"No shit. What's with that, anyway?” Nick grumbled as he followed Del to the lift.
"Intimidation."
"It works,” his brother mumbled, throwing a bitter look over his shoulder at the massive desk.
Del chuckled as he closed them in the lift and keyed the pilot's quarters. “At least I'm not the only one."
"Tell me you didn't make a permanent arrangement with these people,” his brother demanded.
"Can't. Signed a contract,” Del replied, ignoring the disgusted look on Nick's face.
"Sun's sake, Del—” his brother started, but Del cut him off by stepping out of the lift. Moving down the corridor to his quarters, he thumbed open the door and waved Nick in.
"Welcome,” a female voice greeted them, and it took Del several long seconds to remember his newly activated AI. He cursed under his breath as Nick turned a startled look on him.
"Ah ... AI, do you have some kind of privacy mode or something?"
"Of course. When you require my assistance again, simply request the VRS to resume. Privacy mode is now on."
There was a pregnant silence in which Nick stared at him with raised eyebrows. “You have an AI."
"Apparently,” Del said with weary amusement as he moved into his new home.
"How the hell did you rate one of those?"
"Don't ask me. I guess the Shays develop those, too, and all of us pilots have ‘em.” He paused at the entrance to the kitchen. “Drink or something? I'm still getting used to the place, so I'm not sure what I've got."
"Anything wet would be good,” Nick answered, looking around with curious eyes.
Del did some exploring and discovered a fully stocked bar. With a grin, he pulled out two glasses and proceeded to make a couple of supernovas. May as well get this reunion started with a bang.
"It's a huge place, Del. How are you gonna fill it all?"
"No clue, little brother,” Del answered as he reentered the living room. “At this point I'm just trying to get used to having a place again. Here, try this on for size,” he said with a grin, handing the colorful drink to Nick. “Start slow, though—it's got a hell of a kick."
Nick gave the glass a dubious look and then sipped cautiously. But as Del knew from experience, caution meant nothing with a supernova. He chuckled to see his brother gasping and blinking furiously to clear tear-blurred vision.
"Sun and Stars,” Nick rasped, and Del gave him a friendly clap on the shoulder.
"I know, it burns like hell, but it grows on you.” He moved to sit on the couch and with a fortifying breath, sipped his own drink. When he blinked his eyes clear, his brother was sitting next to him with a grin on his face.
"Masochist,” Nick accused, and Del laughed.
"Seriously, you get used to it.” To prove his point, he took a second sip, which was a little less vicious. “So tell me about your life, little brother,” he managed to say without croaking. “How the hell did you get to be a FPAI?"
"Nope, you first. I need to know how deep you are into the Shays, starting with this contract."
"Well, hell, you can read it for yourself,” Del muttered a bit defensively and turned on the viewer. He pulled up his own file, which was mostly empty at this point, and found the contract. “I had to make her add the part about the debt she paid off to the Core."
Nick shot him a look he couldn't interpret—his little brother really had changed—and then leaned forward to read the contract with sharp intensity. Del watched him and knew exactly when he reached the part about the credit. A quick frown pulled his eyebrows together and he shot Del another look, this one easier to read.
"What's with the extra credit? That's way over a hundred thou."
"Griffin made sure letting me go was worth the effort,” Del answered with no small bitterness.
"Griffin? The Griffin, the CEO of Quasicore?"
"Yeah. Sin cut a deal with him directly."
Nick shook his head in amazement, glancing over the rest of the contract before turning a worried frown on Del. “Listen, brother, be careful with the Shays. This contract sounds like a friggin’ dream come true. I don't trust it, and I don't trust them. I won't pretend to know everything about them or what they're up to, but I know enough to be nervous. The Shays aren't Core, but they deal with them all the time and not legally. The weird thing is, the FPA knows about it but doesn't do anything, and I don't know what that's all about either. I'm an investigator and I can find out, but it's gonna take me some time. I'm new and I've gotta be careful myself."
