by Jake Bible
“Are you really not catching up to what’s happening here?” Roak asked and rolled his eyes. “No. Of course not. This is why beings like Shava Stemn Shava hire me. Or coerce me to work for them. A lot of that happens in your circle. Syndicate, super rich, or both, they always like to force me into work. They get off on the power of it. The thing is, I don’t really care as long as I get paid my chits. If your boss wants to feel big and flex his muscles, so be it. I still get paid. I always get paid.”
Roak jumped down from the grav copter and pointed back at Ple who was just then standing and stretching.
“The reason I always get paid is because I figure things out before I absolutely have to,” Roak said. “Come on. We get to go have a chat with Per’teen Kilk.”
“Kilk? Kilk sent this contraption for us?” Ple asked as he moved quickly to the hatch, jumping down to join Roak. “How can you know that?”
“Because the guy is standing right there,” Roak said and pointed towards the other side of the grav copter where a good-sized manor house sat amongst a stand of unbelievably tall trees. “Or am I wrong?”
Ple squinted into the day’s glare then nodded. A Leforian was standing on a third-floor balcony, his four arms crossed over his armored chest.
“That’s Kilk,” Ple said and shook his head. “Of course. I should have recognized them.”
“The other Leforians? Yeah, I guessed they were part of his brood,” Roak said. “You said he had his offspring do the Orb fighter training now, but Leforians have dozens of offspring. Not all of them will want to be trainers. Stands to reason many would go into private security.”
Roak clapped Ple on the shoulder and started walking towards the house.
“Hold up,” Ple said, his eyes never leaving the waiting form of Per’teen Kilk. “Kilk and I do not exactly stand on good terms.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” Roak said. “We can deal with whatever bad blood you have. Come on.”
As Roak walked, he scoped the area, checking out the security measures in place. At first glance, it was a decent-sized estate, several acres of well-maintained land with the manor house in the middle. But, the closer he looked, the more he saw that it was a well-fortified compound, not an estate. Per’teen Kilk wasn’t there to retire. He was there to stay safe.
“Picked a weird planet to hunker down on,” Roak shouted up at the Leforian as they drew closer to the house.
“Shut up and save your words,” Per’teen Kilk shouted down at him. “Come inside so we can talk. Not going to yell back and forth outside like a couple of grubs.”
Kilk’s mandibles twitched as he focused on Ple.
“Shava Stemn Shava can’t help but keep his nose in everything,” Kilk said with such venom that Roak and Ple both paused. Then the Leforian was gone from the balcony.
“He’s not like other Leforians,” Ple said.
“I don’t know about that,” Roak replied. “I’ve met my share of Leforians that aren’t the mom busybodies.”
“I do not doubt that,” Ple said as the double doors of the house’s main entrance opened and the two men were greeted by six very large Leforians.
“Weapons,” one of them said.
Roak sighed and removed his weapons. He handed them to the Leforian who turned and stared at Ple.
“Lost mine back in the city,” Ple said.
“You have a Defta Stinger under your left armpit,” the Leforian said. “I will take it from you, if you prefer that route.”
“No need for that,” Ple said as he removed the Defta from his suit. That caused him to study himself closely. “I’m an Eight Million Gods damned mess.”
“Light armor is best for field work,” Roak said and nodded past the head Leforian. “You gonna move your bug ass and let us in or what?”
That caused the rest of the Leforians to bristle, their mandibles clicking and clacking in anger as they flexed their quad arms.
“He’s baiting you, boys,” Kilk called from inside. “Do not take it. Come in, Roak. Bring Ple with you.”
Roak slid past the angry-looking welcoming party and walked across the long, tile-floored entry hall to a well-apportioned great room. Ple was right behind him, eyes darting every way at once.
“Relax,” Roak ordered. “Calm that lizard brain, Ple.”
“You like to point out the obvious characteristics of different races, don’t you?” Kilk said as he crossed the great room, his lower right hand extended. “Is it honest bigotry or do you use it as a destabilizing tool?”
“Destabilizing,” Roak said as he crossed and shook the offered hand. “Bigotry says more about the bigot than the target.”
