Spade

by S A McClure

  Morta sighed and her shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly as she picked up a deck of cards laying on the side table next to where she stood. She shuffled the deck as she moved about the room. “The LaRue family, with all their talk of making it big in the ‘V,’ are nothing more than a money-hungry mob of dimwitted people. Yet, they have been able to amass nearly as much power as I have.” She paused, her breathing ragged as she continued, “They intentionally deny NAs employment. I’ve heard rumors they funnel investments into Duncan Enterprises in exchange for new biotech,” she spat this last sentence as if it were poison.

  “Okay. I don’t see how any of this would make you want to do business with them,” Amber replied. A tremor ran down her spine at the mention of Duncan Enterprises. They were the ones who’d sold faulty tech to NAs when she was still on Earth. She glanced down at the scars scaling her arms. Although tattoos covered most of the damage, she knew they were still there.

  Morta stopped shuffling the deck and placed a card, face-up, in Amber’s lap. It depicted the king of hearts. Its back revealed a bull wearing a golden crown, encrusted with jewels. There was only one syndicate in the ‘V’ that used cards with that logo on it.

  And it was nearly untouchable.

  Amber frowned. She peered into Morta’s celestial blue eyes, fearing she knew exactly what her employer intended. There was a fire burning inside them that made her shiver.

  “It’s impossible,” she said, biting her bottom lip. “Even if we were somehow able to negotiate an acquisition of Spade, the King would never let you gain enough power to dethrone him.”

  Morta chuckled. “Do you honestly think that boy could ever stop me from gaining as much power as I want?”

  Amber considered the king of hearts depicted on the card. She had never met the man running the Taurus gambling syndicate, but she had heard the rumors. He’d started out as a dealer in the slums and had worked his way to up the ranks until he was the owner of the most powerful set of gambling rooms on Thoth. He’d done all of this before his fortieth birthday. Her heart thudded against her chest. She had always wanted the chance to meet him.

  She shrugged as she dropped the card onto the side table and asked, “What do you want me to do?”

  “I have made arrangements for you to meet with members of the LaRue family. You will go as a silent partner. I know you’ve been practicing your ability to detect others who can manipulate quantum probability. Even for your kind, that’s a rare gift. I want you to use it. Manipulate the odds, if you need to, but by the end of the negotiations, I want to be the owner of Spade.” She paused for a moment, her breath coming out in heavy, quick puffs. “And, I want you to return that card to the King.”

  “I can understand wanting to put Spade out of business, but—”

  “—But what, girl? Spit it out.”

  “But,” Amber emphasized the word, “Why antagonize the King by waving his calling card around as if you already owned Taurus as well?” Her skin chilled at the question as she anticipated Morta’s reaction.

  “He’ll know what it means.”

  Amber tapped her finger on the card, contemplating Morta’s request. She already knew she’d say yes. She had never declined any of her employer’s wishes. Not ever. And, she didn’t intend to start now. But, she couldn’t ignore the tingling sensation at the nape of her neck or the hair on her arms standing on-end. Although her stabilizers didn’t engage, she knew to trust her instincts and they were telling her to be careful.

  “Are you sure this is what you want, Morta, to start a war between the syndicates?”

  “When you’ve been alive as long a I have, child, you’ll understand why I’m doing this.”

  Amber shook her head. No one knew how old Morta was. She didn’t look like she could be a day past thirty, but she had been the owner of the Underworld for longer than that. Amber had seen the way her wrinkles disappeared and her hair became glossy and soft again following the collection of the souls owed to her. Everyone knew her youth was something linked to her naturally-augmented abilities. Yet, no one knew how.

  “I doubt I’ll ever live to be as old as you are now,” she replied.

  Morta ignored Amber’s retort. She always did whenever Amber made a comment about her youth or her ability to steal another person’s vitality. She called it stealing souls and used her abilities to strike fear in her gamblers. But, Amber had been with the older woman too many times when she’d sucked the energy from another person not to see her abilities as powerful as well as sinister.

  “You’re either with me, or you’re not. The choice is yours. This is not something I ask of you lightly. I know the dangers you may face.”

  Amber pursed her lips at that. Sure, the LaRues were known for being underhanded, but dangerous? For her? She’d survived worse. What she didn’t understand was why it was so important for Morta to establish the Underworld as the preeminent gambling syndicate on Thoth.

  “Why is it so important to you to derail the system you helped create here?” she asked. It was a risk; she never knew how Morta would respond to this type of question, but she needed to know.