Not exactly comforting words, considering that Del had already signed his life over to them. But he wasn't surprised either. Deep down he'd been expecting this—he'd had enough hints. What was surprising was how defeated and depressed it made him feel. And how alone.
"Don't worry about me, Nick. Compared to the Core, these guys are pussycats.” He smiled for his brother and took a large swallow of his supernova. The burn was a welcome distraction.
Nick took a drink from his own glass and then stared down at it with a frown. “I suppose if you have to be an indentured servant, this ain't such a bad setup. I just don't want you to get in so far you can't get out again.” He raised his head and looked at Del with his familiar dark eyes, conflicting emotions making them vibrant. “You did that with the Core, for me. I can't let you do it again."
"Won't happen, bro. Count on it."
"I'll keep working from my end. So far the Shays don't seem to have a problem with me getting in touch with you...” His voice trailed off, and he stared into the distance with a frown of confusion. “She actually insisted I come see you. Not that I was going to refuse, but still. You're bound to tell me stuff. Why would she want an FPAI to have that kind of access to her company?"
"You're workin’ your brain too hard, Nick. Let it go. I haven't seen you for ten years, and I wanna know what you've been doing all that time."
Nick gave him a half smile and shrug of one shoulder. “My story's easy. After you left, I was determined to help you, do my part to pay off the debt. So as soon as I was old enough, I joined the FPA service—the watch force, not the infantry. Worked my way up and became an inspector. Like I said before, my orienting partner knows some things about the Shays and he likes to talk. Probably why he's a newbie orienter instead of doing his own investigating. He gave me the idea to approach the Shays about you. He told me that they like to snag people out from under the Core and put ‘em to work in their courier service. I was hoping they'd get you out with no strings attached if I paid for it. Guess I was wrong.” He grimaced and ran a hand through his wavy dark hair.
"Well, I'm out from under the Core, so it ain't all bad."
"Yeah. Let's just hope it's not a frying pan to fire kind of thing."
They toasted that thought and downed the rest of their drinks. Del shuddered at the wildfire spread of heat through his body and watched his brother grimace.
"Eh, that's acid,” Nick rasped. “Got more?"
Del chuckled and took his brother's empty glass. “You'll have to stay here tonight. Another one of these and we'll both be flat out."
"Actually, the Shays have set me up in guest quarters. Told me I could stay as long as I wanted. I don't have much leave time yet, but if I put this down as an investigation, I'd be in the clear to stay."
Del shrugged and got to his feet, remaining where he was for a long moment while he made sure his legs would hold. The last time he'd supernova-ed, he'd had a full stomach. “Sounds good to me. Come help me find food. I'm starving, and I'm pretty sure another of these damned drinks will kill me on an empty stomach."
Nick chuckled and followed him into the kitchen, swearing under his breath as he bumped into the counter. He saw Del grinning at him and glowered back. “Don't start. You're not too steady on your feet either, brother."
"Dinner for two, then. Let's see what we've got."
They rummaged through the kitchen which appeared to be fully stocked, coming up with a couple of reconstructe
d steak dinners and another round of supernovas. They sat down to eat at the kitchen table and Del told part of his own story, from when he fled the Core to the present. They'd finished dinner and were working on a couple of pieces of apple pie when Del described his first flight in a Shadow. He was gratified to see his brother stop eating and stare at him with a rapt expression.
"Damn, I thought those things were just a pretty rumor. Think they'd let me take a look at one tomorrow?"
"Don't see why not,” Del answered with a grin. This at least was very familiar territory—seeing the eagerness in his brother's eyes was like taking a trip back through time. Their father had gotten them started with slicing, but he hadn't predicted how hard his sons would fall in love with it.
"I haven't sliced in years,” Nick said, looking down at his pie pensively. “It didn't seem right to enjoy something so much when it was the reason we're in this mess. But hearing you talk about it like that makes me wanna get back into it."