“While destabilization is only about the target,” Kilk said and gestured to a huge couch in the middle of the room. “Sit, Roak. Let’s talk.” Kilk eyed Ple. “You may sit as well, Shava Stemn Shava’s bitch.”
“Destabilization,” Roak said and laughed as he took a seat. One of the other Leforians approached and offered a tray of various drinks. Roak took the mug of beer and sipped it. “Nice.”
“I have it brewed on planet,” Kilk said. “Ple? A drink?”
“No, thank you,” Ple replied as he sat at the opposite end of the couch from Roak while Kilk took a seat in a high-backed chair across an ornate coffee table from them both.
“You are here for what reason?” Kilk asked.
“I think you know,” Roak replied, taking another sip of beer. “Or you wouldn’t have sent the grav copter. Surprised you can afford one of those.”
“It’s on loan to me from a friend,” Kilk said.
“Expecting an invasion?” Roak asked.
“I’m expecting something,” Kilk said. “Could be you two are it. If so, then I over-prepped.”
“You may have since I’m only here for intel,” Roak said. “Hoping you can put me on the trail of Jonny Nebula.”
“He’s dead,” Kilk stated.
“You see, I thought that too, but the guy sitting to my right here thinks perhaps Jonny Nebula faked his death,” Roak said. “Or, at least Ple’s boss does.”
“And you?” Kilk asked. “What do you think?”
“I don’t yet,” Roak said. “Not enough information.”
“Can’t make a guess?” Kilk asked. “You’re a professional, Roak. I’ve even heard of you. I bet there’s a theory inside that hunter’s head of yours.”
“Theories get in the way,” Roak said. “I just follow the facts and leads until I find my target. Don’t need a theory to do that.”
Kilk leaned forward and rested his four elbows on his legs.
“Why do you think I’d know where Jonny Nebula is if he’s alive?” Kilk asked. “His death almost destroyed my career as a trainer. I only bounced back because it would have cost Shava Stemn Shava millions and millions of credits if I walked away from the other Orb fighters I was training.”
“So, if he was alive, you’d ignore that fact because you’re mad at him?” Roak asked. “You’ve been fairly straight with me until that one.”
“No, I’m saying that it has been a long time since he died and I’ve rebuilt my reputation enough to retire to this,” Kilk said and spread his arms wide to take in the house. “Only one of many I own across the galaxy.”
“Who were the armored soldiers that came for us?” Ple asked. “How’d you know they were coming for us?”
Roak shook his head and turned to glare at Ple.
“No idea who the soldiers were,” Kilk said. “Didn’t even know they’d be there.”
Roak returned his attention to Kilk and cocked his head. “Taska called you, not those armored assholes.”
“Yes,” Kilk said. “I don’t know him all that well, but well enough that he gives me a heads up whenever my name is mentioned. I was flattered to hear that Roak was asking around about me.”
“Bullshit,” Ple said.
“It’s not,” Roak said. “Makes more sense than Taska turning us in to those armored goons. The soldiers that c
ame for us could be the same force you’re gearing up to fight.”
“Could be,” Kilk said.
“Why?” Ple asked. “What have you done?”
Kilk studied Ple for a couple of seconds then returned his gaze to Roak. “How much of all of this have they told you?”
“Enough to get started,” Roak said. “But not enough to know their true motivation. I suspect it has nothing to do with getting even with Jonny Nebula or anything that stupid. It’s not about Shava Stemn Shava being in deep with the syndicates, either. More than likely it’s about something Jonny has or had. Maybe something he knows. If he’s alive.”
Kilk chuckled and pointed at Roak then returned his glare to Ple.
“See? It’s that kind of thinking that gives a guy a reputation in the galaxy,” Kilk said. “Not the ass kissing.”
“Ass kissing is only one of my many duties,” Ple said. “Tying up loose ends is another.”
Kilk’s body went rigid. His mandibles clicked a couple of times before he leaned back in his chair.
“Here to kill me, Ple?” Kilk asked. “Is that it?”
