by Casey Lea
Mac tapped his com and a number scrolled over it. Zak narrowed his eyes just to make sure they didn’t widen when he saw the amount. It was even bigger than he’d expected. Drakkit. No-one offered that much money for an easy job. Extreme danger, plus a fortune? An irresistible combination. He’d just been hook-line-and-sinkered. “Alright. You’ve got me. What sort of infestation are we talking about?”
The stranger pursed his lips as he finalized the contract. “Well, there’s no name as such. Not yet anyways. You’ll need to imagine something than can shred a man as easily as a laser saw. Or not. Might be safer not to imagine at all, but believe me, lad, we need a healer who can match a saint.”
Zak grunted. “I’m no saint, but I’ll do my best. Where’s the job?”
“Blizzard.”
Zak considered that and it seemed perfect. The Nexus system was a busy one, but all the locals lived on Blossom and he’d be left in peace as long as he stayed on its frigid sister-planet. He nodded and touched the hologram of their agreement with a finger so the document could sample his signature chromosome. A grin lifted Mac’s beard.
“I’ll be seeing you on Blizzard then,” the human said, watching the contract scroll back into his com. “Don’t take too long, lad. And pack a coat. If a storm hits your com field will feel as frail as a wee babe in a blizzard.”
Zak grunted and the fuzzy man seemed satisfied. Mac swept his arms out and bowed, before turning to stroll away. He looked like a plump ginger cat that had just dined on a juicy mouse.
Zak’s well-honed instinct for deception was buzzing. There was someone else behind this offer, but it was impossible to lift any details from Mac’s mind, so Zak bent to his compression stack and continued loading supplies. He kept going until the strip lights came on for Frontier’s evening and he finally straightened. He checked his wrist. The tracking data he’d added to Mac’s contract blinked back. His new employer had stopped, presumably for dinner. If Zak was lucky the human would be joined by his boss to discuss the contract and Zak would finally know who had really hired him.
The lights of the dock had been bright and steady, but in the town there were only a few flickering globes. The locals didn’t waste power on themselves. Their trade was all that mattered and if any tourists wandered into the wrong black hole… well, the people of Frontier weren’t the sort to refuse more bounty.
Zak stalked through the shadows and no one was stupid enough to waylay him.
He reached the Strip, at the heart of Frontier and the lighting finally grew more colorful. It wasn’t much brighter, but there were neon signs everywhere, pointing to brothels, casinos, restock shops and restaurants. Zak’s tracker led him to the best restaurant in town.
He leaned casually on a wall bathed in orange light and studied the blocky building across the street. It was made of stone rather than plastic and bright, white light flowed from wide windows, while marble steps rose from the dusty street to a pillared entrance. Two burly bouncers stood on either side of a copper and chrome door.
Zak decompressed a leather jacket from his com and tossed it on over his tee-shirt and jeans. He ran his fingers through his short blonde hair, before strolling up to the front door. The guards looked him over and didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic, but he barrelled past without waiting for definite permission and they let him go. He stepped over the lintel.
The world inside the restaurant might have been on another planet to the rest of Frontier. The light was lower than it had seemed from outside, but warm and steady, while more marble rang under Zak’s boots. He strode through the atrium and had to stop. There was a line of people waiting in front of what seemed to be a real wooden lectern. The room beyond was spacious, but broken into private nooks swathed in soft white fabric. Each alcove had circular tables covered with crisp black linen and bright red napkins.
A clash of colors caught Zak’s eye – a bright contrast that was definitely Mac. He’d stuffed a red napkin under his beard and presumably up under his hidden chin as well. The red cloth looked awful against his orange fur. Zak shuffled forward with the line and realized Mac wasn’t alone. Someone was sitting in the seat opposite him.
The chair had carved feet and a high back in the kres style, so it was impossible to see who was there. Zak could just make out the edge of a hand on the table and the toe of a black boot kicking the table leg. Mac leaned forward and a stream of data flowed from his wrist to his hidden companion’s com. Zak checked his chromosome trace and a tracker blinked cheerily back. The document being exchanged was his contract alright, so that must be his new boss.
