by Yvette Hines
Moving quickly, she put on one of the jumpers, but realized that even with the curves of her hips and thighs it was ill fitted. Thinking quickly, she grabbed another, then one more and wrapped it around her middle to add to her bulk. Glancing down at herself, she looked passable.
On the hunt again, she found a helmet and boots, both too large. She shoved paper into her shoes and bundled her hair into a braid and shoved it into the helmet to fill it out. She made use of the dark visor on the front and lowered it over her face.
She wished there had weapons in there for more protection. If someone discovered her before she made it off the planet, she would have no way to protect herself. However, she had to keep faith that the star goddess would help her.
As soon as she opened the door an alarm sounded. Soldiers seemed to come out of the walls and darkness as they ran past her toward the way she’d come with rushed chatter about King Rasp.
“Time to go.” She waited for the last wave to go by then went in the direction away from the injured male. The stench of the suit was making her dizzy, but she didn’t stop.
Chapter Two
“Frost, I’m glad my last job ended with me coming by Glacier. It gives me a chance to offer a sound pat on the back to you my friend.” Kesh kept his balance on the barstool as he gave his longtime friend a brisk, firm hand on his closest shoulder. Then he raised his glass of cyan flame, a specialty liquor of the ice planet, and toasted Frost. “To the new love and new babe on the way.”
Frost lifted his glass and for a moment the big man, mirror in size to Kesh, frosty glowing blue eyes brightened and it almost appeared as if color flooded the Star Ranger’s features. “Thanks, Kesh. Your words mean a lot. I don’t take our friendship lightly.” Frost downed half his drink in the short glass.
“Same here.” After taking a drink and allowing a moment for the frostbite like burn to glide along his throat and heat up his chest, he set the glass down. The odd beverage took some getting used to, it was only because Kesh had been on the planet with his friend more than a few times that allowed Kesh to handle it. The same could not be said for the first time he’d drank it and ended up screaming from the icy burn with a momentary blackout. “Where is this beautiful female that you just couldn’t leave on Earth?” Kesh teased.
“Doing some pre-infant decoration shopping with my mother and hers.” Frost pulled out his communication device and observed the time. “They should be done soon and if you have time for a meal with us, you can meet Lacey.”
“I’d like that. Since I just finished with my last job, I was on my way to my home planet for a while.” Thoughts of barren lands entered his mind and filled him with nostalgia. It had been too long since he’d been home.
“Perfect.” Frost smiled. “We will finish our drinks then head—”
His friend’s words were cut off by the buzzing of a com unit. Kesh removed the intergalactic communicator. “Kesh, here.”
“This is Roygr from Vorha1 in the Cartenon Galaxy lead commander of King Rasp, the most powerful and dominating planet in the star system.” The male on the other side spoke in a clipped, harsh, rushed manner.
“What can I do for you, Roygr.” There was no way in green moon hell that he would repeat any of what the man said.
Frost glanced at him and Kesh smirked.
“King Rasp of Vorhal the most powerf—”
“What does he want with me?” Kesh cut through the malarkey the man would have continued spewing. He didn’t care about pomp and circumstance; the planet he was from kept all the citizen as equals.
Roygr cleared his throat loudly, as if he were upset about being interrupted. “The King wishes a video com with you without delay.”
Kesh’s eyebrow rose. He didn’t like demands. “There will have to be some delay. I am not on my vessel at the moment. So, he will need to give me the time and space to get there.”
“You expect King Rasp to just accept this?” The commander growled.
“Or find another.” Kesh declared.
Frost raised his glass and toasted Kesh at his words.
There was an extended pause from the other end. Kesh knew of his qualifications and skills, he was sure the male on the line as well as his King had heard of him too and that was why they’d contacted him. He was the best. However, if the Volhar King went in another direction, Kesh wouldn’t blink an eye over it.
“Fine. However, do not make him wait long.”
Making no promises, he simply said, “I’ll connect to this line when I’m there and you can give me the com ordinance for the video link.”
“We look to hear from you soon.”
Kesh ended the communication. “How is it that even through space you can hear the arrogance of some people?”
“In my years of traveling through the galaxy and interacting with various beings, nothing about them shocks me.”
“Too many are assholes.”
Frost tipped his head back and laughed. “So true. You know there is always a position available to you as a Star Ranger when you’re tired of dealing with the worms of various solar systems.”
“I know. I’m not sure that falling under the command of another is for me.” He grabbed his drink. “Well, my friend. It appears I have a job to find out about. I will have to save the meet and greet with your woman for a later date.” He finished his drink.
“Understandable. A male has to work.” Frost gave him a brisk pat on the shoulder. “I’m sure my child will be here by the next time you’re free and along this way.”
“No doubt.” Kesh rose at the same time Frost did. The two of them made an impressive sight in the bar as they were identical in great height and girth of shoulders. “I hope the little one gives you all the joy and excitement, and a lot of unpredictability in life you deserve, my friend.”
Frost smiled and nodded. “Truer wishes have never been given.” He led the way toward the door. “May the Fates bring you someone in your life as they have given me my Lacey.”
