by Casey Lea
Sharpeye slid forward to perch on the edge of the chair and peered at the young noble. Brown eyes and hair were coupled with dark gold skin. No sign of muck DNA there. No surprise in truth, since the Havens had spent several generations ignoring the BGP and marrying for love.
Blizzard glanced at the Princess, despite being at attention and Sharpeye sniffed. It seemed the family still bred from the same old fashioned motivation and the chick was utterly smitten by Goldown. That was irrelevant of course, the prize was in the boy's fully kres genome. The Arck also shifted his attention to Goldown. Perhaps there was some fun to be had here.
“The babe is truly healthy?”
He smiled when his daughter curtsied deeply again, tucking in her belly as well as she could. “She is completely well, sire. Her vitals are in the top percentile.”
“Hmmm,” the Arck considered his daughter, before granting her a much warmer smile. “I'm most pleased, Gold. Your ability to continue my line is a boon to our people and encourages me to finally name my new heir. It is most fitting that a male Arck should pass his throne to a female descendent.”
Goldown straightened and threw her head back, standing tall while her father beamed at her. He leaned forward so far he almost tipped from the chair. He caught himself awkwardly and there was a ripple of surprise around the room that matched his own. The stupid seat was clearly defective. Someone would have to pay for that. His smile returned. “It is with much pleasure that I formally invest my heir before these witnesses and name her as... Arckyn Brighteye FarFlight, my unborn granddaughter.”
Goldown blanched and actually staggered. How delightful. She must have truly believed he would finally name her. Blizzard hurried to support his wife, despite the fact that Sharpeye had not yet dismissed him. The Arck’s head started to ache and boredom returned. He had more important tasks ahead anyway.
Sharpeye looked to his first assistant and his jaw hardened again, locking his teeth so tight it was hard to force words past them. “Summon Raptor. I need to know everything about this Alliance my nephews are hiding behind. I will burn it around them and then cut their families down. My Empire is at war.”
25
Bounty on the Rim
Jace checked his com again, making sure all of the credit from his own account and the sale of the wrecked sliver was still there. It was of course. No one on this sorry planet was going to hack his personal program, but carrying so much cash still had him spooked. The sooner they bought a ship and got it to a more reputable berth the better. He looked up and grinned. Misty was already halfway down the first alley of the sale yard docks, completely undaunted by the dark and grimy surroundings. Jace lifted his pace to a jog and managed to catch her at the next intersection. They turned into an even narrower passage together. Jace swiveled while they walked, his eyes flicking over the ragtag array of ships for sale. They were the sorriest pieces of shi-
Misty stopped abruptly, hooking her hand into Jace's arm and twisting him to face another alley so dark and thin it was almost hidden. She gasped and started bouncing on her toes while squeezing his bicep. “I'm bonded, Ace. It's true love. Can we buy her? Please?”
She tugged his arm and the alley swallowed them in single file, but only briefly. She pulled him into a full run and they hurtled onto a tiny jetty seconds later.
Jace skidded to a halt with his toes over its edge and shared a grin with Misty who teetered beside him. He straightened, stepping back and then looked over her head to find the ship floating in the dock. Something twisted in his gut. “Oh, wow.”
In front of them was the most awesome vessel he had ever seen. He had a hologram just like it as a wall in his bedroom on Blossom, but that image didn't do the real craft justice. Not even close. He could hardly believe it. Even shadowed by the sprawl of Gratuity's cheapest dock it was stunning. What was the latest model t'ssaa strike ship doing in the rusty cradle of a Rim junkyard?
“Is she truly for sale?” Misty breathed and they stepped forward together, eyes locked on the vision ahead. The ship was lithe and glistening, every scale scintillating despite the low light. The hull seemed to gleam from within. Subtle curves ran the length of its rainbow body, each bristling with the sharp tips of a dozen hunter claws. It was poetry just waiting to be in motion. They finally stopped side-by-side with their toes off the edge of the dock again. The strike ship floated in front of them, just out of reach. They devoured it with their eyes, until Misty groaned and looked up at Jace with a shrug.
