Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  “Then why remain locked inside IG Headquarters if you weren’t worried about being identified?”

  Garin’s persistence was starting to annoy Haven. She crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap, but her fingers were clenched this time as if she were trying to keep from punching Garin in the face. “One of our longtime contacts is a member of the IG council. I attended a party shortly after I arrived so I could speak with him face-to-face. That’s where I met Javin and his interest in me caused quite a stir. Everyone wanted to know the identity of the mysterious female who’d captured the attention of Rodymia’s most eligible bachelor.”

  “So you became a recluse.”

  “More or less.” She sighed then returned to the original subject. “Anyway, when you spend that much time with a person, it’s inevitable that you hear and see things you weren’t intended to hear or see. At least that’s what happens when one person is hiding important things from the other.”

  “You’re still being evasive. What, specifically, did you hear or see that first made you suspicious of your mate? You said yourself, the shuttle explosion wasn’t the first incident.”

  Garin never settled for generalities. He offered the same level of openness in return. Unfortunately, Haven didn’t know him well enough to understand this was an exchange.

  She bristled and for a moment Danvier thought she’d rebel. One of her legs began to bounce on the ball of her foot as she fought some inner battle. Then she swallowed and spoke in a calm clear tone. “At first it was just little things that didn’t make sense. He’d tell me one thing then tell others something that contradicted what he’d told me. I grew suspicious enough that I asked someone to help me hack into Javin’s com files.”

  “What did you learn?”

  “That the Javin I knew didn’t exist.” The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable, but her emotions were remarkable subdued. “The real Javin collected intellectual property like pirate’s booty, not caring who he hurt in the process. He was utterly ruthless. Those that opposed him in any way simply disappeared. And there was no one for his victims to complain to because the IG controls law enforcement and Javin controlled the IG. I didn’t want to believe it, but the evidence we uncovered was inescapable. I’d bonded with a mobster.”

  “So you confronted Javin with what you’d learned and he tried to kill you. The bodyguard saved your life, so you bought him enough time to leave the star system. Do I have it right so far?” She nodded. “What did you do with Javin’s body?”

  Haven shuddered and a burst of emotions too convoluted to define stabbed into Danvier’s mind. He was relieved to feel the reaction. Her feelings were so suppressed he’d started to wonder if someone had bound them with a compulsion. Apparently, she was just disciplined and determined not to reveal how she felt. It wasn’t surprising really. If her demeanor hinted that something was seriously wrong, it could have led to her exposure.

  “Initially we just moved him and cleaned up the mess,” she told Garin. “But as the weeks flew by, I was terrified someone would find him. So I had his remains incinerated.” Another violent shudder followed the admission.

  “You still haven’t told me why the prolonged deception was necessary.”

  She paused again, but her expression was more contemplative than sorrowful. “Javin had negotiated a contract between two rival companies. Despite his myriad faults, he was really good at convincing hostile parties to find a common ground, especially when he benefited from the consensus. This particular deal was extremely hard to accomplish.”

  “Are you talking about bio-stream technology?”

  “Your sources are impressive,” she admitted. “You seem to know everything.”

  Garin’s only response was a half-smile.

  “One company produced the actual devise and the other was responsible for the operating system that controlled it. They’d been bitter rivals for decades, but Javin convinced them to work together. And bio-streaming technology isn’t just a convenience. They’re using it to rescue people trapped inside burning buildings and to instantaneously transport organs needed for transplantation. The possible applications are staggering.”

  Garin’s eyes narrowed as he said, “I followed those events closely. As you said, bio-streaming is one of the most important advancements of the past century. If Javin passed beyond four months ago, then the negotiations were finalized three weeks after his death.”

  Danvier couldn’t help but ask, “How did you accomplish that one?”

  Haven shrugged. “I used a voice modulator. Javin’s personal assistant, one of only three people who knew the truth, attended the meeting and Javin was available for questions through an audio-only connection.”

  “And no one suspected that you were actually Javin?” A hint of admiration crept into Garin’s tone.

  “I knew his favorite phrases and had studied the deal in-depth. I’d found recordings of previous meetings, so I was able to reference things each party had said in the past.”

  “That explains the first month,” Garin pressed. “What justifies the other three?”

  “More of the same. I kept waiting for a pause in IG activities, an opportunity to announce his passing that wouldn’t harm or disrupt in a major way. Javin was an amoral bastard, but he was also the connective tissue that stabilized countless deals.”

  “I think that statement is true, but it’s not complete.” Garin scooted closer to the desk and rested his forearms on the desktop. “I want you to be brutally honest with me. Was there another reason?”

  She knew what he was asking. Danvier could feel her reluctance to speak the words.

  “I liked being Javin,” she finally admitted. “Is that what you want to hear? That sort of power is intoxicating, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

  Garin chuckled, clearly amused by the subtle slur. “Indeed it is. I only have a few more questions. Who is most likely to take Javin’s place? And where does the IG council stand on the battle born rebellion?”

  “Vardon or Serian,” she mused.

  Garin shook his head. “Serian is too old and Vardon is too easily influenced. He changes his positions continually.”

