“Oh, so sorry. Such a mess.” Magda started shuffling piles of objects off chairs and onto already overflowing tables. “Sit, if you can find a place. Make yourselves at home.”
“We can’t stay, Magda.” An edge of irritation rode Rik’s tone. “We need to find someone.”
“Yes, yes. Of course you do.” Magda’s hands fluttered in the air dismissively. “You need to find a man. And the gods know . . . I need to find a man.” She sighed, running her hand down the side of Rik’s face. “No, sexy man. Sadly it is not you, more’s the pity. But mark my words our paths have not crossed by accident.”
Luna couldn’t help but smile at the woman’s antics.
“No doubt, you’re the reason I’ve been waiting on this miserable mud ball for six insufferable months.” Magda continued to clear seating. “Sit . . . make yourselves some tea, if you like. Help yourselves to anything you find in the cabinet. I’ve a feeling I won’t be coming back here anyway.”
Emptying another pile of oddments onto the floor, she straightened, a glazed look clouding her eyes. “I must consult the oracles.”
She swept one hand dramatically across her chest, extending the hand, palm up, toward a doorway. “They call.” Eyes wide, she followed her hand out of the room.
Rik’s eyes rose to the ceiling. He shook his head, and Luna could feel restraint flowing from him.
Markus stepped toward him, raising his hand, palm forward. “Patience Rik. She can help us. Trust me on this. I have witnessed that woman do some amazing things.”
Rik pulled in a deep breath. He nodded and began to pace. But a pathway was not easily navigated in the cluttered room. He weaved, stepped over piles, and grunted, then in frustration, threw himself into a chair, resting his chin in his hand.
Magda had disappeared through a doorway, and Luna moved to see where she’d gone.
The woman seated herself at a desk in a sleep-chamber just as cluttered with oddments as the sitting room. Before her stood an illuminated, clear orb, about half meter in diameter, hovering over an antigrav stand. She laced her fingers around it and peered into the object.
Words, a monotone song or chant, issued from her as she gazed into the sphere’s depths.
What is she seeing there?
The scientist in her wanted to balk and dismiss the whole thing as fakery and showmanship. Still, a part of her couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility of something outside the known physical sciences. She’d seen the scientific grounds shaken a number of times by the metaphysical.
She felt Rik’s presence behind her, looking over her right shoulder.
“How is this helping?” His whispered query radiated his restless unease. Still, his lips caressed her ear. His arms crept around her middle to cradle her gently.
Magda continued to scan the orb, but raised her right hand. “He is quite an interesting man. I feel, Rik, your time as my destiny has come to an end. We are just not meant to be.” She sighed. “You’ll get over it somehow. Ian von Alderamin is my new destiny.”
A sudden chill filled Luna’s gut. She’d been present when Markus contacted Magda, and all the time they’d been with the woman. Not once had anyone mentioned Ian’s name.
“Twin forces move against this man.” Magda’s hands now waved behind the crystalline sphere as she stared into it. “We must move fast if we are to save my new destiny.”
Chapter 12
Rik crouched behind a plastoid packing crate and drew his blaster. Within view, a small landing pad and a three-storied plascrete warehouse. Whoever owned that building had a reason to avoid using the city-state’s public starport. The area reeked of gandisol, the obvious evidence of a recent starship departure.
He’d spotted armed men patrolling the fenced grounds. Three for sure, possibly more out of sight. Heavy security even for this part of the city. Breaking through their defenses would be no easy task.
He turned to glower at Magda, who crouched behind him with Luna, Harvey, and Markus. “You’re sure this is the place.”
She nodded, whispering, “Devine destiny guides me. Be assured, he’s in there. But others come. You must hurry.”
How can she know? His gut fisted.
The bright orange, red and green hues of her maxi dress stood out boldly, even in the dusky dimness. Her numerous beaded necklaces clanked and clattered as she walked. It’s a miracle we haven’t been spotted.
He’d tried to get her to change into something more sensible.
“I must be me, and I know who I am, Rik Mazar,” she’d replied, her eyes seeming to see into his soul. “Can you say the same?”
They’d located a secluded spot along the fence-line and cut their way through without incident.
Here I am again. In enemy territory. Licensed to do whatever I need to do to achieve the mission objectives. Steal, maim, bribe . . . murder.
Three years, and it never got easier.
Gods help me.
Even here, in the heart of the Dark Nebulan system, surrounded by the vilest criminal element in the galaxy, there were innocents. People just living the life the Galactic Gods gave them. Too often, those were the people caught in the crossfire. His crossfire.
To hide among the pirates he’d had to become like them. Uncaring. Willing to do whatever it took to succeed in his mission.
Just bury your feelings and do the job. He’d been living that mantra for too long.
Rik held his hand up to the group. “Wait here until I give you the word.”
He took in a deep breath, expelling it slowly, then sprinted toward the warehouse’s doorway.
Thumbing his blaster to the stun setting, he opened fire as he ran. The first guard dropped to the ground before ever getting the chance to draw his weapon. The other two returned fire.