“She's gorgeous, but she wouldn't fit much. With a crew aboard there'd be little enough room for cargo.”
“No,” Jace agreed. “It would have to be small, but pay well.” He broke off and tipped his head back. The underside of the docks above was plastered with advertising. Well, advertising and wanted posters. Holograms offering substantial rewards for captured pirates were numerous. “You know what would fit in there?” Jace mused. “A brig.”
“A fine idea, my young'n.”
They both jumped and a ginger-haired head appeared from the far side of the t'ssaa ship. Jace managed to find a friendly smile, but Misty pressed closer to his side. He looked down and she was staring at the approaching human in apparent horror.
What's all over his face? her fronds asked with a rush of shock/pity and Jace started to laugh.
It's a beard. A fashion statement.
A fashion cry for help, Misty corrected, but stepped away from his side anyway. She crossed her arms and glowered at the salesman, so Jace was clearly on his own in this negotiation. He stepped forward to shake the man's proffered hand.
“Ace Pinion,” he introduced himself, while the scruffy seller pumped his arm enthusiastically. “This is my sister Misty.”
Sister? her fronds demanded, but he ignored her, even when her anger became obvious. Her eyes began to glow and he gripped the salesman's elbow to turn him away from Misty.
“Great to meet you, Ace,” the man beamed. “Duncan MacKenzie at your service, but you can call me Mac. I see you've a good eye for a ship.”
“She stands out,” Jace stated bluntly. “How did you find her?”
Mac raised both hands, before placing one over his heart. “Fair salvage, all nice'n legal and I've got the com work to prove it.” His studded wristband flashed to send Jace the data and Jace silently set Pertwing to check it. “This here's the latest model t'ssaa strike class ship and it's brand new. And I mean brand spanking. Which we can throw in with the price if you want.” Mac turned to leer at Misty, but when she looked up he straightened quickly and backed away.
“How much?” Jace asked and this time it was the salesman who moved close to his side.
“Well, I like you kids, but this is truly one of a kind and I mean one and only. You won't find anything like this'n-”
“How much?”
Mac looked sideways at Jace and licked his lips. “Well, I'm cutting my own wrists here and I mean slashing a vein, but for a couple of connoisseurs like you, who clearly appreciate a fine vessel...” Misty shifted from one foot to the other and Mac finally took the plunge. “A million.”
“A million credits?”
“I don't deal in beads, boy. Are you just kicking my tires here?”
Jace held the man's gaze and also held up his gold-banded wrist. “I've got half a million. What I want is honesty. Why so cheap? It's worth fifty, even on the Rim.”
Mac nodded his head and beamed. “You're a quick one, Ace, you surely are. You'd be a worthy master for such a beast. I'll admit, one redhead to another, I've got a little cash flow problem. Just at the moment and by the moment I mean a fraction of time. Less than a second. I just need a sale, well, yesterday really. So, for you I could manage half a mill. Though I have to say I'm in pain at that price and by pain I mean agony. So, what d'ya think?”
Jace exchanged a glance and a thought with Misty. She inclined her head toward Mac. He's holding back.
Jace frowned and stepped closer to tower over the dumpy human. “Not enough.
It's still too cheap. Why hasn't it sold already at that price?”
The human spread his hands and offered a grin that was more of a grimace. “Market fluctuations?”
“Let's go.”
The young couple turned away, but Mac leapt after them to grab Jace's arm and Misty's shoulder. Crap. Jace didn't even have time to warn him – only enough time to duck as the salesman flew over his head. The human landed on his back on the metal gantry, making it buck and Misty followed to drop onto his groin. His breath escaped as a shrill wheeze, until she tipped forward and slid her knees up his gut to tighten them against his ribs instead.
Her eyes blazed, but she smiled sweetly when she leaned further forward to rest her forearms on his chest. “Don't touch.”
“Really don't,” Jace agreed fervently.
