by Scott Moon
“You don’t know half what you claim to know.”
He didn’t take the bait. They’d started more than a few arguments this way since leaving Siris.
An alert light blinked on the control panel.
“We’re getting an encrypted message, out here?” Felton’s tone of voice was almost as skeptical as it was annoyed.
She scanned the jumble of words and numbers that ran across the screen. He leaned closer. Dbonden suddenly ducked into the cockpit, confirming her suspicion that Felton and Dbonden had a secret commlink, maybe even a neural network of some kind.
“What’s up, Felt?” Dbonden asked.
Kimberly held her left palm over the message screen.
Dbonden shifted sideways, acting as though he wasn’t attempting to read the words.
“I see how it is with you Dissident Union dudes,” she said.
Both men stared at her, feigning innocence.
She pointed at Dbonden. “You’re the code hacker.”
“We all get a certain amount of training. It’s doubtful that a civilian like you could have a code we couldn’t hack,” Dbonden said.
“We are really going to have trust issues, aren’t we?” She leaned over the screen to block their view and read a message she really didn’t want to read.
“What’s going on, DeVries? I can feel something.”
She shook her head, resigned to what was about to happen. “This will be a nuisance to me. You two will probably get pushed out an airlock.”
A very old, very huge ship appeared on the viewscreen.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Felton shouted.
“That will teach you to rely on energy readings.” She turned the co-pilot chair to the DU commandos.
“I was running radar.” Felton cursed for several seconds.
“Were you?” she asked.
“You did something to our sensors,” Dbonden said.
“No. This is a freighter, made for moving materials. Since it’s a military vessel, it has—or used to have—weapons. Regardless, this is the kind of ship pirates want to raid. Very valuable. Whoever is in charge of that ship turned off your radar remotely. Not easy, but this is what they do.”
“You led us right to them!” Felton came out of his chair.
Dbonden pushed him down. “Easy, Slade. Let me handle this.”
“Yeah, handle it,” Kimberly taunted. “You called him Slade instead of Felt. Is that another code between you guys? You’re kind of annoying.”
“This is one of your father’s ships, correct?”
“Technically, the captain is an associate—a frequent business contact. He can’t sell what he acquires without my family’s help. That makes my father his boss.”
“Not out here, it doesn’t,” Felton said. “I hate space pirates.”
“Yeah, I think this may go a bit differently than you think, DeVries.” He checked his blaster pistol then slid it into the holster. “I’m going to hide the doctor.”
“We can’t fight these people. They are how we’re going to leave the system. That ship is FTL capable. Piss them off or kill them, and we get to drift out here forever.” She glared at the men, wondering why they were so stupid. “Hide the doctor, hide yourselves. Let me handle everything.”
Tion stepped into the cabin connected to the cockpit. “I could kill them all and pilot their ship without difficulty.”
“No. Absolutely not,” Kimberly said.
Dbonden chimed in, “I agree with DeVries on this one. A full-scale battle will damage one or both ships. Less violence is better.”
Tion shrugged, her arms rippling the thick curtains of hair that streamed to her waist. “I left the service of my master to serve the Burner Queen. She requires me to do as you say.”
“They’re hailing us,” Kimberly said, hoping her DU companions didn’t dig into the Siren’s admission too deeply. She’d have to interrogate the sword saint when there was more time. “Stay or get out and close the door. I’ll do the talking.”
Dbonden and Felton exchanged a look, nodded, and Dbonden left. Tion followed him.
The viewscreen displayed the bridge crew of the pirate ship. The captain and his crew seemed to have an intense love of tattoos and performance-enhancing drugs. Every one of them, men and women alike, were thick with muscle and covered in scrolling artwork of the highest quality. The higher-ranking members of the crew had more glow-tats, luminescent lines outlining words and artwork of every description.
“Shit,” Kimberly said when she saw the captain.