  “What do you think about Letos?” She tilted her head, studying Garin as she waited for his answer.

  Garin leaned back slightly, folding his hands on his flat belly. “Letos is still a mystery. The reports I get on him are so contradictory, I can’t determine what’s real.” After a thoughtful pause, he prompted, “And the rebellion? I know Javin wanted to remain neutral, but we’re nearing the point when everyone must choose a side.”

  “Most of the councilmembers are greedy cowards. They’ll try to stay in the shadows until the fighting is finished.”

  “I have no problem with that. I have plenty of soldiers. But I will need the IG’s support once the new leader or leaders are chosen.” She didn’t reply, so Garin continued after a thoughtful pause. “I believe Tandori Tribe will play an important role in coming events. Are you interested in exploring an alliance with the battle born? And if so, are you authorized to negotiate on their behalf? I will no longer negotiate with Ulrik.”

  “I just returned after a lengthy absence. May I have a day or two to determine the answer to those questions?”

  “Things are happening too quickly for this to drag on. I’ll give you until tomorrow morning. If Tandori Tribe wants no part of this, I need to know ASAP.” Garin pushed back from his desk and stood. “The guard outside will escort you back to your apartment.”

  Haven didn’t look happy about the arrangement. “That’s not necessary.”

  “Unmated females are required to have an escort at all times,” Garin told her.

  A rebellious smile bowed her lips, but she wisely kept silent. Berlynn had taken her shopping without an escort that morning, so she’d already broken the rule.

  “It’s for your own safety,” Danvier reinforced. “Ulrik is an acceptable escort. Berlynn is not. Neither you nor your niece should
be wandering around without protection.”

  Haven pushed to her feet and smoothed down her skirt as she challenged, “Are your men really so undisciplined as to attack a helpless female?”

  “We’re not going to find out. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Garin motioned her toward the door.

  Danvier watched her until he couldn’t see her anymore, then he realized they’d neglected to broach an important issue. “Garin, it’s more than likely all of Haven’s assets have been seized by the crown. Is it possible to retrieve them for her?”

  “Almost anything is possible.” Garin’s smile turned sly. “But I’d be more interested in helping an ally than a reluctant guest.”

  “Understood.” When Danvier rose and started to follow Haven, Garin stopped him.

  “We have other matters to discuss.”

  Danvier reluctantly sank back onto his chair and tried to focus on Garin. Haven’s scent lingered in his nose and he felt her absence like a full-body ache.

  “How much of what she told me was true?”

  Garin didn’t need to ask if Danvier had been scanning her. The situation was too important for Danvier not to have been. “All of it. I sensed no deception or dishonesty. She feels guilty about how Javin died, but she doesn’t feel responsible.” Her emotions hadn’t been quite that precise, but Danvier was certain she’d been telling the truth.

  Garin stared at him for a long, silent moment. “Are you compatible with her? I’ve never seen you so fidgety during an interrogation.”

  He had no secrets from Garin. Their bond made deception almost impossible. Harbingers anchored their abilities by forming a psychic bond with a strong, emotionally stable person. Garin was Danvier’s anchor, so he knew Danvier better than anyone.

  “I am, but I see no reason to invite more upheaval into my life. The rebellion must come first.”

  “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard you say. If you’ve discovered a possible mate, you will explore the attraction.”

  “You realize if I claim her, our anchor bond will need to be released,” Danvier reminded him. “A harbinger can’t have more than one anchor. You would no longer benefit from my visions as frequently as you do now.”

  “I’m not that selfish,” Garin sounded insulted by the possibility. “Besides, Chandar is anchored to Raylon now and what affects me generally affects Raylon. If you’ve found your mate, I’ll gladly stand aside. Explore the attraction. That, my friend, is an order.”

  “Yes, sir,” Danvier offered with a lazy smile. It was unlikely his body would have allowed him to ignore the mating pull anyway.

  “We have to make our move soon, but I’m not sure if a destabilized IG works to our advantage or not.”

  “Maybe you’re looking at this backward. If we handpick Javin’s replacement, then we’ll have the support of the IG when we move against Quinton. I think the IG needs to come first.”

  Garin sank back onto his chair with a frustrated sigh. “Javin and I had gone back and forth for months. I honestly thought I could win him over.”

  “Javin’s support might not have been the advantage you thought if what Haven said was true.”

  “It’s not that I doubt what she told us. I’m just not sure any of the other councilmembers are any better. Most of them are hopelessly elite and driven by greed.”

  They lapsed into silence as they digested all they’d learned in the last hour. “What’s our next move?”

  “There are too many variables on Rodymia right now. We need more information before we proceed. Earth, however, is in need of immediate attention. With or without Tandori Tribe, we need to lock in our deal with the humans.”

  * * * * *

  Pyre Sterling wove her way through the rowdy throng in the pleasure dome of Outpost LA. The coarse manners and leering stares of the surrounding people fascinated her. She seldom left the capital, much less the planet, and there was nowhere she could go on Rodymia where she wasn’t recognized and adored. The last thought made her smile. People didn’t adore her. They feared her, which was even more meaningful in the long run. It was easier to control people through fear than adoration.