One of Mac's eyes twitched and his gaze slid from Misty to Jace in silent appeal. The poor guy looked like he was about to wet himself. Jace strode forward and plucked Misty from her victim. She twisted in his arms, but her weight was negligible and he deposited her to one side easily enough. He offered her an apologetic look, but she grinned, before leaning around him to glare at Mac.
The human had rolled on to his side and seemed more than happy in a fetal position. “Are you okay?” Jace asked, while Misty snarled helpfully in the background.
“S-sure, sure.”
“You sound kind of husky.”
“Just... need a moment... more regen.... There we go. I'm great and I mean box of fluffies great. Sure, sure, box of fluffies. All shit'n feathers, meaning no offense. No, no, couldn't be better.” He levered himself awkwardly up on an arm and beckoned for Jace to join him. He obeyed and crouched down and bent forward to catch Mac's hushed words.
“Tell the little lady sorry about that. It won't happen again and I’m swearing never in a month of Sundays. Listen, kid. You, I do like, so I'll come clean. Laundry fresh. The previous owners of this merchandise never formally relinquished possession. Don't gimme that look. I found this'n derelict and floating and I've got the salvage documents to prove it. I can sell it to you totally legit. You'll be the legal owner, but...”
“The previous owners might come looking for it?”
“Not impossible.”
“The t'ssaa?”
“Seems likely, yes. I mean I assume that's who owned it. But hey, brighten up. Out on the Rim it's the law of the jungle. Finders keepers, losers weepers. Keep what you can hold. Never say die- well. Are you up for a gamble? Look at that ship. What a beauty. You could hold off a t'ssaa fleet in that.”
“Let's,” Misty breathed over Jace's shoulder. “Please, Ace.”
“Let's buy it, or let's fight off a t'ssaa fleet?”
“Both of course,” she said and he shook his head. Should have seen that one coming.
He hid a sigh and turned back to the salesman to offer a tight smile instead. “I've got a deal you'll love, Mac. A nice chunk of cash, plus a dream job on Eltok. It pays a fortune and will take you away from any enquiries made by pesky former owners.”
Jace sent the details from his com, but the salesman's wristband had already accepted the deal.
“Congratulations,” Mac beamed, while backing away. “And thanks, the job looks perfect. I’m great at tracking inventory and I'll keep my head down I promise you. I mean to be more planet-bound than a female t'ssaa. Enjoy your ship.”
He turned and was legging his way back down the dock before they could answer. His com tried to query him about the small print in the deal, but Jace heard the trill of an override acceptance and Darsey's tracers that he had filtered from his own cells, flew obediently to lodge themselves in an ample, retreating backside. That should keep his mother satisfied, so long as she kept her word and didn't look too closely. Jace chuckled to himself. It had been easier than he'd expected to find a willing decoy. Much easier.
Jace frowned and looked back to Misty, who was leaning over the rusted safety rail that sagged beside the gap between jetty and ship. She hung in mid-air, supported only by that bar running under her hips. She tipped further forward, balancing carefully to reach out until she could stroke the scintillating scales of their ship. She teetered there with her eyes shut and he had to grin.
“What if you fall?”
“You'll save me.”
“You wish.” Jace hesitated a moment more and then strode out to join her. His added height made it easy to swivel forward on the rail and his toes were still on the deck when his palms impacted with the ship. “Wow. It feels warm.”
“A-huh. Warm and firm and rippled. Like perfect abs.”
Jace sent a disgusted thought Misty's way. “Please. Valkyrie and I are having a moment here.”
“Valkyrie?”
“Sure. She's a beauty in chainmail. Aren't you, Val?”
IF YOU WISH.
The unexpected thought sent Jace reeling back from the rail. He clapped his hands to his fronds which had curled tight. “Too loud. Way too loud.”
“I didn't think a thing,” Misty said, but he hardly heard her over a strange, syrupy voice in his head.
Apologies, the interloper sent much more softly than before. My systems are not calibrated for aliens. I was unsure whether you would hear me.
Jace shook his head with a grimace. “Loud and clear.” The second contact had been much quieter, but still very strange. It was like trying to listen to someone whispering through a tube to his ear. “Can we come aboard, Val?”