Zak edged sideways and craned to look past the entry bar, but the extra angle didn’t help. He could try shuffling further- no, drakkit. Skulking around wasn’t his style. It was time for introductions.
Zak took two strides to reach the shiny wooden railing behind reception and vaulted over it. His wings could unfurl under the high ceiling of the main chamber and he jetted forward to reach the table before Mac could do more than gape. Zak tipped the chair holding his employer backward, slamming it to the floor, but its occupant shot toward the roof in a flurry of wings.
There was a confused moment of shouting and shoving, while large hands settled on Zak, but he ignored them, even let them pull him backward, while he stared at the figure hovering above. “Haze?”
His baby brother grinned back, then waved a hand at the bouncers trying to eject Zak. “It’s okay, guys. He’s with me. I’m his employer and I’ll vouch for him.”
The bouncers released Zak with a shove, but he braced his feet to hold his place and glared at Haze. The chick dropped to the floor, landing lightly, and instantly launched himself at Zak. There was a whirlwind hug, before Haze sauntered back to his seat.
“Pull up a chair,” Haze ordered. “The grathol is great.”
Zak sighed, but did as he was told, turning the nearest spare chair so he could straddle it backward. “They’re serving you alcohol?”
Haze looked insufferably smug and took a long swig from a crystal glass. His cheeks flushed and he coughed, but his smile hardly flickered. “Ye- arggh. Lovely. A-hum. Anyway, welcome to the team. I told Mac to recruit the best and I see he did just that.”
Zak felt the start of a headache tapping at his temples. “You expect me to believe you just hired me by accident?”
“Not really,” Haze batted his eyelashes, “but I figure you’ll forgive me.”
Zak glared, but inwardly sighed. The youngest member of his family was insufferable, but very, very hard to refuse. Still, it was worth trying. Perhaps the kid had lost his edge. “I want out of my contract.”
Haze pursed his lips while Mac made a tutting sound. “Breaking a contract. Are you ready to spend months tied up in court, lad?”
“Now, now, Mac,” Haze said. “No need for threats.”
Mac bobbed his head and settled back to shovelling food into his beard.
“Don’t worry, Zak,” Haze continued. “We won’t get nasty about this. After all, you’re my brother. You mean everything to me. It doesn’t matter if my very first business venture goes under without you. I’ll manage to pay back the loan I took from Denny the Shark. I’m sure he’s a patient guy and it doesn’t matter if he’s not. Family comes first, right?”
Pain ran along Zak’s jaw as he ground his teeth. “Denny the Shark? Really. You expect me to buy that?”
“Nope.” Haze’s smile returned, but it was more rueful. “I already bought it. I took out a loan to set up a firm offering security on Blizzard. It’s a lucrative opportunity, with a growing city and Patri’s interstellar courts already in place.”
“Patri’s what?”
Haze grew serious and his fronds sent genuine commitment. “We’re trying to help with justice in a galaxy that’s out of control. People are being hurt and their governments don’t have the resources to help. Unless they pool those resources and direct the worst criminals, the petty tyrants that are trying to take control, to one place. A plac
e far, far away from any criminal infrastructure or backup. We offer secure containment and fair trials. It’s working really well, except…”
Zak relaxed for the first time since meeting Mac. They were finally getting to the truth of that drakking contract. “There’s always a ‘but’, isn’t there. What’s going wrong with Patri’s judicial paradise? And why do you need me?”
“No idea,” Mac said succinctly, while juice from his meal escaped into his beard.
“Thanks,” Zak growled, but Mac waved a hairy hand at him.
“Not about you, lad. The boss says you’re a decent-enough medic. No, it’s the beastie that has us scratching our chins.”
“Those of us who can find our chins,” Haze chirped. “Look, Zak, I swear this isn’t about you. I did send Mac to employ you, but only because you’ve got talents my world needs. Something’s stalking us. It’s vicious, deadly and tears its victims apart. It also gets past the best tech we have and com fields don’t stop it.”