Somersaulting forward across a damp grassy patch of ground to avoid a beam, Rik tumbled, rolling behind two steel fuel barrels by the doorway. With a quick shove at the ground, he came up in a crouching position.
Blaster shots pinged off the barrels and he hunkered down behind them. A dark, viscus tar seeped from the barrels’ corroded seams smelling like Floatenscrub sump sewage. Ignoring the stench, he peeked around the corner to return fire, not caring if it hit or not. He just needed to draw the pirates out into the open.
Two shots rang out from behind the packing crates. “Got them both, Rik.” Luna’s tone was triumphant.
And . . . my Starshine can shoot. He grinned. The urge to sweep her into his arms for a kiss hit him hard. Was there nothing this woman couldn’t do?
Rising, he slammed the Jimmy box against the doorway control panel. In seconds the door slid open. “Okay people,” he shouted, motioning them toward him, “let’s move.”
Stepping inside, he assessed the first room. Dim lighting illuminated an open antechamber with three hallways leading away. Chairs and tables showed the stains and scars of heavy use. Years of foot traffic showed in the dim worn trails in the plascrete flooring. The tang of mildew hung in the moist air.
No one was in view, but he heard pounding footsteps down the hallway to his left. He knelt, taking aim and firing as a man entered the room. The shot hit its target, and the man went down.
“Scanning indicates five additional life-forms in my immediate area. All located above our current position.” Harvey’s mechanical voice resonated in the entry chamber.
Rik nodded. At least their position was secure. “Let’s find some stairs or a lift.”
On the third floor of the warehouse, after taking down three more guards, Rik paused to take a breath. The air was purer here, the hallways less dusty. As if recently cleaned and prepared for someone.
Harvey pointed to a doorway at the end of a hall. “The final two life-forms are behind that door.”
Rik glanced at Magd
a. “One of them had better be Doctor von Alderamin.”
She dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. “Of course he’s there. And the other with him is not a threat. The oracles have spoken.”
The door was locked and required the use of the Jimmy box. As the panel slid open, an older man with gray-streaked cinnamon hair rose from a desk. He wore an orange laboratory coat, gray shirt and navy blue slacks. The whole ensemble had a wrinkled, lived-in look.
A boy Rik estimated at no more than ten years stood beside him. An unruly crop of chestnut colored hair topped the kid’s head. His grease streaked face registered no surprise or fear as he stared at them.
The man stepped forward, placing his body between Rik and the boy. “Who are you? What do you want?”
Rik holstered his blaster. “Are you—?”
“Ian.” Luna’s tone bloomed with relief as she rushed through the doorway toward the man.
“Doctor Callista? What are you doing here?” The man’s brow wrinkled.
Luna strode forward, throwing her arms around the man. “We’ve come to get you out of here.” She hugged him briefly, then turned toward Rik. “This is Ian von Alderamin.”
Ian, at last.
Luna took a deep, refreshing breath. Maybe now they’d be able to get out of here. Get home. Get back to . . . that humdrum existence she called life.
The past days had been filled with danger, but there had also been action, adventure . . . and Rik. It hasn’t been all that bad.
“Doctor Ian?” The high-pitched voice belonged to the boy behind Ian.
Ian turned. “It’s okay, Donald. I know this woman, and these appear to be friends.”
Luna raised an eyebrow, leveling her gaze at Ian. He’d made it well known in the past that he abhorred children. What was he doing with a kid?
Ian smiled at her. “Donald has been assigned to me as an assistant by the pirates. A surprisingly intelligent young man. He has actually been quite pleasant to work with.”
Magda approached the boy. “Oh, look at the little waif. He’s adorable.”
Ian’s brow wrinkled. “Madam, he is not adorable, he’s efficient.”
Magda turned to Ian, her look one of appraisal. “Hmmm. Not bad, but that attitude. This one is going to take some work.”
Ian did a double take, then turned his head back to Luna. “Who is this insufferable woman?”
Luna smiled. It was just like Ian to jump to conclusions. “This is the woman who led us to you. Ian meet—”
Magda’s eyes went wide. She held up her hand. “No time, we need to leave here. We may already be too late. Danger yet approaches from two different directions.”
Rik drew his blaster. If Magda said there was danger approaching . . . there was danger approaching. I don’t need a trindlebark to knock me over the head.
He didn’t understand what powers the woman commanded, but he’d proof enough they worked. “Let’s go.”
They’d made it down to the first floor of the warehouse when he heard the tromp of booted feet coming through their exit doorway. Shadows showed movement in the room ahead. He motioned the others back.
“No one gets in or out.” The gruff voice had a familiar lisp in the tone. “You two, guard the door.”
Rik crouched, keeping his blaster aimed at the doorway down the hall. “Demi Cartros? Is that you?”
If it was Demi, he might have a chance to negotiate.
While working his way up in the Brotherhood of the Dark Nebula, Rik met Demi Cartros as a member of a rival faction. Rik had used the man repeatedly, plying him with Darvonian gin to elicit information. A cutthroat, murderous piece of work, Demi had nonetheless been helpful, and considered Rik a friend.
At least I hope he still does.
“Rik? What you doing here, man?” Demi was smart enough to not show himself in the doorway.
