known we’d spot the fake.” Wulff’s statement brought a frown to Ursy’s face.
Why bother indeed?
“Because it was a stalling tactic,” Ursy exclaimed. “Lylyth wanted to stall us here.”
Wulff’s gaze narrowed with menace, a good look for him. “Who are you holding us for? The other buyer?”
She snorted. “Please. Once I realized how valuable the new gear was, I had her taken into custody. By now, she’ll have been sold. For a hefty sum I hope.”
“And the gear?”
Lylyth’s lips curved. “Already sold to a collector who paid even more than the original buyer. These new gears have something special about them.”
Ursy could have cursed at the avarice in Lylyth’s gaze. “They’re only valuable to the Siyborgh.”
“I don’t know if that’s true anymore. Rumor has it Earthlings can use them, too. Which means there must be others who can as well. More buyers.” Lylyth’s greed spewed in her words, and Wulff growled.
“I walked right into a bloody trap. I blame you,” he snapped at Ursy.
“Me? I’m not the one who chose a whore as a business partner.”
“Courtesan!” shrieked Lylyth.
“Are you happy? She frukxed me.”
“I wish,” purred Lylyth, her moods mercurial in nature.
“How long before your reinforcements arrive?” Ursy asked. Because doubtful Lylyth would go after someone like Wulff without a tiny army. And if she had any kind of inkling of Ursy’s reputation…
“And this is why you never go anywhere without a gun.” Wulff already held one in his hand. He also activated the weapon built into his trench coat. He had some nice toys. Ursy tended to rely more on luck and pure stubborn anger.
Speaking of anger… Ursy aimed her blaster. “Call off your guards.”
“Or what?” Lylyth focused sharply on them finally, making Ursy wonder if all her different moods had been just a disarming act. “You’re not the one with the power right now. I am. Might as well give me what I want. Maybe I’ll be lenient if you’re nice to me.” The lick of the lips didn’t appear to impress Wulff.
He shoved his hand into his pocket and regarded her with a dead gaze. “You really shouldn’t have double-crossed me.”
“It’s business, dahling.” She angled her chin. “You understand how it is.”
“I do,” Wulff claimed. “Which means you won’t take this personal.”
He shot Lylyth between the eyes.
6
“Suffer not an infidel taking thy gear, for only the blessed Siyborgh are the chosen ones.” – The Mighty Mecha Bible
“I can’t believe you killed her!” Ursy exclaimed.
“What else should I have done? She turned on us.” He didn’t holster his weapon. He had a feeling they might have to fight their way out.
She snorted. “And you were worried about me starting trouble first.”
“If you’re going to do it, then at least do it right.” The cocky grin went well with his statement.
“Couldn’t you have just knocked her out? It might have bought us more time.”
“Wouldn’t have helped. She already called in the muscle.” Wulff rolled his eyes as he paced the room, looking for another exit.
“It matters because we could have used her as a shield to escape,” Ursy snapped.
“You? Hide behind something?” he mocked, feigning shock.
“Not all of us are stupid. We are four levels high into this place, making us too far from my ship.”
He peeked into the hall, heard the tromp of approaching boots, and saw the flickering of shadows in the stairwell. Company! He quickly withdrew before anyone noticed him. “Save the harangue for later. We just ran out of time.”
The warning brought another heated glare. “Got any suggestions?”
“Actually, I do.” He grinned. “How do you feel about heights?” He beckoned her closer.
“I’m not Zak if that’s what you’re wondering. I don’t faint.”
“Good, because we’re leaving via the roof.”
“Roof? What roof? We’re inside a space station,” she remarked as she joined him at the door.
“Use your head. Roof as in the top level of this place. We need to get outside.”
“Won’t that put us farther from my ship?” she asked, standing at his back as he glanced out the door again.
Lylyth must have cautioned her guards because they didn’t come rushing into the hall. Perhaps they waited for a signal. They would wait a long time. He didn’t miss when he shot her.
“How about we deal with that once we escape this rusty frukx of a situation?”
“Exactly how do you plan to escape? Those are the only stairs.” She pointed with a gun that he knew she wouldn’t hesitate to use.
Problem was the enemy would be shooting as well.
He walked farther up the hall. “There is another exit on this floor.”
“No there isn’t. I studied the plans.”
An eyeball appeared at the top of the stairs. The waving eyestalk acted as a telescopic scout. She shot it, spattering goo all over and startling yells from those following the now dead eyeball.
“Might want to hurry and find that other exit,” she muttered. “Unless you changed your mind about saying hello to the company.”
“I’d prefer to not spend the next few cogs listening to you complain if you get shot because I visited my whore,” he exclaimed in what he thought was a perfect parody of her voice.