That was weird enough to divert the last of Zak’s anger. “It acts like an animal, but it can get past every protection?”
“Yep. It ripped into a cell block last week. Killed seven prisoners and three guards, then destroyed all recordings of the attack. We need help.”
Fingers of cold stroked Zak’s spine, but excitement followed the fear. This was exactly the distraction he needed and if he ran into Nikareon… well, he’d make sure he was driving something large at the time.
“I’m in.”
His wretched baby brother looked completely unsurprised and gave a dimpled smile. “I guess we might as well travel together then.”
A stab of genuine panic brought Zak to his feet. It was likely Nikareon would want to welcome Haze home. Zak shook his head at the possibility of such an encounter, because he didn’t need an excessively violent start to his violent new job.
“No. Thank you. I’ll make my own way. See you on Blizzard in three days.” Zak walked away before Haze had the chance to claim another hug. Zak would take the job, but it was strictly business and he’d rather spend his time with the mystery beast than sit down with his family.
19
Dancing into Danger
The Dance of Remembrance was just starting, but Falkyn already looked terrified. It wasn’t obvious, except to Amber who recognized the set of his jaw. His smile was too tight and his eyes widened as the flock of noble ladies descended on him. Those closest curtsied and preened, while those at the back pecked at each other, trying to get closer.
A frond touch of panic rose from the crowd and Amber took pity on Falkyn. He needed to get used to this, but perhaps a little at a time would be easier.
Break left, she advised and Falkyn obeyed.
The females he was drowning in eddied to one side, chasing him toward the dance floor. Amber beat them to it and was waiting when the Arck arrived. He sprinted to join her on the wooden tiles and one of his fronds touched the tip of hers in polite request. The musicians began to play and she let him clasp her waist, while flutes and whistles joined the strings to lift in a lilting tune.
Falkyn lifted Amber too and spun to deposit her as lightly as a feather. The steps of this dance had changed over her many lives, but it remained one of her favorites. She let the music take her. It couldn’t wash her clean, but it helped her forget her mistakes, at least for a time.
It was a shock when Falkyn’s frond tapped hers again.
Yes? Amber thought, still smiling and letting her feet follow the music.
You’re burned out. You’ve lived one life too many.
I’ve caused one disaster too many, Amber’s mind snapped back. Is this your best effort at sweet talk?
“Hush,” Falkyn whispered in her ear. “There are fronds listening. They can feel your guilt. You need to sort your thoughts and stop drifting through this life as if it’s already done.”
Amber tucked her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. “I’ll try, but sometimes I don’t feel like myself at all. At least, not my old self.”
They moved in silence for a time and Amber started to relax. Falkyn’s mind sent comfort that was as warm as his arms.
“Traya wanted me to thank you,” he murmured. “Your regeneration of her feet was a complete success.”
“She’s walking again?”
“Indeed and she’s been accepted as First Luck of Mermaridia.”
“So she’s going to legitimise your occupation of her planet?”
Falkyn’s mind cooled, though his smile didn’t waver. “I swear to you that’s the wrong word. Our ambassadors on Mermaridia simply wish to provide local assistance.”
“Whether it’s requested or not?”
He laughed and swung Amber in a dizzy series of circles. “Luck Traya has asked for our peacekeeping aid. I hope you don’t regret healing her?”
“Of course not,” Amber said, letting Falkyn spin her deeper into the crowd.
“Good. You helped forge a new alliance that will save many lives. Traya will be of great worth to us.”
Amber wondered exactly who he meant by ‘us’, but had more immediate questions. She rose on her toes, so she could murmur in the Arck’s ear, rather than against his chest.
“This isn’t like you, Fal. Every sentient being in the galaxy knows you’ve effectively occupied Mermaridia. More of your ambassadors land every day. I’m most happy that your offering medical aid and infrastructure, but you don’t need all the troops you’ve sent to do that. What are you up to? And why did you risk going down to Mermaridia alone?”