“No,” Ple said. “I am here to see that you make good on a promise you made to Shava Stemn Shava many years ago. You are late in fulfilling that promise.”
Roak watched the two men closely. Kilk’s mandibles twitched while Ple’s brows knitted together. There was an unspoken conversation going on that Roak was not privy to.
“Okay, bullshit time is over. Jonny Nebula,” Roak said, interrupting the silent tension. “He died in the Orb, but didn’t. Shava Stemn Shava says he’s the one that killed him. That true?”
“That is 100% true,” Kilk replied, his eyes remaining on Ple. “Anyone that says he’s alive is a fool.”
“Or a genius,” Ple said.
“Sometimes they are one and the same,” Kilk replied.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Roak said and waved a hand at the two men. “Your dicks are huge. Get over it. I’m not here for a measuring party. I’m here to get a lead on where I can find Jonny Nebula. So far my trail leads to you, Kilk. Where do I go next?”
“I’m at a loss as to why I should tell you,” Kilk said.
“So he could be alive?” Roak asked.
“I didn’t say that,” Kilk responded with a shrug.
Roak growled. “What are you saying?”
Kilk grinned which was never a pretty sight from a Leforian no matter their disposition.
“How is the program going, Ple? Made any progress yet on the accelerated growth process? Since you’re here, I’d say no,” Kilk said. “I’d also say you have hit some sort of setback or Shava Stemn Shava wouldn’t have hired this bounty hunter.”
“Hired is a liberal term for what happened,” Roak said. “What’s this program?”
“Nothing,” Ple said.
“That’s bullshit,” Roak replied.
“You a fan of the Orbs, Roak?” Kilk asked.
“No,” Roak said. “I’ve caught some on the vids, but not really my thing.”
“So you didn’t get to see a fight while on Jafla Base?” Kilk asked. “Not even one down in the Gas Chamber?”
“You still have your spies in place, I see,” Ple said.
“We all have our spies in place, Ple,” Kilk replied.
“I don’t,” Roak said. “No spies. What I do have is an intense desire to smack the shit out of the both of you. This back and forth is old. Someone tell me what the program is and why it involves Jonny Nebula, alive or not.”
Roak would have been perfectly happy to wait for an answer. Except he quickly realized he didn’t have the luxury of time on his side as the expanse of the estate that could be seen from the windows behind Kilk was suddenly engulfed in flame. The shockwave hit a second after and the great room of the manor house was filled with shards of plastiglass and clouds of smoke.
20.
Roak dove over the back of the couch. A hunk of plastiglass ripped through the piece of furniture and missed his head by only a couple of centimeters.
“Ple!” Roak yelled.
“I’m good!” Ple yelled back then came crawling around the couch.
“You don’t look so good,” Roak said as he studied the Spilfleck’s bloody face. Then he realized it was the wrong color. “Kilk?”
“Not sure,” Ple said. “He went down hard.”
“But he’s Leforian and that chitinous armor of his can take a beating,” Roak said. “We need to grab his ass and get out of here.”
“How?” Ple asked as another explosion rocked the compound. “We don’t know what’s out there.”
“We won’t find out by staying here,” Roak said as he got up and crouch-walked around the couch.
Kilk was lying across the coffee table, leaking blood from several wounds and gaps in his armor.
“Kilk,” Roak called. “You still with us?”
“Yes,” Kilk hissed.
“Good,” Roak said as he grabbed the man by two of his arms and yanked him off the table.
Kilk cried out and Roak winced when he saw the amount of blood leaking from the many wounds. But Roak didn’t stop yanking and pulling until he had the Leforian back behind the couch.
“Where is Jonny Nebula?” Ple snarled into Kilk’s face.
“Back off!” Roak snapped at Ple, shoving the Spilfleck away. He situated Kilk into as comfortable of a position as the wounded man could get into then gave him a hard slap. Kilk cried out and glared at Roak.
“Was that necessary?” he spat.
“Yeah,” Roak said. “No idea how much time you have left. I need to know where Jonny Nebula is.”
“Dead,” Kilk said with a wry smile. Or what Roak guessed passed as a wry smile for a Leforian.