“Kimberly, I knew you couldn’t stay away! Normally, I’m the one to sneak out after a one-night stand. You really surprised me. I thought you’d stay for a night or two, at least,” the captain said, leaning forward to show his bare chest and extravagantly braided beard. His mohawk held smoking beads and black lights near the roots.
“You slept with that guy?” Felton asked.
“Yes. He was pretty good, I guess.” She popped her knuckles. “How have you been, Daemon?”
Captain Daemon ignored her, staring at Felton. “I don’t like your new boyfriend.”
“He’s just a pilot, a business associate.”
“We were business associates before… it happened,” Daemon said, grabbing his crotch. “What’s your name, business associate?”
“Slade Felton. I’m with the DU.”
Daemon leaned back in his chair as his crew muttered to one another. “I’ve heard of you.”
Kimberly resisted the urge to study Felton.
“When did you become entangled with such a notorious assassin?” Daemon asked Kimberly.
“I heard assassins are good in the sack.”
Daemon punched the arm of his captain’s chair, then aimed a finger at her. “Don’t provoke me.”
“You’re easy to provoke.”
He seemed to calm himself by force of will. “You’re right.” He looked around his crew. “Isn’t she right?”
“Yeah, Captain. The skinny bitch is right. We gonna board their ship?” asked a man she knew as Vaug.
Daemon waved his hand dismissively. “Sure. Take their ship. Kill anyone you find hiding or resisting.”
The pirate ship descended over the Escaping Doctor as he spoke, throwing everything into both literal and sensor shadow as it brought them into the large cargo deck.
“Let me in, Kimberly.”
She sighed expansively. “Oh, I guess. You’ll just tear up my ship if I leave the doors locked.”
Kimberly leapt from the co-pilot seat the moment the screen went dark. Sprinting through the narrow, low-ceiling corridors of the ship, she started to draw her blaster pistol several times but always dropped it back in place and snapped the safety strap. Daemon! Why did it have to be him? Dbonden and Felton had no idea who they were dealing with. She wasn’t certain Tion could outfight the man’s crew.
It wasn’t just that they were jacked up on steroids and God knew what else, it was that they cheated and valued human life less than a good joke—or a bad joke even.
She rushed into the loading bay where the Escaping Doctor’s ramp was lowered to reveal a view of the pirate ship’s even larger cargo deck. Daemon and several of his men rushed in wearing helmets and armored gloves but no shirts. They all carried shotguns.
She knew from a time she’d helped them take a ship that the shotguns were less lethal. When things got out of control, the gel rounds could be lethal. All it took was a few shots on the same target, or one aimed at the head or heart.
Holding up both hands, she strutted forward, glad she’d taken the time to undo the top three buttons of her jumpsuit. She didn’t have much in the way of cleavage, but skin was skin and Daemon was a pig.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” Daemon asked, his smile so large, it had to be juiced up with stimulants—probably more than a fair portion of lust as well.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
Vaug stepped around Daemon, aimed his shotgun, and blas
ted Kimberly’s left leg.
She screamed as her leg was smashed out from under her, causing her to fall gracelessly.
“Leave her alone!” Doctor Robedeaux shouted, striding into the cargo area.
“What are you doing here?” Kimberly grunted through clenched teeth. She rolled to her knees. The idiot was going to ruin everything. If she’d known he was this stupid, she would have skipped getting shot in the leg.
It was kind of sweet, though. The old man had the hots for her.
“Go back to your room, Marc,” she snarled, struggling to break free of Daemon.
He pulled her up by her hair.
She drove her knee toward his balls. Her thigh was already swelling. She had to use her other leg to support her weight.
Daemon yanked her sideways, causing her attack to go wild and weak.
She struggled.
He didn’t hit her but held her toward his crew. Vaug punched her in the gut.
Daemon pulled her upright while her abdominal muscles were still spasming, which caused her to come off her feet for a second. “I don’t like to hit women.”