"I don't think they'll let you fly a Shadow, but I've got an X780 that I'm not using. We're damned near the same build now, so it wouldn't need much adjusting."
Nick flashed him a grin that was both familiar and strange to Del—not only were his brother's features changed, but there was a masculine confidence in that expression that was new. “Brother, you got yourself a deal."
As they cleaned up the kitchen, Nick asked him a few casual questions about Del's account of what had happened to him. At first, Del answered without thinking about it, but after a few minutes he looked at his brother with new eyes. The questions weren't as casual as they seemed—Nick had already started his investigation. Del didn't object, answering as fully as he could while they made their way back into the living room. When Nick paused to lean back against the sofa with one arm draped along the back, sipping thoughtfully at his drink, Del decided to try a few questions of his own.
"So how do you know that the Shays deal illegally with the Core?"
"My partner saw classified files on that, but I don't have proof myself."
"FPA files?"
"Yeah."
"So it's not just a matter of some FPA agent being in one company or the other's pocket and looking the other way—they've actually documented it?"
"Right again."
"But then why would they let it go on?"
"Don't know."
Del mused on this for a moment. “Sounds like somebody a lot higher up the FPA food chain has been bought."
"That was my take on it, too."
"Maybe you should leave it alone, then. Work it from this side of space instead. No telling what kind of trouble you could get in if you start investigating the FPA itself."
"I'll be careful, but I can't just drop it."
Del shook his head, but couldn't fault his brother for trying to do what was right. “Any clue why the Shays would want Core rejects?"
"None."
"How about how they found me in the Fringe?"
"From what I hear, they've got some strange contacts in strange places. They probably put the word out and waited for somebody to roll on you."
That made sense to Del. He could even guess who'd been the one to give the Shays his location—Hector. But why then did the slimy bastard act so freaked when they'd shown up?
"They definitely have some kind of hold over those people,” he muttered, thinking of Hector with his hands tucked protectively in his armpits.
"What makes you say that?"
Del described in more detail his first encounter with the Shays. He avoided certain things like how incredibly he and Sin had flown together and their devastating kiss, putting more emphasis on the reactions of everyone else. Nick listened without interrupting, but his expression became more concerned as time went on.
When Del finished, his brother said quietly, “You admire them."
It was an unexpected comment, and Del shifted in his seat. “They're ... unique.” There was a coolly assessing look in his brother's eyes that made him feel like a bug under a scope.
"And Sinsudee Shay is a beautiful woman."
Del could feel the skin of his cheekbones heat, but he tried to keep his composure as best he could. The alcohol didn't help. With a wry half smile, he inclined his head. “Noticed that, too, huh?"
"I noticed that you noticed. She's a seriously unhealthy choice, brother. Aren't there other women on this station? There's gotta be at least one who'll put up with you."
Del responded to his brother's teasing look with a menacing frown. “Watch that lip, boy,” he growled. “You ain't grown so big that I can't still whoop your ass."
His brother's laughter was a deeper version of what it used to be, but it still had the same contagious quality. Chuckling along with him, Del proceeded to tell him about the other women he'd met so far. Nick was nearly crying with laughter over Del's woeful attempt to fend off Bib, and he was callously amused by his rendition of Cassie's slave driving.
"You make her sound like a little dragon."
"Just don't call her a geek,” Del muttered, giving an exaggerated shudder.
To take the focus off of his own inadequate love life, he asked Nick how he was doing in that area and found out that Nick wasn't Sun-bonded or seriously attached to anyone. In fact, his romantic attachments had been nearly as sporadic as Del's own. He cited lack of time for his lack of success, and Del nodded in perfect understanding. It wasn't just time, he knew—close attachments left a person vulnerable, and neither one of them had been able to afford that, considering the circumstances.
This subject led to others, which led to a third and then a fourth round of supernovas. After that, the night became a bit of a blur for Del. He remembered laughing a lot and talking about old times, but the specifics were lost in a hazy cloud of alcohol. When he found himself listening to his brother with his eyes closed, he decided to call it a night.