“Sure…if I was looking for someone.” But I’m not, Kesh left unsaid as he waved to his friend and moved through the frigid air blowing through the main center of Glacier. His garment was sturdy and made of shed space whale skin. It provided the perfect amount of protection and warmth that Kesh needed when he visited planets as cold as the one his good friend was from.
As he trudged along hard packed ice toward the spaceport where he’d docked his ship, he was grateful he’d found the salvage traveler at a wild western planet at the backend of his galaxy. The dealer, Winkle Weasel, would get more business from him if they ever crossed paths again. This whale suit had saved his hide to many times to count in frigid weather. A lot of space salvage handlers were unscrupulous and would sell anything, usually with no truth to their claims about the article. It was always a gamble when dealing with them.
Winkle Weasel was perhaps one of the honest sorts.
“Open door.” Kesh spoke into his wrist unit that linked to his vessel as he rounded the corner and saw it looming before him. The sight of his onyx rocket glider never failed to awe him when he looked upon it. It was sleek and angular with most of the height in the back end of the ship where his storage and sleeping quarters were located. The body of it was made from the strongest reinforced metal created, to ensure the small structure could withstand any meteor showers without a single dent or crack.
The vessel which he called Eboni had gotten him through so many tight jams, besides his family on his home planet it was the only thing he cared about.
“Welcome back, Kesh. I hope you enjoyed your visit with Ranger Frost.” The sultry but mechanical voice filled the interior as he stepped aboard and the door closed and locked behind him.
Hearing the vessels voice was a comfort to him since he spent so many days traveling the stars alone on one mission or another. Unless he had one or two bounties held in the glass sided chambers. However, that didn’t count as company since he normal kept his valued cargo in sedation unt
il he transported them to the individual who’d requested his services.
“Yes, I did.” He moved toward his captain terminal. “As always, Eboni, duty calls.”
“Where are we off to this time?”
Having an IOS, Intelligent Operating System as part of his vessel worked well for him. It could not only steer while he rested, it could reason and carry on a comprehensive conversation with him. Yeah, Frost had wished a woman in his life…he already had one.
“Not sure yet.” He slid into his seat, enjoying the shifting of it as the chair conformed to his body. “I need Vorhal with coordinance C329 Clessier nebula”
There was only a breath of pause then Eboni announced, “Connection made. Connection complete.”
“Roygr of Vorhal the stongest planet in—”
“Roygr.” He cut the man off again. This planet really had to do something about their titles. “Kesh here. If your King still wishes a meeting with me, pass me the vid link.”
“You should be honored. King Rasp chose to wait.” The man sounded even fuller of pomp than he had during their previous encounter.
“The link?”
Roygr rattled off the information and they ended the connection.
“Eboni—” Kesh began.
“Done. Video should appear in…..2-1.”
Before him on his ship’s front viewer appeared the most grotesque thing…male every.
The large round eyes lodged in the bulbous face blinked twice and met his through space.
“King Rasp I presume.”
“Yes. I have lost something,” King Rasp’s voice was nasally and gargled, offensive to Kesh’s ears. “I was told you were a bounty hunter, Kesh T’en.”
“That I am. I come with a high price tag.” Kesh could guarantee his services. His kind on his father’s side were trackers. It had served them well on a harsh planet where every meal had to be sought and foraged, at times battling or out smarting voracious animals. “What did you misplace?”
“My bride!” Rasp roared. The king’s eyes stretched wide as the video showed others rushing in as the man’s hand clutched at his throat. He appeared in serious distress.
It was then that Kesh noticed the bandages around the king’s massive neck. The swarm of female attendants scantily dressed in filmy material that clung to them catered to him adjusting pillows and passing him drinks. The females were lovely and beautiful in unique ways, Kesh doubted they were from Vorhal.
What he would charge this disgusting King would be a high price, one that would allow him to take a break for a while and assist with his planets redevelopment. The scientists there had made some strides in possible provision creations that could yield for hundreds of years. It took chips to create. Chips he would bring them.
“Enough!” Rasp commanded. The sea of people parted around him. “Kesh, I will pay whatever you require. Send the cost to my commander. Find her Kesh. Find her—”
Kesh watched as the king turned a weird puce shade and the video was shifted away from him and to Roygr. “T’en, I have sent a digital message to your coordinance with a description of the runaway bride.”
“Was she a Vorhalian?” Kesh needed to know if the female was simply lost or hiding on her own planet before he went hopping all over the galaxy and she was just on the backside of the planet.
“No. Not originally.” The man lifted his large chin, which only made his large eyes protrude more.
Kesh shivered at the appearance. Goddess, let the female be blind. “Is there a thought to where she might have gone? Home maybe?”
“Her home planet was destroyed,” he declared with a sick gleam in his eyes. “It is your job to scour the galaxies and bring her back.”
It didn’t take Kesh being struck by a falling star to see that somehow this commander had a hand in it. He spotted the blue blinking light on his consul that signified he had an incoming message. He saved reading it for when his call was completed but sent a message of his own with the agreement of his fees and costs, most importantly that he be paid sixty percent upfront to find her. The remaining forty percent was his return cost that would be paid when he presented the cargo.