“Neither do I,” Vaug said. “You’re a special exception. Next time your father pays us, he better not try to cheat.”
“Go to hell, Vaug.”
“Kimberly,” Daemon crooned. “Be nice. Tell me where the rest of your crew is and there won’t be as much trouble. What are you transporting?”
“I’m not transporting anything. I stole this ship to escape Siris.”
“Without your brother, I see,” Daemon said. “Your father isn’t going to like that. He’s still going to pay us, however.”
“Listen, you brute, I told you to leave her alone and I meant it,” Robedeaux said, hands on his hips.
The pirates looked him up and down.
Daemon laughed like a bear, throwing his head back to expel his mirth. “Is this old man your new boyfriend?”
“Why aren’t you hiding, Marc?”
Daemon strode toward Robedeaux, fist clenched.
“Wait!” Kimberly shouted. “Don’t hurt him. He’s valuable.”
Daemon hit him in the gut, dropping him to the ground. Facing Kimberly, he stroked his chin then grabbed his crotch. “Now that is interesting. You’re in the kidnapping game? Who is Marc? What makes him special.”
“Found the others,” a woman said. A group of pirates dragged Dbonden and Felton into the bay and forced them to their knees. “I think we should push at least one of them out of the airlock.” She turned and kicked Dbonden in the face.
Both of the DU commandos were bruised and bloody.
“Did you shoot my pilot in the face with one of those gel rounds? What the…”
“Relax, sweetness. He’s okay. I got control of my crew. They wouldn’t kill anyone unless they asked me first. Come give me a hug. Let’s feel those tiny tits of yours,” Daemon said.
“Go… to… hell,” she said.
Doctor Marc Robedeaux started to laugh, slowly at first, then with increasing force.
“What’s his problem?” Daemon asked.
“I can answer that,” Robedeaux said. “I’ve shared ships with some very interesting associates during the last few years. As a result, and via a not very scientific process if you ask my opinion, I’ve developed some heightened senses. Especially in regard to space travel.”
Daemon loomed over the doctor but motioned toward his ship. Vaug and his other lieutenants gathered their respective squads. None of them looked happy.
“Cut to the chase, Marc. I’m losing patience with you,” Daemon said.
Robedeaux shook his head, still laughing like a tired parent. “Oh, Mr. Daemon. I think you’re about to learn how a real boarding party behaves.”
Kimberly’s first thought was that the doctor’s brother had sent a ship to follow them, but she knew that wasn’t possible. She’d been watching for pursuit. She also doubted the admiral would risk ruining her mission to get help.
“Who followed you, Sweetness?” Daemon asked.
“No one followed me. Someone followed you!”
“Bingo!” Robedeaux shouted.
Kimberly and Daemon faced the doctor.
“Who is it?” they asked at the same time.
“No idea, but there are a lot of them.”
10
Interview
The interview with Kimberly DeVries took longer than Jeda expected. For such a young woman, the crime lord’s daughter was remarkably patient—holding herself with the elegance of a lady until she decided to say something trashy.
Jeda never took the bait.
They played the waiting game, often staring at each other between exchanges until the professor and the guards grew impatient and nervous. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, Jeda bounced her foot slowly without breaking eye contact.
“I don’t like you, Miss DeVries.”
Kimberly DeVries smiled sweetly. “I know.”
Jeda leaned forward. “Do you think you can outsmart me? Manipulate me? Are you willing to die when your gamble fails?” Jeda saw the young woman flinch. “I’ve been running the Black Fleet without interference for ten years. I play by my own rules.”
“Must be nice,” Kimberly said, stifling a yawn and stretching her arms languidly. “Look who’s the spoiled rich girl now.”
“You’re playing it cool, hoping to keep me guessing. I get it. Under other circumstances, I’d play the game,” Jeda continued.
Kimberly lifted an eyebrow. “We’re not playing it now?”