“Just on my way out with a few friends.” A cold knot twisted in Rik’s gut. He knew why Demi was here. Still, he had to try. “You can have the place, for all I care.”
A chuckle. “Rik, Rik, Rik. You know it’s not the place I’m here for. This is Zartos’ territory. He was hiding an asset here.”
Rik cringed. Okay, not so easy then.
“That asset wouldn’t happen to be one of your friends now, would it?” Demi queried, but from this cocky tone, the man already knew the answer.
A bribe maybe? “What do you want to let us go, Demi?”
“Can’t do that, Rik. Nikoli wants all those new toys Zartos has been going on about.”
Nikoli Rasputon, another of the Brotherhood’s string-pullers. Not as powerful as Zartos, but dangerous nonetheless.
Rik noted Luna slipping her blaster from her holster. Her brow furled over beautiful green eyes, her mouth set determinately.
Markus also held his blaster at the ready. He’d pushed Magda and the boy, Donald, behind him.
You don’t make much of a wall my short friend.
Doctor von Alderamin stood wide-eyed, panic reflected in his face. Worthless in a fight. Rik waved him back by Magda and the boy.
“Looks like we’re at a stand-off.” Think Rik, think. A firefight here was sure to get someone killed.
Magda elbowed her way up to his side. “This is a fight we can’t win. Surrender.” Her whispered message caused Rik’s gut to knot.
“I tell you what, Rik.” Demi’s tone read conciliatory. “I’ll let you go . . . for old times’ sake. You just have to leave the others in my care. No one has to die.”
Until you shoot me in the back as I’m leaving. At this level there could be no trust. Still, it might be a situation he could use.
“I’ve got a better idea. How about I join you.”
What?
Luna’s stomach roiled. Was Rik betraying them to save his own skin? That didn’t feel like him. She had no proof he was really a galactic marshal. He could be anyone. She barely knew him.
And, oh gods, I slept with him. Doubt niggled at the back of her head. Had he just used her?
But her heart thundered in her chest. No!
What she’d felt from him had been real. She needed to trust him. He wouldn’t betray her.
I need to trust myself.
A soft squeaking drew her attention to the left. Markus was at a ventilation opening, loosening the grate. He pulled that off and looked inside.
Luna could see the opening would be too small for her to fit into. Markus motioned toward Donald, and the boy approached him. “Hide in here,” he whispered. “They’re not looking for you.”
As Donald climbed into the shaft, Magda made a sweeping motion with her hands toward Markus. “Go with him my little cockatoo. Protect him.” She strode over and kissed Markus on the forehead. “You two will be able to escape our fate I think.”
Markus shook his head, but Magda pushed him toward the ventilation shaft opening. “That boy needs you now more than we do. The oracles have decreed it so.”
Markus sighed, then turned to dive into the opening. Luna helped Magda put the grate back in place. “What fate?” she asked after the grate was in place.
“Trust Rik,” was all the woman replied.
Luna’s gaze slid to Rik, to find him looking back at her. He nodded, one brow rose inquiringly. He must have noticed the absence of Markus and Donald.
Laughter echoed down the corridor from the room ahead. “I’d heard you were on the outs with Zartos.”
“Yup, just doing a little clean up before I start looking for another position. Is Nikoli hiring?”
The shouted exchange was becoming almost cordial, but Luna could tell by the tone that it was stressing whatever relationship existed between the two men.
“You’d have to have something to offer. You know, mor
e than that ship you stole from Zartos or that scientist I’m going to take from you anyway.” The man who Rik called Demi must have known he had the upper hand in the negotiations.
Rik holstered his blaster and stood up from his crouch. “Oh, I have something all right. Something you’re going to want.” He walked toward the doorway, but motioned to Luna and the others to stay back. “I’ve got Doctor von Alderamin’s partner. That woman you’re all looking for. I’ve got Luna Callista.”
Luna’s heart froze. He’d just given her up like she was nothing. Just a bargaining chip.
What the hell is he up to?
Chapter 13
At best it was a good gambit. At worst, a horrible mistake. Rik had just given up Luna’s identity to a most unreliable source. But it had been his only bargaining chip. He needed to see their number and assess the true danger.
Tough situations called for tough decisions. He’d never had to make a tougher one.
He passed through the doorway into the room. To his left, Demi Cartros stood with eight other pirates, blasters drawn and ready.
Rik held out his hands. Now came the tough part, the big lie. “I’ve got the two scientists, their lab assistant, and research droid. Everything Nikoli needs for his new toys, all in one package. Take me on as your lieutenant, and they’re all yours. I’ll even let you take all the credit. I have already convinced them to work for me.”
The nine men had no doubt arrived in Demi’s rocket sled, which seated twelve at most as Rik recalled. To save Luna, Ian, Magda, and Harvey, Rik needed to convince Demi to leave some of his own men behind. Thank goodness Markus and the boy had been able to hide in the ventilation duct. He’d have never been able to save them. Demi didn’t leave witnesses behind.
Pirates of the Dark Nebula (Hearts in Orbit Book 2) Page 12