by Wells, Juno
"OK, Lucy. Time to get something to eat."
"3,000 dehna for the bike."
Drennan glared at the squat, beady-eyed Stoathian. Something about the heat stunted their growth and made their skin rough and leathery.
"Lucy not for sale," said Drennan in halting Stoath tongue. Even if he were to ever be forced to consider parting with his precious red beauty that gleamed magnificently whenever the sunlight caught her at just the right angle, he would not sell her for a measly three thousand dehna. She was worth at least ten times that.
"Lucy? I don't want Lucy. I want the bike."
"Not for sale. No. Go away."
The Stoath man sneered and spat into the dust near Drennan's feet. It was the planet's traditional way of stating intense dislike. Unconcerned by the man's sentiments, Drennan turned his back to him and locked the under seat storage to dissuade thievery.
Covered in barren lands and deserts, not much flourished on Stoath. The residents survived mainly on cactus juice and the meat of scorpion-like bugs. As Drennan walked amongst the people in the planet's most active city, he wondered why anyone would willingly stay in a place like this. If the intense heat didn't drive him off Stoath's terrible surface, the constant dust and general sense of neglect would certainly do it. In his past life, he'd once been ordered to stay on Stoath for a Union Standard month. It had felt like a year.
His stomach rumbled again. He didn't look forward to the prospect of cactus juice and wabi meat, but it was far more appealing than his ship's tasteless, packaged porridge. As he approached a local bar, Drennan took small comfort that at least nothing had changed in the many odd years since he'd been there.
Embedded in the ground beside the bar, a holographic news display flashed updates on important matters concerning the various planets within the Union. The news display's smooth chrome base looked out of place beside the dirty and questionably erect wooden walls of the bar. Drennan's gaze slid away from the display but immediately snapped back when an image of a young woman blossomed into view. A heading emblazoned in Union Standard text above her head read:
MISSING: CAITLIN OYARI – DAUGHTER OF KARL OYARI
The text continued to change, morphing into the many languages of other planets. Caitlin Oyari, daughter of Earth's twenty-fifth ambassador, Karl Oyari. Last seen a Standard week ago, the stated reward for her safe return was substantial. Drennan didn't pay much attention to it. He gazed at the human female with warm beige skin, dressed in Earth's royal gown of ivory and sienna. Her dark curls caressed her shoulder blades and her painted pink lips remained unsmiling. Gripped by the sight of her, he stared into the solemn brown eyes of the woman's holographic image. He felt as though she was staring back and it unnerved him.
Save me.
A tightness in his chest, Drennan averted his gaze from the image. She looked so much like Leina. Too much. No matter how far he ran, Leina would forever follow him. Her features imbued in the faces of other young women. Her quiet, sorrowful voice in his head. Reminders of how he failed her were constant and excruciating. A just punishment from which he would never be pardoned.
Pushing open the bar's door, Drennan fell to his old habits from his days in the military by assessing the bar's surroundings, occupants, and available escape routes in the event of danger. The bar held a smattering of people and they all appeared harmless. A group sat in one of the darker corners, laughing and talking boisterously. Though their features were obscured by the gloom, Drennan noticed a grey tail with dark sports swishing lazily on the floor.
Muridians.
His hand drifted to his gun secured at his waist beneath his shirt. He had to make sure it was ready. Just in case.
"Don't see much caesins around these parts."
He looked away from the group of muridians to the short, plump Stoath woman smiling up at him.
"They are not foolish like me to be here," said Drennan as he moved to a rickety table nearest the bar's doors.
She laughed. "I like you. What do you want?"
"The usual."
She didn't need clarification. With a quick rap of her knuckles on the table, she bustled off to prepare his meal. His stomach rumbled persistently as he waited. He distracted himself from the hunger by eavesdropping on the muridians. Their spoken language was akin to their antagonistic nature—harsh and loud like if they were coughing out their words. Nevertheless, he understood their language far better than he did the Stoath's.
"…we'll be rich from this one." A round of laughter.
"Pretty little thing she is. We should have some fun with her first."
"Yeah, I never had a human bitch before."
"Fine idea, Taurek. She needs a good, hard lesson about the dangers outside her puny planet." More raucous laughter and a startled, feminine cry that made Drennan aware of the degenerating situation.
"Let me go, you filthy rat!" demanded the woman in Union Standard language. The crispness of her speech proof she was not the type to be in willing company of beasts from the darker side of the galaxy. It amazed Drennan she didn't sound afraid, but then she let out another cry.
Don't get involved, Drennan thought, but he was already on his feet and striding toward the group. A long time ago, he'd ignored the pleas of someone—someone precious to him—and even now he still paid the price for that error. Though he didn't know this woman, he was unwilling to make the same mistake twice.
"With the reward her father's handing out, I bet he's already taught her a few—"
"I have to admit, I can see why the lady doesn't want to be around you lot," Drennan interrupted in amiable tones. He catalogued the occupants at the table. Three muridians and the woman. Drennan's gaze froze on her face. Dark, curly hair, light brown skin, russet eyes filled with mystery and sorrow.
Caitlin Oyari.
Click here to read the full story.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
About the Book
Excerpt
Chapter One: Marissa
Chapter Two: Marissa
Chapter Three: Marissa
Chapter Four: Aizak
Chapter Five: Marissa
Chapter Six: Aizak
Chapter Seven: Marissa
Chapter Eight: Aizak
Chapter Nine: Marissa
Chapter Ten: Aizak
Chapter Eleven: Aizak
Chapter Twelve: Marissa
Epilogue
Preview: Trouble
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