She brushed his hands away and moved quickly to the still-twitching body. The blade had pierced the eye cavity. She swallowed. That was a damn lucky hit. Sparks of electricity sizzled and popped from the wound. “It’s clear. Keep an eye on that door, will you? The security team should be here in a moment.” She knelt beside the body and tentatively touched the face. Electric shock shot through her and she cursed. “David, weapons off.” The sizzling and popping stopped.
She touched the face again. No shock.
Azros stared down at the body. She knew what he saw. “No matter how many times you see them, you never get used to it.” Skin around the eye socket had peeled and burned, leaving exposed circuitry and wires.
Azros knelt beside her. “What the hell is that thing?”
Kendra sighed. “An old friend.” If the assassins were here, that meant Skreeta was planning something. Something big.
“You need to pick better friends.”
Kendra laughed. She gently turned the assassin’s head to the side. A strange but familiar tattoo, badly done, marred flawless skin. “In my lifetime, I’ve seen three of these things. This would be the fourth. My father killed the first twenty years ago. They each have the Sheon dragon eye tattoo.” Azros drew in a harsh breath, and Kendra watched impassively as the assassin’s skin lost definition, hardening into a featureless face. She knew the rest of the body would be doing the same. Questions needed to be answered. She still didn’t know what the hell these things were. How did they keep finding her?
The door opened and Kendra looked up, ready to attack.
Her breath caught. It was like looking at the ghost of her mother. “Hello, cousin.” The voice was jarring, familiar…and full of shock.
Recognition was a punch to the gut. “Shyla?” Kendra’s voice cracked over the name. “How did you get in here? What the hell is going on?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.” Shyla’s grim expression sent chills down Kendra’s spine. “If Skreeta finds out you’re still alive, we’re all dead.”
* * * * *
The briefing room contained all the key players. Several volunteers for Azros’ hit and haul against the Calypso, Destiny, Kendra and her team, Shyla, and a scattering of others he didn’t recognize. The room was a silencer, a place where no data streams or hacks could leave or enter. Azros leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. It was pretty state-of-the-art equipment for a supposed brothel in the middle of nowhere. He knew his head should be running over the plan again, but all Azros could think of was how to get Kendra off this forsaken planet. Away from here and in a place he could protect.
“I’ve called this emergency meeting because our home has been threatened.” Destiny gestured over the body of the assassin. “Nothing we say today is to be mentioned outside this room upon penalty of exile.”
Azros raised an eyebrow. “Exile?”
Reeva leaned close. “Exile means an escape pod floating around in the Scavenger Wastes. That’s fate-worse-than-death kind of stuff.”
“Ahh.” Azros nodded slowly. He’d have to find out more about these wastes later.
Kendra stepped forward. “At 1640 today, this assassin entered the security team sparring room as a possible impersonation of Maya Dela Jenkins. She was a Class A courtesan with a history of fine performance. The would-be assassin was killed by a strike to the optics circuitry. According to Dr. Monroe, the internal systems fried from the electric shock generated by the sparring dagger.”
“If it’s an impersonation, where is the real Maya?” Reeva’s question was seconded throughout.
Destiny held up her hands. “We’ll get to that. This is an inquiry, people. I don’t have all the answers yet. That’s why we’re here.”
A medic tried to work on Kendra, but she brushed his hands away. Azros clenched his fists. It was all he could do not to call her out for being stubborn.
Destiny’s hands folded elegantly against her stomach. “This assassin is in the employ of the Sheon regime.”
“What does the Sheon want with us?” a voice called from the back of the room.
Destiny’s gaze narrowed.
The rumbling throughout the room surprised Azros. It seems his people weren’t the only ones suffering under Sheon abuse.
“There are questions that need to be answered. We have two Sheon representatives among us…Shyla.” Destiny gestured to the robed woman. “And the other you’ve already known…Kendra St. Thomas.”