“I have my incentives. It’s past time the Lucks found new allies.”
Amber had to ponder that for a moment, but finally understanding dawned and she cursed herself for a fool. “The Harvesters. You’re trying to strike a rift between the Lucks and their slavers.”
Falkyn kept smiling, but there was something vicious about the curve of his mouth. “It’s past time Mermaridia learned more civilized ways. This is the perfect opportunity to wean them off a society based on slavery.”
“Such a change would destroy the Harvesters. They won’t just accept it. They’re going to fight back.”
“I very much hope so.”
Falkyn’s words were so quiet Amber hardly heard him, but the cold conviction behind them chilled her. Her bare shoulders hunched, while her skin tightened into icebumps. The sweeping skirts of her gown were too thin and silky to offer any warmth and she shivered. It looked like war was coming. She understood Falkyn’s actions all too well now.
The Harvesters had abducted his surrogate mother before he was born and sold her to the t’ssaa. As a result, he’d been raised in poverty and his mother had been trapped on the Rim till she died. The slavers had hurt Fal terribly and he was planning to hurt them back.
“How many others will be harmed on this path?” she whispered.
“You think I should let them continue to abduct and kill?” Falkyn asked hoarsely, but Amber never had a chance to answer.
Someone bumped into her from behind, pushing her against the Arck and making them both stagger. The music faltered and a collective gasp rustled round the room in its place.
Lord Warble stared at her, his eyes unblinking, while his fronds sent a challenge. Falkyn responded at once, dipping Amber so he could glare over her. The lord looked past her in sudden panic, as if seeing her partner for the first time. His gaze dropped at once and he steered the lady in his arms away at speed, but Falkyn fell into step with him.
“Do you wish to challenge me, Warble?”
The aristocrat swallowed before he could answer. “Sire? Never, Magnificence. I simply wished to learn more from Lady Amber. I had heard some gossip…”
“A dangerous habit, sah, listening to gossip. It can lead you badly astray. I suggest you keep your ears better occupied and lift your mind from the gutter.”
Warble pushed his partner aside and tried to bend in half, bowing until his nose touched his knees. Falkyn kept his eyes and fronds foc
used on the courtier, who began to tremble. Amber squeezed Fal’s arm and he gave a start. He wiped a hand across his forehead before backing away and she tucked her arm through his as he swept from the dance floor.
They tumbled into a private alcove and Amber flopped onto a pile of cushions. Falkyn swung away from her to pace the edge of the privacy field. On the other side the dancers continued, except for Lord Warble who had disappeared into his family alcove. No doubt he’d be in full vent and his suspicions about Amber would be shared with all of his relatives and their flunkies.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Falkyn turned back to her with an absent smile. “Don’t be. I’d rather know where the stories come from so I can keep them in check.”
“What are you planning?”
“Don’t worry, Amber. I’ll rely on my charm.”
“You don’t have any.”
Falkyn smiled and dropped to the cushions beside her. “Violence it is then. Don’t be so concerned. I’m actually quite popular. At least that’s what my spies tell me and I can terrify Warble into line if I must.”
Amber considered that, but was interrupted before her imagination could go anywhere too dark.
“Sire! Where’s the Arck?” The cry was followed by an urgent com call and Falkyn’s wristband gave a shrill whistle.
Amber pushed herself upright, but Falkyn was already gone, racing across the dance floor to meet Raptor, who was barging a path through the scattering couples. Amber hurried after the Arck, her heart pattering as fast as her feet. Her ex-bodyguard looked grim, but that was his usual expression and told her nothing.
“Pirates,” Raptor called.
There were scattered shrieks at the news and Amber gulped. She skidded to a halt beside Falkyn and Raptor offered a small nod of greeting. Miraculous.
“What’s happening?” Falkyn asked. “Where are they massing? How many?”
“Thousands of ships, sah,” Raptor said. “They’ve emptied the Rim, but not to attack us. They’ve invaded through Nexus. The Alliance is in trouble.”