Collateral Trade

by Candace Smith

  When Tammy was demoted to the Cleaning crew, Sharell had followed Matt on one of his secret meetings with her. They convinced Tammy to let them into the Security room when they knew it was empty. Sharell had no intention of finding herself trapped with no weapon like she had been during the launch. When she had been called to the shuttlebay, she had not realized the danger. Looking back, the stun gun would have been ineffective with all the Security in the bay. And right now, she was relieved she had left it hidden.

  Matt had taken one too, for very different reasons. If he had ever cared for a woman, it had been Tammy. Word circulated through the ship, primarily due to her promotion and bragging, that Officer Metzer compiled the lists for the women traded to the aliens. Arriving on planet, Matt quickly aligned himself with the Casiqua and their talented women.

  From his new Man Cave, he looked down on the Manerea and learned the rotation for outside Security patrols. Within a week he knew the schedule, and he watched Officer Metzer walking the perimeter, searching for dissidents trying to leave and avoid the workforce tasked with building a habitable settlement. Matt snuck up behind her and whispered, “Hey, bitch.” She turned, reaching for her weapon, but Matt stunned her and she dropped to the ground without a word. “That’s for Tammy.”

  Matt was content with his new life, and the Casiqua fawned over him. Still, he owed this to Tammy for risking so much while they were in space. He knew she was given to the aliens because of the guard, and he smiled at the transparent Casiqua dragging another Earth woman competitor away.

  Sharell took Ayana’s hand. They left the Manerea, and Sharell saw streaks of blue slicing through the polluted clouds. “No. Oh god, Miranda. Not yet.” Sharell knew the Ancient was cleansing the world, although she did not know how Miranda had found her. “Come on, Ayana. We have to hurry before he knows I’m here.”

  They raced across the healing ground towards the Casiqua ship. Ayana pointed to a dull crystal building beside it. “In there. He is in there.”

  “Go to your mate,” Sharell instructed.

  Ayana tickled her palm and smiled nervously. “Pretty, pretty.”

  “You too, Ayana. Thank you.” Sharell watched her fade as she ran towards the caves.

  Sharell crept towards the building, hiding behind the columns. She followed angry voices and saw no one on her way.

  “She’s here,” a panicked voice screeched. “The witch’s mercenary is here.”

  “What are you talking about, old man? All you do is rant paranoia. You promised me a kingdom.”

  Sharell recognized the Chairman’s voice. Jerome sounded irritated and a bit unstable, himself.

  “There is no nelam. No nelam here,” the old voice raved. “There should be nelam.”

  A million years ago, Rashilla Three had been rich with the crystal and it gleamed from the surface like a star. After hundreds of revolutions through the debris belt, it had worn away. This planet had been the manipulative ancient’s secret, one he had not even shared with the two wizard brothers who traveled streams with him over the centuries. It had been his perfect escape, his last perfect planet. And now, the witch’s assassin was after him. He had no power to draw on. He had sucked the last life out of the filthy place to build his small palace.

  There were only two voices, and Sharell wondered where the rest of the Manerea crew could be. At least fifty had chosen to stay with Jerome. Where are they?

  “You promised me a kingdom,” Jerome thundered. “My last supporters have joined the Casiquas, all because of your lies.”

  “Well, guess that answers that,” Sharell murmured. “King Poopah without a kingdom or subjects.” The sky was getting lighter outside and splashes of new green grass began to sprout. “Slow down, Miranda.”

  Sharell held the stun gun and walked into the center of the chamber. Jerome gaped at her when the ancient screamed and pointed. “Away. Away with you.” The frail being scampered behind Jerome’s back, peeking out with ageless wide blue eyes that matched the veins pulsing like bruised spiderwebs across his bald head.

  “You,” Jerome spat. “I should have shoved you into space when you turned me down. You have been nothing but a bitch since I laid eyes on you. Stealing my crew for your cozy new planet…”

  “Crew you were planning to murder,” Sharell reminded him. She steeled herself for the confrontation and convinced herself the ancient posed no threat. “So Jerome, how are you enjoying Adam One? Is it the paradise you expected to find? Do you still want to live forever?” She watched the ancient trying to slip behind some columns and make his way to the exit. “Un, un, old man. You’re coming with me.”

  “Away,” he wailed, flailing his thin arm. “Away with you, now.”

  Sharell tilted her head and studied the ancient. “Jerome, I believe your wizard is insane,” she chuckled. “Well, enough of our little reunion.”

  She walked towards the ancient and Jerome panicked. He ran in front of him and held his arm out. “You can’t take him. He’s building me a kingdom.”

  Sharell stared into his wild eyes. “Shit, you’re as crazy as he is.” She spread her arms. “With what, Jerome? He thought this planet would have the same riches you expected to find. Your information was not quite current concerning the resources on this dump.”

  Jerome clutched a thin column and his eyes widened to smiling panic. “No. No, he built this palace and he has run the Casiquas off.”