Shocked gasps echoed around the room. The rumblings grew louder. Apparently Azros wasn’t the only one she kept her heritage from.
“Our time is short, so we need to get straight to the meat of the matter.”
Azros shot first. “Shyla, how did you know about the assassin?”
Shyla’s arrival was too convenient for Azros’ comfort. She examined the body of the…whatever it was. Satisfied with something, she looked up at Azros.
“I found out about the assassin the same way I got the schematics and security information, from my mother’s personal data logs. It wasn’t targeting you when I checked it the first time.”
“Who was the intended target?” Kendra stared at her cousin.
Shyla looked back at her. “You. It’s always been you. She wasn’t sure you survived, but months ago she started having nightmares about your return.”
“Hold on.” Mase raised his hand. “The Sheon have been targeting the chief? Why?”
Kendra sighed. “It’s a long story, and one we don’t have time for right now. I promise it’ll be a great one to tell over a keg when this is all over.”
“Why didn’t you warn me about the assassin when you handed off the information earlier?” Azros was furious.
“Earlier?” Kendra looked from Azros to Shyla and back.
“Because it wasn’t necessary to know! If my cousin was dead, it would sit here indefinitely, doing the same job day in and out. I’m here because I get notice when one breaks down. Since I’m already on the surface, I had to track down the source of the malfunction.”
“If I was the target, then why didn’t it take me down?” Kendra leaned against the dark wall and crossed her feet at the ankles.
Shyla gestured to the assassin. “She had to reprogram it for Azros. Rumors about a tiger-striped man spread through your facility like a solar storm. Everyone was buzzing about him. It would be an easy thing for Skreeta to change targets.”
The medic tried to touch her, and again Kendra brushed his hands away. Azros moved, and Kendra cut her eyes at him, shaking her head. She had murderous intent written all over her. He held up his hands with an internal promise to make her pay for her stubbornness later.
“Did you have any interaction with Maya?” Destiny steepled her fingers. A narrowed gaze pierced Kendra.
Kendra shook her head. “When she walked in, I recognized her face, but I couldn’t place her name so we never met. Who did her security scrub?”
Destiny looked up. “Chris.” A dusty-haired young man stepped forward. “Get me everything you can on Maya. Her history, her family, with a focus on the last three weeks of her life…I want a full scope.”
He nodded. “On it.” The door opened and he left.
Reeva spoke up. “Shyla, can you erase the visual feed before Skreeta sees it?”
Shyla shook her head. “I can’t access her data files while she’s plugged in. She constantly monitors everything that happens on her ship. They call her the all-seeing eye. I have to get in, erase the information, and get out without leaving a trace. Do you have any idea how hard that is?”
“Bullshit. You set this up!” Azros was tired of Sheon politics and double talk.
Shyla’s face grew red with anger and her eyes flashed with fury. “I gathered the information you needed to bring down the Calypso.”
“First Xavier. Now this. It just seems a little too convenient.”
Kendra looked over at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Shyla has been a great h
elp to us for some time.” Destiny spoke up. Kendra and Azros both stared at her in open-mouthed shock. She nodded at Shyla. “Tell them.”
“I’ve been feeding information to Destiny for the past six months. Since your capture.”
“She passes along flight path routes of the Calypso, potential ships Skreeta wanted to hit…you name it. I have been passing information along to appropriate people, so crisis could be avoided.” She gestured around the room. “Most of the people in this room have been involved in it.”
“So you knew I was alive?” Kendra had grown pale throughout the revelation.
“No.” Shyla shook her head. “I thought you died a long time ago. Until now nothing had given me reason to think otherwise.” She glanced at Destiny.
Kendra looked at Destiny, but the woman stared straight ahead with no expression.
Kendra turned her attention to Azros. “Who is Xavier?”
“Your coma patient is one of my most trusted advisors. Shyla just happens to show up and provide me with everything I need to take down the Calypso. Less than an hour later, I’m targeted by an assassin of Sheon origin.”