  Morta skimmed her fingers over the tomes filling the bookcases. She pulled one from the shelf and gingerly opened it. She held the book so that the spine was barely open. Even with the tenderness with which Morta cradled the book, its leather crinkled and cracked at being opened.

  “There’s not much left from the old days on Earth,” she said. “Some of these books are one of but a few remaining physical copies. But I’ve read a great number of speeches and histories. There has been a never-ending cycle of great moments in time followed by periods of squalor. I’ve seen the atrocities humans have committed over the centuries, encapsulated in these texts as well as the video archives stored digitally. Eventually, something has to give.”

  Amber watched as Morta trailed her finger down one of the pages in the book she held. Her expression was tender, but there was a hard set to her jaw.

  “I still have a dream that, one day, this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’ Do you know who said that?” she asked, peering over the top of the book.

  Amber didn’t have the faintest idea. So much of her time in history lessons focused on the events leading up to the wars, the global unification, and the development of the B-drive that much of ancient history had been neglected.

  “There was once a time when people were judged based on the color of their skin, much the same way we are judged based on the inherent talents given to us by our genes. Like us, they were used as test subjects for scientific research. Like us, they were treated as less than human. Like us, they were forced to conform to the norms of others. The man who wrote that speech was named Martin Luther King, Jr, and he fought through his words and peaceful action for the right of each individual to be valued as equal.”

  Amber rolled her eyes. Of course, she wanted that. All the NAs—Naturally-Augmented—did. But they had already fought and lost a war for equality. Those who still clung to the notion that one day they could be treated as equals were fools. Amber knew they never would be. Not until the ones who weren’t Naturally-Augmented had fully mapped their DNA and developed cybernetic technologies to artificially provide them with powers.

  “I didn’t realize you were so passionate about the revolution,” she sighed. She did not want to get roped into a war for justice. It would only end in bloodshed. Besides, they were discussing the acquisition of Spade, not rallying the troops to fight for freedom.

  Again, Morta shrugged. “We should never stop fighting for our chance to be free.”

  Amber closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. “I guess I just don’t see how acquiring Spade and taunting Taurus does the things you’re hoping to achieve.”

  “Dismantling the pipeline between Spade and Duncan Enterprises will do more for the cause than most other thi
ngs people have tried in recent years. Throwing my dominance over Taurus is just a bonus.”

  “And this is really what you want?” Amber still wasn’t convinced Morta was telling her the whole truth of the matter.

  “My dearest girl, there is nothing I want more than to tear down the Spade empire and disrupt Duncan Enterprise’s funding of NA research.”

  Amber trailed her fingers over the tattoo covering her left arm again. She’d gotten it when she’d first arrived on Thoth to cover up the scars caused by a piece of faulty Duncan tech her uncle had purchased for her while still on-Earth. He’d forced her to use it so that she could use her abilities for longer durations of time. She shuddered as she remembered how her veins had felt like they were on fire and her skin blistered the first time she’d used it. Even after the first set of scars, he’d still left the tech implanted in her arm. It was only after she’d arrived on Thoth that she’d been able to afford the tech’s removal and the purchase of a stabilizer from Weaver Technologies. They were known for their tech specifically designed to help Naturally Augmented individuals learn how to control their abilities without the negative side-effects.

  “I’ll help you,” she murmured. If she looked closely enough, she could still see the scars beneath the intricate designs of the tattoos. S

  Morta smiled broadly. “Excellent.”

  The hair on Amber’s arms bristled before laying flat again. She still felt the tingling sensation rushing through her, but ignored her natural warning system. If she could stop other NAs from going through what she had, it would be worth it.

  “I guess this makes me a true rebel now.”

  “I suppose it does,” Morta responded.

  Chapter Three

  Amber pulled her coat collar tight around her neck and pushed through the crowd of tourists. Cool air kissed her, and her stabilizers hummed beneath her skin, leaving her feeling tingly.

  There were still three days left before her meeting with the chosen representatives from Spade, and she had a lot of research to complete before then. With Thoth’s nearly zero axial tilt, their planet was in a perpetual state of twilight. However, tonight, Mitus was positioned on the other side of Thoth’s singular moon. For a few hours, Thoth would be plunged into total darkness. As was customary, hundreds of guests would attend the annual “Midnight Parties” to ring in the new lunar cycle.

  Guests were invited to come in their most audacious attire. Masks and flashy, sparkling jewelry were worn by everyone. Drinks were free as long as you were gambling. Normally, Amber would be in one of the Underworld’s clubs or gambling rooms to ensure that the House won as often as naught. Tonight was different. Tonight, Amber would be disguised as a guest and attend Spade’s most illustrious party.