  “Along with your crew. Shit, look at this place. The crystal might have been clear when he raped the rest of the planet for power, but it’s dull and dying, Jerome. It can’t even support what little life there is left here.”

  “Get away,” Jerome hissed. Spittle dripped down his chin and he pointed a shaking finger at her. “Go back to your own world and leave mine alone.”

  “No can do, Jerome.” Sharell was surprised to feel an invisible long finger stroke her cheek and she smiled. “I have friends here.”

  “Many friends, pretty, pretty,” Ayana whispered. “The colors are coming back for us.”

  Sharell took a step forward, and a man swung around the pillar in front of her with his fist raised. Sharell hit the trigger to the stun gun, and Manny dropped to the ground. Sensing another presence close by, Sharell called out, “Dr. Terar, I suggest you stay out of this. If you look outside, you’ll see the plants are coming back.”

  “The soil is dead,” a familiar voice echoed. “It was barely useful before, but since the wizard came, it is toxic.”

  “Not any more.” Sharell stepped over Manny. She heard his body slide across the floor behind her as the Casiquas dragged him away.

  Jerome straightened and tried to present his fomer controlled composure. His ragged clothes and unkempt appearance was at odds with his countenance. “You will leave my kingdom immediately. You have no authority here.”

  Sharell shook her head and turned to the woman in fade by her side. “Ayana, don’t let them kill him. It would be far worse punishment to keep him alive.” Sharell stepped closer, and as Jerome swung to slap her, a long lean leg swept up and she kicked him in the balls. He sank to his knees, cupping his damaged parts, and Sharell grabbed the ancient by his collar.

  He shrieked the whole way back to the stream, while grass fields spread and trees bloomed to life. The sound of the slip-stream paralyzed him, and Sharell struggled to drag him up the ledge. With two hands gripped into his robe, she pushed him into the stream and the current rushed them away. Shit, I forgot to take an oxy pill.

  They splashed into the pool, and Isari and Tali quickly grabbed the ancient. “Cripes, took ya’ long enough,” Tempest called out.

  “Well, it wasn’t any party over there.” Chaya and Tian grabbed her arms and crushed her in an embrace. She looked over at Miranda. “How did you know I was on Rishalla Three?”

  Miranda’s eyes twinkled. “Is it healing?”

  “Almost too quickly. I barely had time to catch him.”

  Miranda smiled. “Tian told us where you were. Of
course, with the time warps, there was no way to send a ship to you. It would arrive long after you left.”

  “Tian?” Sharell was certain she had not mentioned the planet’s name.

  “You called it a landfill.” His blue eyes lit and she could see the emotion pulsing through them. “No other planet holds that distinction.”

  Sharell stared around in confusion and looked up at Chaya. “How did you guys get here so quickly?”

  Chaya’s jaw clenched and Tian hugged her closer. “You have been gone almost a year, Sharell. Our brothers and Milana are most anxious to introduce you to your nephews.” For the second time, Tian caught her as she fainted.

  There was a three-day celebration on Vallasteria, complete with ceremonies on the altar. Sharell spent time with Rue downing shots of some wine from Lameria, before Isari collected her to go back home. Tempest wore her caftan of her position of Magistrate of Commerce, complete with her black spikey hair and dark gothic makeup. Sharell hugged her goodbye when they stood by the shuttle.

  She was ready to return to her tree house and the beauty of the colorful pods at night. With all the commotion and partying, she had yet to spend time with her twins when someone was not interrupting to congratulate them. At last, they were settled into their quarters on the battleship and heading to Actana.

  In quarters, both men sat beside her on the sofa and she felt the devotion Tian sent in waves. It was filled with painful fear that slowly disappated to such an intense passion it took her breath away. She smiled and laughed softly, “I’ve missed you too.”

  “You will not leave us again, Sharell.”

  She turned and ran her fingers down Chaya’s cheek. Her strong protector had been terrified when he learned the Ancient’s true plan. He was left with the unconscionable decision to will her towards the mysterious slip-streams. Chaya still wrestled with the emotion over his duty to destroy Aquadea if the women failed.

  Sharell stretched up to kiss his lips. “I will never leave your protection again, Chaya.”

  They spent the week rarely leaving their quarters. When the acting Commander informed them they were orbiting Actana, Sharell insisted her twins bring her to the bridge. She climbed the ledge to the viewport and cried while she looked at the beautiful rainbow planet. Her mind raced back to the destruction of Rashilla Three, and she imagined what could have happened.

  Chaya and Tian took her hands to lead her away. “It’s time to go home,” Chaya said.

  She followed her mates to the shuttle, and when Tian closed the hatch she walked towards the front. Her wide green eyes looked up at her mates. “Can I drive?”

  Chaya rumbled a laugh. “No driving. And no more space, once we reach Actana.” He straightened and shook his dark mane. “You will behave like a proper mate and do as I say.”

  Sharell licked her lips and smiled. “I guess I need to be trained.” Somehow, the thought was not nearly as unappealing as it used to be.

  THE END