  “Have you ever been here before?” Arrix, her bodyguard/lover, looked around in wide-eyed wonder, clearly enthralled by the hedonistic atmosphere.

  “A time or two.” She offered no more information and Arrix knew better than to ask.

  Outpost LA wasn’t large compared to many spaceports, but it was surprisingly busy, considering the vast majority of humans had no idea it existed. Submerged in the ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, the complex consisted of six large domes, each with a different purpose. Each dome was connected to the others by tubular walkways, allowing the occupants to move easily from one area to the next. Though the pleasure dome was the same size as the research and administrative domes, it was infinitely more popular.

  Every vice imaginable could be indulged in the tiny shops and lavish clubs lining the four main streets. Pyre’s purpose for being here, however, had nothing to do with sex or intoxication. Outpost LA was merely a layover on her way to her final destination, Lunar Nine.

  She made a beeline for Club Norax, one of the most popular venues. Javin Aidentar, former Integration Guild Master, had recruited the club’s owner for his network of spies, so Pyre had recruited the club’s head of security to spy on Javin’s spy. It was all rather silly. The outpost was remote and catered to the working class, so Pyre had never understood what Javin expected to learn. Still, Enjis, her spy, was now perfectly placed to assist with her current mission.

  Club Norax dominated the largest intersection in the heart of the pleasure dome. Milanni, or Lady M as she was known to her customers, might be a mediocre spy, but she was a shrewd businesswoman. Pyre didn’t know her well, but she was impressed with all Milanni had been able to accomplish in such a rustic location.

  A simple, brightly lit sign was centered over the door to the club, but the rest of the building was intentionally nondescript. Club Norax depended on word-of-mouth advertising for the majority of its customers. But once Pyre stepped through the front door, she felt as if she’d entered an alternate reality. Unlike so many pleasure dungeons, there was nothing medieval about Club Norax. Everything was sleek and metallic, modern and bright.

  An elegantly dressed hostess greeted them with a friendly smile.

  “Enjis is expecting me,” Pyre told the girl. “Please let him know I’ve arrived.”

  “May I give him your name?”

  “He knows who I am.”

  The young woman accepted the evasion with another smile. “Would you like a drink while you wait?”

  “No. We’re in somewhat of a hurry.”

  “Of course. Then please enjoy the view.” She motioned them toward the archway leading to the club’s interior then went to find Enjis.

  The archway led to a wide railed observation area that was slightly elevated from the main floor of the club. Couples and small groups were gathered around an assortment of apparatuses designed to restrain or position one partner while the other, or others, intensified their pleasure through pain. Anyone that objected to being watched could book one of the rooms upstairs, but most enjoyed the spectacle.

  “This place is…unexpected.” Arrix sounded surprisingly unsettled, yet the distinct bulge in the front of his pants revealed the nature of his discomfort.

  A sharp cry drew Pyre’s gaze to a voluptuous female on her right. Her hands were bound overhead and a blindfold kept her from seeing what her master would do next. Her ass was deeply flushed and doubtlessly hot from a vigorous spanking. Her master now caressed her lush breasts with a multi-strand flogger, teasing her, building the tension. There was a brutal sort of beauty to her punishment. Pyre found it all transfixing.

  She glanced at her companion then returned her gaze to the action before them. “You’ve never visited this sort of club back home? They’re not at all hard to find.” They frequently incorporated pain in their sexual play, so
she knew Arrix had to be titillated.

  “I only meant that the outside of the building doesn’t hint at what’s going on inside.”

  “That’s part of the fun.” She offered him a lazy smile. “Being in on the secret.”

  The hostess returned a few minutes later with Enjis in tow. She motioned him toward Pyre then returned to her post by the front door.

  “This was a lot more complicated than I realized it would be,” Enjis grumbled. He was tall and burly with blunt, almost homely features. His words were few and far between, a quality Pyre appreciated.

  “Were you able to gather everything I need?”

  “Yeah, but it’s going to cost you more. I blew through the entire transfer just for bribes.”

  “That’s not a problem,” she assured him.

  “Good.” He handed her a digi-doc. The thin, flexible display was neatly folded in fourths. “That will get you through security both here and where you’re going. There’s a supply ship leaving at noon tomorrow. I’ve booked two seats as you directed.” He glanced at Arrix, speculation clear in his dark eyes.

  She hated depending on anyone for anything, but approaching Lunar Nine in her own ship would have been counterproductive to her plan. She didn’t want the rebels—Chandar and Danvier in particular—to know she’d left Rodymia. “Very good.”

  “That still leaves tonight,” Enjis pointed out. “I can arrange for a room somewhere quiet or you’re welcome to one of the rooms upstairs.”

  Lust rolled through her body, pooling between her thighs, as she thought of all the fun she could have with Arrix in a place like this. “Let’s keep it simple. We’ll just stay here.”

  Enjis nodded toward the digi-doc. “Look it over before you leave and make sure you have everything you need.”

  “I will. Thanks for your assistance.” She motioned toward his hand and he extended it, palm up. She pressed her thumb into the center of his palm to authorize an additional transfer.

  “Claim any room that’s unlocked. We’re sort of slow tonight.”