“Let’s just say my patience is nearing a certain threshold intelligent beings don’t cross.” She stood. “Remember, Miss DeVries, if you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. I need to know more about the Danzig situation. I never had any problem with him when he was a captain. I’ll help him when I can. The thing is, Kimberly, if I go directly to your admiral, I’m going to draw a lot of very bad aliens with me. How will that help him?”
Kimberly sat up straight. “You’re running away from something!”
“I wouldn’t say I’m running away, not precisely. I’ve been engaged in total war with a hostile alien race you can’t imagine,” Jeda said.
“You haven’t seen what I’ve seen. I can imagine quite a lot,” Kimberly said.
“I’m not convinced.”
Kimberly strutted a few steps and turned, jamming her hands onto her hips. “We call them the Burners. Their ships are covered with fire and they’re nearly indestructible. On the planet, they’re worse. Fucking giant mech freaks.”
“Fusion exhaust,” Jeda said.
“What the hell is that?”
“You’ve never heard of it? No, of course not. You haven’t spent a quarter of your life fighting the higher alien races. Your Burners power their ships with dirty fusion, generating a lot of heat. Somewhere during their evolutionary journey, they decided to use the excess heat as a layer of dynamic armor.”
“Fascinating,” Kimberly said mockingly.
“The line between organic and technological means nothing to them. Don’t make the mistake of thinking of them as machines or cyborgs and especially avoid thinking of them as humanlike. They’re true aliens that have nothing in common with us. It’s amazing we can even communicate with them.”
“Great. That’s just fantastic. Why don’t you let me go so I can head for Earth where I can find someone who can really help,” Kimberly said. “I bet you were the one who pissed off the Burners in the first place.”
“I’ve never faced them directly, only their opposites. The real name for the Burners is Ignari. The other half of the equation are the Noctari. If I let you go to Earth, it will only be to warn them. They can’t help your admiral or me.”
“What do you mean, warn Earth?”
“Sirens, the Ignari, and the Noctari have all been to Earth several times. Fortunately, they decided not to leave the galaxy that way.”
“I wish they’d leave. Then things could go back to where they wer
e,” Kimberly said.
Jeda locked her hardest stare on the young woman. “Never wish for that. The reason they never used the jump point is twofold; it’s too small for all of them to get through, and it would drain our sun of all its energy.”
Kimberly shook her head in denial.
“It’s how they move their largest ships.”
“That’s insanity,” Kimberly said, rushing her words as she pondered the new information. “You have to be wrong. We’ve relied on the Guide for generations of space travel.”
Jeda’s dropped her voice into a husky whisper as she stepped close to the young woman. “That’s top secret information, Miss DeVries. Did Robedeaux tell you that?”
“The UNA isn’t the only organization traveling the stars,” Kimberly answered.
“Did Danzig Robedeaux tell you about the Guide?”
“No.”
“What did he tell you?”
Kimberly’s back stiffened. “He told me to go for help. You’re obviously not it.”
11
Cronin and Eigon
Smoke covered the battlefield. Cronin moved among the carnage, chipped sword in his primary hand. Burns and abrasions covered his body—assaulting his will with bone-deep pain. His armor was damaged. Hunger consumed him from the inside and thirst was the angel of death luring him toward sleep.
Anin, Soou, and Trigen were dead, along with their battle groups. The defensive square he had used to fend off the Ignari could no longer hold. He needed to move his army despite the danger this would entail.
“What would you have me do, Ontin?” he asked his new second-in-command. The Nix warrior was missing all of his tertiary arms. Rumors suggested he had removed them as unnecessary. His secondary arms, by contrast, were stronger than many of his comrades’ primary appendages. He was big even for a Nix and dark blue like the horizon at dusk when most of their caste were earth tones.
The dark Nix giant said nothing.
“I must go to Eigon and seek an alliance.”
“There can be no alliance,” Ontin said. “Not with her. Not with any of the Siren or their mindless Siren-nix.”