“Well, we are here because of your two-timing slut. And how is that working for you?”
“About as well as your jealous fit is doing in your case.”
“I didn’t come because of jealousy,” she growled, taking aim and disintegrating the next two body parts that appeared. Given how much it taxed the battery in her blaster, they couldn’t count on too many more charges.
“More like greed and distrust. You thought I was going to double-cross you.”
Her lips flattened as he slapped the wall, his hand palming the tapestry depicting a vulva lined in teeth. He pulled it aside to show a narrow cylinder large enough for a few bodies if they squished together.
“I am not getting in there.”
“Scared of a coffin-like tube that is going to shoot us into space?”
“Yes,” she snapped, turning and laying down a line of fire, literally, the setting on her blaster igniting the carpet at the far end of the hall. “I’d rather not die trapped in a little box.”
“Would it help if I said I’ve done this before?”
“Have you?”
As the army in the stairs finally mustered their courage and charged up th
e final steps, holding in place a massive reflective shield, he dragged her close and stepped into the tube. Just before it sealed them in, he saw the lasering bright light from weapons streaking at them.
He murmured, “Nope. This is my first time.”
“Then how do you know we won’t die?” She struggled, her fear almost palpable. Knowing Ursy, she would prefer to face off against an armed force than shoot into space via an emergency cannon.
“We can’t die because you’ll need to be alive to slap me for this.” He did the unthinkable. The only thing he could think of before she ruined his plan. Before they possibly died.
He kissed her.
Kissed her good while the tube sealed shut around them and then shot them into space. Not that he noticed their barreling speed because what turned out as a way to make her angry enough to ignore their situation turned into a heated embrace that screamed one thing very clearly.
I’m in so much trouble.
And that trouble doubled when they reached the end of the chute and were ejected, encased in a foamy bubble that popped free of the station.
Ursy pulled away from him and stared. Then scowled. “What was that for?”
“Fun.”
Her lips pursed. “Maybe for you. Now I feel a need to decontaminate my mouth. I know where you’ve been.”
He couldn’t help but wink. “Jealousy suits you.”
The fist to his gut didn’t change his mind. Ursy growled then muttered, “What now, Woofy? Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but we are floating in space.”
“We are also alive with no extra holes in our bodies.”
“Who needs a hole when we can drift aimlessly until we freeze to death.” Her sarcasm was thick.
“We’ll run out of air well before that,” he explained.
She glared.
He basked in the warmth, especially needed given the creeping chill.
“You got us here. I’m assuming you have a plan?”
“Once we get back to the station, we make a run to your ship.”
“And how do you propose we do that? I don’t exactly see a steering wheel in here.” She arched a brow, and he was tempted to see what happened if he kissed her again.
He’d probably lose a lip, maybe a few teeth, but it might be worth the pain.
“Don’t need one to be towed by a tractor beam.”
He no sooner spoke than their floating bubble jolted and began moving, fast enough that she stumbled into him. He steadied her with an arm around her waist.
“How is returning a good plan?” she grumbled, yet didn’t push out of his hold.
“Because those manning the beam probably think we are playing around with the rescue pod system. Happens all the time is my understanding. People enjoy the cheap thrill, until they get the bill for messing around with emergency services.”
“You’re paying for it,” she quickly stated.
“Half of this rescue is for you.”
“Only because you wouldn’t let me stay behind and fight. You coerced me.” A sassy retort. It only made the urge to kiss her again stronger.
“I would rather listen to you whine because I had the better plan than have to get on my knees so your brother can kill me for not keeping his sister safe.”
“So you kidnapped me for Zak?” For some reason she appeared very angry.
“Well, you are like a little sister to me, too,” he claimed. Lied. Frukx, he saved her because anything less was impossible.
“You are not my brother. I hate you.”
“You know what they say about hate,” he said as there was another jostle and the bubble entered an airlock for pressurization.
“Yeah, it makes killing easier.” She turned from him, and he noticed her hand gripping the pommel of her blaster tight. “Those guards probably reported us for killing Lylyth.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on how well she was liked.”
“Someone important like her? It’ll be noticed.”
“Not necessarily. I planted a scrambler after she died.” Which meant no signals could escape the vicinity and give warning.
“After. Would have helped if you’d done that the minute you walked into the room.”
“Are you going to keep spinning that particular cog, or can we concentrate on the situation at hand?”
Their escape pod shook as the room evened out the pressure and readied their capsule for popping.
Ursy chewed her lower lip. “One thing doesn’t make sense. Why didn’t Lylyth disarm you? She had to know you’d kill her once you realized she betrayed you.”
“Would she? Her arrogance is fairly legendary.”