“I don’t believe you,” Roak said and pressed a thumb to one of Kilk’s wounds. The Leforian screeched. “You have a half-truth in your eyes, Kilk. What aren’t you telling me?”
“An Eight Million Godsdamn lot,” Kilk said and chuckled. Blood burbled up from his mouth and leaked down his segmented chin. “Everything.”
Roak nodded and pressed his thumb harder. Kilk’s screech built then morphed into a choked cough. More blood joined the rest on Kilk’s chin then spewed down to his chest. There were explosions, plasma fire, more explosions, then several screams from outside.
“My children,” Kilk said, his eyes going wide with fear. He turned those eyes to Ple. “Why? We could have worked this out eventually.”
“I didn’t bring an army, Kilk,” Ple said. “I brought a Roak. Whoever is killing your children is not my doing.”
“It is your doing,” Kilk said. “It is Shava Stemn Shava’s doing by my agreeing to the program all those years ago.”
“This program. What is it?” Roak snapped and shook Kilk. “Talk!”
“He knows,” Kilk said and pointed a finger at Ple. “He can tell you.”
“But I can’t tell him the most important part!” Ple shouted and readied a fist to punch Kilk.
“Just give us a location,” Roak said, grabbing Ple’s arm before he could strike Kilk. “No more debating whether or not Jonny Nebula is alive. No more of this special program. Just give me a location, Kilk. Your children are dying out there. Don’t let them die for nothing. If you take what I need to your grave, then what will it all have been for?”
Kilk studied Roak’s face then nodded. “Nothing. It’ll have been for nothing.”
“You don’t want that to be your legacy,” Roak said. “Tell me the location, and I will guarantee that Shava Stemn Shava will have your name and legacy honored and immortalized.”
“You can’t do that,” Kilk said. “No one can convince Shava Stemn Shava to do that.”
“I can,” Roak said. “Trust me.”
Kilk laugh-coughed up more and more blood. “Trust you? Ha. Trust you…”
His eyes began to close and Roak gave him another slap to wake him up.
“A location, Kilk,” Roak said. “That’s all I need.”
/>
Kilk’s eyes went to Ple then returned to Roak. More explosions, more screams. Kilk sighed.
“The House of Teeth,” Kilk said.
“The what?” Roak asked. “I don’t know what that is.”
“I do,” Ple said with a sinister grin on his face. “You sneaky son of a bitch.”
“That’s where I’ll find Jonny Nebula?” Roak asked.
“No,” Kilk said. “Jonny Nebula is dead.”
Kilk laughed one last time then the life slipped from his eyes and his last breath wheezed from between his bloody mandibles.
“You know what this House of Teeth is?” Roak asked Ple.
“Yes,” Ple said.
Roak saw something flit across Ple’s eyes. His arm shot out and he gripped the Spilfleck by the throat, crushing the neck frill under his fingers.
“Don’t even think of double crossing me,” Roak snarled.
“I…wasn’t…” Ple managed to choke out. “Let…me…go…”
“Then what’s with the look?” Roak asked.
“Let me…go…”
Roak let him go, but got ready to start in on the guy if he made a move.
“Thank you,” Ple said and rubbed his throat. “The House of Teeth is a science facility. A very specific science facility.”
“Good for it,” Roak said, cocking his fist again.
“Knock it off, Roak,” Ple said. Two more explosions made him flinch. “It explains a lot.”
“What does?” Roak asked.
“Why we were getting reports that Jonny Nebula was alive,” Ple said. “The reports were from back channels that couldn’t be completely trusted, but there was enough consistency between them all for us to take notice. Someone in the House of Teeth is leaking intel.”
“Don’t care,” Roak said. “How do we get there?”
“How are you even thinking of there?” Ple asked as more explosions shook the house. “Shouldn’t we worry about getting out of here?”
“Father!” one of Kilk’s sons yelled as he came running into the great room, his exoskeleton covered in scorch marks and blood. A lot of blood. He lifted his rifle and aimed it at Roak and Ple. “You killed him!”
“Really?” Roak replied. “All this crap going on and you think I killed him?”