Misty crossed her arms, while looking cross too. Not a good combination. “Are you talking to the ship?”
“Yep. She started it though.”
“She?”
“Whoever programmed the telepathic relay set up a really sexy voice.”
Misty sighed. “Seems t'ssaa fathers are the same as all males. Why isn't it talking to me? I've got my fronds at full stretch and can't pick up a thing.”
Jace leaned over the barrier to touch the ship again. “My friend was wondering-”
I heard. Please tell your mate to use the feminine pronoun when referring to me. I will answer to Val, but I will only talk to you.
She's not my mate and how come?
You are male.
Oh oh. Misty's foot started to tap and Jace suspected his grin was rather sickly. “Right, then. The ship would like to be called Val or 'she'. Can we board now?”
You may.
“Ace?” Misty asked, but was stopped by the smooth hiss of scales on a dusty surface. They both looked round to see an elongated tear drop opening in the glistening skin of the ship. The soft susurration died away and a warm light shone from Val's belly. The couple looked at each other and Misty shrugged. She moved to the edge of the docking tongue, where the safety rail stopped.
Jace joined her and they both studied the distance between the walkway and the ship. The Valkyrie had been docked at an angle and the open hatch was tucked away in a recessed hollow of her flank. That combination left the entrance much further away than it should have been. Misty sniffed and backed up, before sprinting toward the substantial gap. She launched herself with total commitment and sailed into space. She landed on the rim of the hatch and had to catch the doorframe with her hands, but she was safe. Jace stopped holding his breath and started to back away for his own takeoff. However, there was another sibilant whisper and a plank slid from Valkyrie's side. It extended smoothly to almost reach the dock. He simply had to take a long stride and he could stroll into the ship.
Misty had her arms crossed again and stood blocking the entrance. It was a long second before she stood aside to let him board. “I see a serious case of reprogramming in this vessel's future.”
Jace offered what he hoped was a neutral smile, before looking around their ship. They were in a small entrance chamber lined with something that looked like suede. A rosy glow turned Misty's hair pink and he forgot about the new vessel. She looked lovely and unusually soft, even sweet. She gazed about her with open wonder, while he reached for her hand without thinking.
“C'mon.”
Jace led them both forward into a place of peaches and cream. The walls turned to a soft apricot and each springy step was taken on something that looked like pale velvet.
“Must be hail to keep clean,” Misty noted and Jace squeezed her hand.
“Do you think we're the first kres and human-kres to ever board a t'ssaa strike ship?”
“I hope so.” Misty gave a small skip and pulled Jace faster. “How do we find the nest?”
Val? he thought and an image of the route appeared in his mind. He quickened his pace to take the lead, but it wasn't easy. When Misty was thrilled she moved faster than a hamster in a very small wheel. They flew down suede and velvet draped corridors to run into an open space together.
They stopped and Misty turned in little circles, studying the half-sphere around them. The nest was smaller than usual, with half-a-dozen consoles already in place. They were grouped together, all standing on the floor and forming a semi-circle in front of the largest seat. The whole layout was quaint, but there was a much more immediate problem. A shiny steel girder spanned the half-globe, bisecting it between the command seat and the other chairs. It leaned on an angle and seemed to have been rammed into the floor at one end and into the curve of the ceiling at the other. Torn velvet pooled at its foot, while the ceiling's pink suede was ripped and reddened at the opposite end.
“Ouch,” Jace said softly and instantly felt something from Val. He wasn't sure what the emotion was, but it seemed to be a form of gratitude. She was pleased by his compassion for her.
“What the hail is that?” Misty demanded.
Jace rapped his knuckles against the girder and it responded with a metallic thrum, but there was a glow under its surface. An energy feed of some sort. He noticed something else near the foot and bent to see what it was. A wisp of adhesive with words etched on it. “There's a message here. Hang on. It says 'parking brake' and it's signed by Mac.” He straightened and stretched, with his hands flat against the small of his back. “I'll have to get the release code from him.”