“Which means she wouldn’t have lived this long unless she was savvy.” Ursy continued to frown.
He shrugged. “Perhaps she thought she could string things out for longer, but then you arrived and threw her plans for a loop.”
She shook her head and uttered a snort of disgust. “A good thing, too. Males. Always underestimating us. When will you grasp we’re smarter and more capable than you?”
“My fault for expecting her to have the same code of honor as you.” He threw the compliment and met her startled gaze. “Guess I was wrong.”
Before she could retort, the bubble burst and they were surrounded by guns.
“Guess they know about Lylyth,” she grumbled.
There were marched from the airlock out into a larger receiving area where their multi-armed greeter awaited.
“One rule!” the alien said, snapping the fingers on his speaking hand. “Don’t kill. There are three dead! Three!” All the hands held up three digits.
“He did it.” Ursy pointed at him.
Wulff almost snorted. “Yeah, it was me.” He didn’t mind taking the credit. It would add to his reputation. Although, when he caught up with Ursy, she’d be due some kind of punishment. Maybe another kiss…
“Since you’re only crime is consorting with a killer, you may leave.” The greeter stepped aside and gestured with three arms for Ursy to depart.
She chewed her lip. “What are you going to do with him?”
“He is going to a cell for the moment until we can arrange a public execution for the heirs of those he murdered.”
“I don’t suppose it matters she double-crossed us and those guards shot first?” She made an attempt to help.
He could have told her not to bother. Short of bribing the frukx out of everyone, Wulff would be going to jail.
“Leave or join him in execution. Your choice.” The greeter held three arms pointing the way out, three at Wulff.
She cast him one last enigmatic glance before slouching off. Hopefully she’d remain out of trouble on her way to the ship and get out of this place before things got really complicated.
Wulff behaved himself as the many, many soldiers marched him off to the detention center. In short order, Wulff found himself in a cell with little to recommend it and very little time. While the guards had stripped him of his utility belt and weapons, they’d left the tiny cog in his pocket, either overlooking it or thinking it was a worthless piece of junk.
But he knew better, which was why he found a jagged edge of metal in his cell and ripped open the skin on the pad of his thumb. As soon as the blood welled in the cut, he shoved the small chunk of metal against it. The latmevilium reacted immediately, humming as if excited, merging with his skin while emitting a pleasant sort of heat.
Some claimed taking gears hurt. And some of them did. The larger ones especially. However this tiny piece of the God Gear? The prick of pain was also pleasure. He’d taken one step closer to becoming a god.
Ursy would be peeved because bonded gears couldn’t always be separated from their owners. Even those that were, sometimes weren’t usable after. However he’d rather not hand it over to whoever orchestrated this bogus arrest—okay, maybe not so bogus given he’d shot Lylyth. Bonding with it was better than giving it away.
Of course, they planned to kill him, after which
they’d probably harvest his gears. He needed to escape before that happened.
The tip of his thumb tingled, and he looked down to see the tiny cog had already almost completely submerged. That was fast. Most pieces took time to truly bond. Perhaps the small size made it easier.
He didn’t feel any different yet. No sudden burst of intelligence, speed, or strength. Could be the cog needed others from the god gear to activate.
From behind his electrified bars he had no problem hearing the approaching steps of the guards. They came into view, large and carapace-covered, their arms as sharp as blades. He’d once seen a Jusbtl decapitate a very thick-necked Ergo just by crossing his arms.
The Jusbtl guards accompanied someone in a cloak that swathed them head to toe…at least he assumed they had a head and toes. The general shape suggested it even if he could see nothing.
“Leave.” The feminine voice brought a frown.
But remained quiet until the guards left. Then he hazarded a hesitant, “Lylyth?”
The hood went back just enough for him to see her face.
It only deepened his confusion. “How? I shot you.”
She rolled a shoulder. “Surely you don’t think I trust my existence to only one body.”
His lips pinched. He’d heard of the use of clones by those wishing to extend their natural life span. He’d also heard it never ended well. The consciousness wasn’t meant to be saved and reused over and over again.
“If you’re not really dead, then why am I in here?”
Her lips curved. “Because I want answers. Starting with why the interest in news about drones and possible gears inside them. Is this related to that Tinqqer’s death?”
“What have you heard?” He wasn’t the only one searching Marius’s compound for the God Gears the day it blew up.
“Just that a Tinqqer created a set of Mecha parts that is worth a fortune and that he scattered them to all the parts of the known universes. Word also says that you and your crew”—her lips twisted on the word—“are hunting for them. Have you found any pieces yet? My guards say they searched you but found no loose gears.” She cocked her head. “Which means you must be wearing them in your body.”
“Do you really think I’d keep something like that on me?”