"Fallin’ ‘sleep sittin’ up,” he complained and made a face when Nick snickered over his slurred words. “Won't think i'so funny t'morrow."
Standing was a triumph of human will, and Del weaved proudly across the room to the bedroom to retrieve bedding for his brother. He managed to make it back to the sofa, but Nick had already fallen asleep and was snoring like a slicer with a converter problem, head tilted at an awkward angle.
Alternating between snickers and curses, Del took several long minutes to maneuver him to a horizontal position with his head on a pillow. He wasted a full minute wrestling with the blanket before he managed to get it to cover at least part of his brother. Calling that good enough, he staggered back to his room and threw himself into bed. With a sigh of relief, he closed his eyes and seconds later was either asleep or unconscious.
Chapter 8
"Sun's mercy,” Del muttered between clenched teeth, clutching his head with desperate hands.
"Shh, you loud bastard,” Nick whispered next to him, not bothering to raise his head from the cradle of his arms.
"I think today,” Del said carefully, lowering his voice to an accommodating whisper, “I'm going to kill Manakai Shay."
"Good,” Nick mumbled, reaching slowly out to wrap a trembling hand around his coffee mug without lifting his head. There was a pause as the two of them suffered in silence. Then Nick continued, “Why's that again?"
"He's the one who showed me how to make those Sun-cursed novas."
"Then I definitely want a turn."
"Perhaps I may be of assistance,” a feminine voice interrupted their murder plans. A very loud feminine voice.
Both men groaned in agony.
"Make it stop,” Nick moaned into the tabletop, letting go of his coffee mug to cover his head.
"AI, if you don't shut up, I'm disconnecting you,” Del hissed through clenched teeth.
"Samantha,” she answered in a much reduced volume.
"What?"
"That is what the two of you named me last night."
"We did?"
"Yes. I believe the term for what you are
suffering right now is a hangover. Is this correct?"
Nick carefully raised his head and squinted at Del. “Does she have to rub it in?” he whispered.
"I have several remedies for hangovers in my database. All are quite effective and from your conditions, necessary."
"I think she's laughing at us,” Del gritted, gingerly massaging his temples.
"If you would place yourselves in the treatment tube, I can give you injections for the pain and nausea. After that, I have liquid substances you must consume. These will reduce your symptoms as well as your dehydration."
"Definitely making fun,” Nick mumbled and lowered his head back to the cradle of his arms. Neither man moved for several minutes.
"When do you plan to enter the treatment tube?” Samantha finally asked, her smooth AI voice taking on a note of impatience.
"Leave us alone, Sam,” Del grumbled, taking a careful sip of coffee.
"The treatment is for your own good and you will feel much improved afterwards.” Neither answered her. “I am programmed to do my best to assist you in all matters, including your health. I must insist that you comply with this treatment."
"Did she talk this much last night?” Nick's muffled voice rose from the table.
"If you do not comply, I will be forced to increase the volume on my speech centers."
"Threats now,” Del muttered heavily. “I think I'll kill whoever installed the AI, too."
"Good thinkin',” his brother responded.
They began moving, assisting each other like a couple of invalids. Feeling all sorts of noble, Del tucked his brother in the treatment tube first and then leaned his throbbing head against the cool wall with a long-suffering sigh. What seemed like several hours later, Nick came out and helped him into the tube. A cool and soothing aerosol was blown into his face as a pinprick of pain entered his arm. Moments later, the throbbing in his head seemed to ebb away like a tide. His stomach also stopped lurching with every movement of his eyeballs, and he started to feel like a human being again.
Stepping out of the treatment tube, he grinned in relief at his brother who handed him a tall glass of liquid. He downed it in several long swallows. “Okay, so maybe she's not so bad after all."
Sunscapes Trilogy Book 1: Last Chance Page 12