“I have received the agreement. It is signed and on its way back with the initial required funds in route to the account noted.”
“Funds loaded.” Eboni reported.
“Everything is set from my end. I will keep you all posted along the way.” Kesh opened the information sent, prepared to start getting his intel and route in motion.
“King Rasp doesn’t like to wait.” Roygr snorted then huffed.
“Let me get off the line so I can get to work.” Kesh didn’t need anyone to pressure him about his job. Hunting was in his blood and tracking was his innate skill. During his early days of bounty hunting clients had shown doubt, but the word had spread through the galaxy of how good he was and he wasn’t questioned again. To have this condescending ass feel the need to tell him how to do his job just set his teeth on edge.
“We will look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Kesh gave Eboni the signal to disconnect the line.
“What would you like first, Kesh?”
“Eboni, pull up the solar system surrounding Vorhal. If she is not on planet anymore, I want to see some of her possibilities of escape.” He usually factored in why a person was on the run, however, after seeing the King and his mind and just having a brief dose of their attitude, he didn’t blame her for leaving.
Before him on the screen the galaxy materialized. “Zoom in close to planet. I want to see the possibilities of her leaving it.”
“I can only zoom in so close. There is a force field around the planet that blocks and scrambles seeing the inhabitants or landscape.”
“Can you decode it?” He asked still studying the distance between close lying planets. “If there is a force field around the planet, Eboni, that means she would have had to leave in one of their planet vessels.
Kesh chuckled. “The female had out smarted them to the point of stowing away right under their disfigured snouts and using them to get her away.”
“She seems savvy whoever she is,” Eboni commented.
“Yes, she is.”
“I have opened up the image that was attached in this message.” Next to the map of the space system an image of a female appeared.
Instantly, his eyes were drawn to the face before him. The target had thick, long wavy hair that was dark in color. It complimented the features of her face, sun-kissed skin that looked healthy with a soft bronze glow. Her full lips made his mind wander and conjure up thoughts he shouldn’t be thinking. It was her green eyes, soulful and sad that held him.
“Kesh…” Eboni questioned.
From his IOS’ tone he suspected he’d missed something that she’d brought up. He gave himself a firm shake to break the hold of the image. “Yes.”
“Before you are a list of the various refueling ports and supply stations where she could have gotten off the vessel.” Efficient as always, Eboni calculated patterns of how he liked to start his searches.
One after another they flashed before him and spread out to the left of the female’s image. Don’t look at it. It was best that he asked Eboni to remove the image while he made calculations, but he didn’t.
“Out of all of them which one has public passenger planet jumping transports?”
“Only one. Zenmir.”
“Show me the planet,” he ordered.
“Coming right up.”
In seconds, all the other planets in that solar region faded and Zenmir the tenth planet in that system ballooned out.
Zenmir. What was it about this planet he was missing? He leaned back in his seat and studied the goings on before him. Vagrants, vagabonds and ruffians alike inhabited the planet because there were so much public transport. You don’t choose easy do you my little escape artist? It would have been a perfect place for someone like Winkle Weasel to dock. Travelers such as these would be ready to buy an
d barter for all types of things. Especially with multiple outlaws packing out the place. He didn’t think the female would just be strolling by his view field and bingo his search was over. No, no. This clever lass was most likely long gone.
“Eboni, what kind of transports are offered from here?”
There was a digit ding and click that filled the vessel, a sound his IOS enjoyed making when she was working to assist him with a hunt.
“There were fourteen in the last millennial days, within the time period cited in the report.” There was a hint of joy in her voice as she continued, “Including a special rotation of wormhole travel.”
“That’s it.” He shot forward. Kesh recalled just what was so special about Zenmir. One of their stars had burned out and it had been discovered that a keyhole existed behind it, there were only certain vessels that could make the distance and fit through the small hole. Thank the goddess his was such a ship.
“Show me the manifest for the last key voyage and the galaxies it connects to.”
“Four were logged. Nebtine, Drenlar, Ranstar and the Milky Way,” Eboni listed.
Kesh frowned. His thoughts raced in all directions with possibilities. “Which is the furthest?”
Maybe he could luck out and get to the vessel before it dropped the last batch of travelers.
“The Milky Way, sir, but none of them are at too great a distance because of the jet stream that folds time into simple seconds before it collapses for another hundred years.”
Space slug shit. “Is it still open?” He started tapping along the console, adding in coordinance and calibrations for fuel he would need to that galaxy first, refuel and get through to the hole, if possible.
“For the time being.”
He rubbed a hand along his jaw. If the keyhole closed, he’d have to travel the long way and it could take too much time to back track to the large wormhole to get close to those galaxies. “Can we make it?”
“If I do the driving,” Eboni’s voice resounded clear, matter fact. She enjoyed teasing and sparring with him over who drove the best. Generally, he handled the vessel during awake hours and Eboni the rest. This time he understood she made no jest.