Kendra looked from Shyla to Azros. “Let’s get all the facts before we make assumptions.” The medic tried to touch her and Kendra growled.
Destiny slammed her fist on the table and most of the room jumped in surprise. “I agree. Let’s see what we do know.” She glared at Kendra. “Let him do his damn job.”
Kendra stared at the ceiling as though praying for patience. The medic tended to Kendra’s shoulder, clicking his tongue in disapproval. Azros admired her strength and dedication, but he still wanted to wring her neck for putting herself in harm’s way.
A young doctor in a lab coat stood beside the assassin’s head. “My scans indicate very little biomass. It’s mostly synthetic.”
The medic leaned close to Kendra, and Azros had to strain to hear his words. “A couple more inches to the right and you would have been lying on this table instead of that thing. You’re damn lucky.” The medic slapped esskin over the wound.
Azros’ heart froze in his chest. It hadn’t looked like a mortal wound.
The medic smacked the esskin and Kendra hissed a breath in through her teeth.
Azros’ fists clenched and feral anger leapt to blaze in the back of his head.
Kendra glared at the medic. “What was that for?”
The medic glared right back. “Waiting. You did a bang-up job yourself, but let me do my damn job. I do have other patients to see.” He packed up his stuff.
Azros caught the medic’s eye, and watched with satisfaction as all the color drained from his face.
“This assassin is the same type that attacked Kendra two summers ago,” the doctor continued.
Ice ran through Azros’ veins. Two summers ago. Realization dawned. The hunting would never stop.
The doctor ran her fingers down the featureless assassin. “You’ll notice the smooth, faceless and genderless corpse. According to the file, this is characteristic of their…death.”
A few mumbled comments told Azros the previous assassination attempt hadn’t been common knowledge.
“How did you stop it back then?” Mase’s question was hesitant. Kendra would likely have to rebuild the confidence of her team after it was all said and done.
Reeva stepped forward. “We shocked it, temporarily restrained it and dropped the thing in the middle of the Miora flats. The slimes did the rest.”
Azros glanced at Kendra, noting the stone-faced expression that told him she was slamming up walls. He wanted to hold her, make sure she was okay.
Azros’ attention was drawn to the assassin. “Is it a machine?”
“Mostly. A small part of the body is human based, but not enough to live outside the body.” The doctor sighed. “It’s that small part that makes these killers legal citizens, and not war machines.”
“So they haven’t done anything illegal, or violated any treaties,” Destiny mused.
“Same old bullshit,” Kendra muttered.
“Because of the direct blow to the central core,” the doctor gestured at the knife protruding from the eye socket and glared at Kendra, “I can’t extract any information.”
Kendra pointedly ignored the comment. She flexed her arm, lifting it to test the bandaging.
The doctor sighed, muttering, “I love being ignored. Kendra, I need a live sample of the tissue to determine whether it is lab created or not.”
Kendra tilted her head. “I tell you what, Doc. Next time I’m faced with a deadly assassin, I’ll make sure you’re with me so you can poke and prod him to your heart’s content. That thing,” she gestured forcefully to the table, “nearly killed Azros, and if Shyla is to be believed, it was planted here to kill me.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Do you have anything else to add?” Destiny’s clipped voice spoke of urgency and irritation.
“Nothing more at this time.” The doctor shoved her hands deep in lab coat pockets, backing away from the table.
Destiny looked up. “Reeva, you’re next.”
“Was there a data upload before its death?” Kendra looked at Reeva.
“Yes. Our systems couldn’t stop it.” The woman shook her head. “The ship is too close. The signal transmitted immediately. We have no way of knowing the full extent of the upload, or whether any data was corrupted by our systems.”
Shyla pounded a fist on the table. “She’ll know you’re alive the moment she sees the playback.”
“This isn’t the first assassin sent after me. How many more are there?” Kendra brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Skreeta is paranoid. I have a dozen on my roster, and who knows how many off it.” She considered Kendra. “Although now that I know you’re still alive, it puts her paranoia in an all new perspective.”
Destiny planted her palms on the table. “We found Maya’s body, and from Dr. Monroe’s tests, her death occurred weeks ago. How did we not know there was an enemy among us?” Destiny’s voice was full of frustration.
The body twitched and everyone jumped back. “What exactly are these things?” The question came from Reeva.
Shyla sighed. “They’re called Kagami dolls, because of their ability to mirror the appearance of a target. It assimilates the DNA of the victim, and can draw on it for the rest of their lives.”
“How did it get here?” And was the vehicle still available? Azros might need a quick way to get Kendra out of harm’s way.
Shyla tapped her fingernail on the table, considering. “The Kagami likely came in as a customer, and then killed Maya. How simple would it be to take over her position?”
“Jackson. Get me a list of all guests for the past six weeks. I want logs of all incoming and outgoing ships, people, supplies, you name it. This Kagami doll never left or we would have scanned her body, so I need to know who, how and when.” Her fingers tapped a restless pattern against the table. “And Jackson…”
“Yes, Mistress?”
“I need it yesterday.”
Jackson nodded. “On it.” He strode from the room.
“It’s easy to pick up gossip as one of the girls. Tactically it makes sense, and if she performed well Destiny wouldn’t know the difference.” Kendra pounded a fist against the palm of her hand. “I should have caught this.”
Destiny clicked her tongue in irritation. “Useless talk. Figure out what we can do to keep it from happening again. I don’t like this. We seem to be in the middle of a brewing war.” She turned her attention back to Shyla. “Why did she plant her doll weeks ago? Are we sure Kendra was the original target?”
Shyla shrugged. “I don’t know. My mother may be insane, but she has the most devious and dangerous mind of anyone I know. She had to have her reasons. Skreeta is the only one that has the codes to change the prime directives, and select a new target. According to the information I’ve accessed, she’s released multiple assassins all over this sector. Maybe she sees this planet as a tactic
al advantage, but I’m shooting the dark at this point. This could get ugly really fast.”
Kendra paced. He could see her mind working, running all the angles. If he tried harder, he could just touch the feather wisps of her mind. A tiny thought here and there. He wished she would open up to him. She was so close they could almost touch.
“My people can’t stay on her ship. They’re being drugged, abused and used for sex and slavery. I won’t let it continue.” He didn’t mention the next step would be freeing the mining asteroid. He needed his people and a ship for that. His gaze moved to the door. Was there a ship available? Should he mention the possibility?
Shyla nodded slowly. “I hear you, Azros, but you can’t just storm the Calypso and expect to survive. You’ve seen the interior. You know it was luck that got you off the ship last time. The forces are too great, and my mother is constantly plugged in. She sees everything. Since you left, security is impossible to slip through.”
“I have the schematics. We have surprise on our side.”
A wry smile twisted Shyla’s lips. “Calypso has tactical advantage. The only way you’d make it onboard is if my mother left with her security entourage. Even then…”
Azros clenched his fists in irritation. Her advice was sound, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Just how paranoid is Skreeta?” Kendra’s question was spoken with purpose. A smile ghosted across her lips.
Shyla looked at Kendra, assessing her. “In her mind, everyone is out to get her. She prepares for almost every possible scenario.”
“Even the return of a blood heir?”
Azros stared at Kendra in surprise.
Shyla shook her head. “She will stop at nothing to kill you, cousin. Her paranoia is extreme, to say the least. What are you going to do…call the T’oatha Balleh? You know how that will end.”
Kendra’s expression hardened. “I am not the same unskilled girl I was back then.”
“What is the T’oatha Balleh?” Azros asked the question, but neither of the Sheon chose to answer. That just pissed him off.
Shyla stared back at her cousin, nodding slowly. “That may be, but you’d have to play to your advantage. She will cheat.”
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