  She already wore her mask. It was a black lace filigree which had been shaped to her face and fit like a dream. She’d died her dark, chestnut hair violet with streaks of silver and wore a silver gown to match. Long, black gloves concealed the sleeve of tattoos covering her left arm. For good measure, she’d slipped on a gaudy, diamond bracelet. It twinkled each time one of its facets caught in the low light of the streetlamps.

  Overwrought gamblers crowded in alley ways and begged passersby for spare credits, ‘to change their lives.’ Even when she’d been hungry, Amber hadn’t resorted to begging in these streets. Call it pride, or an adherence to self-determination, she’d vowed she’d never end up like them. She’d offered services to the local restaurants and learned how to steal food, but she had never expected others to take care of her for nothing. Still, she could understand why so many of them did it, especially the Naturally Augmented.

  The undercurrent of fear among the NAs was rampant. At any time they could be picked up by the United Terran Force and sent back to Earth. Or worse, to one of the biotech labs she’d heard rumors about. The idea of being held captive in one of those places sent chills down Amber’s spine. Being in the service of her uncle had been difficult enough. She didn’t want to imagine what being used as a lab rat would feel like. She was more than just her abilities.

  Amber was so lost in her thoughts and memories that she didn’t notice the man standing in front of her until it was too late. She slammed into him. Stumbling backwards, she tripped over her dress’s train. Heat simmered up her arm as her stabilizer activated.

  A tingling sensation crackled through the thin circuit embedded beneath her skin. Behind her, a loud argument broke out between a group of gamblers. Amber couldn’t see what happened, but when she finally collapsed to the ground, her fall was broken by one of their bodies.

  He groaned as her elbow connected with his nose. She whispered a quick apology as she rolled off him. He moaned loudly, a dark bruise already forming beneath his left eye.

  “Are you alright?” the man she’d bumped into asked, drawing her attention to him.

  She stared at him in disbelief. He wore an all-red outfit which perfectly showed off his chiseled physique. Horns erupted from his head, and the mask he wore sloped into a long, curved nose. Sparkling jewels had been affixed to the mask at various points, but they only added to the sinister-looking ensemble. He held out a hand for her.

  The moment their hands touched, a spark of electricity sped through her. She jerked her hand out of his grasp and turned away from him.

  He caught her hand again and pulled her against his chest. He smelled of citrus and vanilla.

  For a moment, Amber remained locked in his embrace. She was too stunned to pull away from him as she had before. All of Morta’s usual customers knew not to touch her. Knew the soul-sucking queen of the Underworld wouldn’t hesitate to taste their essence if she thought her prized employee was being molested.

  “I’m so sorry,” he stammered. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” His voice was velvety and deep. The kind of voice she could listen to for hours. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine,” she muttered as she finally regained enough presence of mind to gently shove him away from her. “You should be more careful.” Never mind the fact that Amber had also been too engrossed in her own thoughts to notice the man walking beside her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” he pressed, his lips curling upwards in amusement.

  She smirked. “Do I look like I’m broken?”

  He blushed. Amber rolled her eyes as she pushed past him and continued what remained of her walk to the casino.

  “Pretty girls like you shouldn’t wander the streets alone at night,” he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.

  She whipped around to face him, but only found an empty bar. A knot formed in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders as she promptly turned around and began power walking toward her destination. The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention, and she couldn’t help but feel as if she were being followed. Yet, every time she glanced behind her, all she saw were other people milling about. There was no sign of the red-clad man.

  Setting her jaw, she continued down the street. She had a job to do, and she couldn’t let a mysterious stranger stop her from accomplishing her task. She shrugged, releasing the tension that had built up in her shoulders.

  Amber slipped into the LaRue family’s casino where their most illustrious guests were invited to attend. The bouncer said nothing to her as she passed by him. His eyes gleamed red with a cat’s eye stripe down their middle as she passed.

  She grimaced at the obvious use of cybernetic technology. She wondered what ability the eyes gave him. If she were a betting woman—which she wasn’t—she would guess that they gave him the ability to shoot lasers from his eyes.

  Revelry had already begun. Glass orbs had been positioned all around the room to look like the sun, moon, and stars. They glowed all shades of colors ranging from silver-white to blazing orange. Intricately woven cloth hung from banisters and railings. A fountain at the center of the casino spouted golden glitter instead of water.

  The pungent, sharp scent of garlic hit Amber as s
he entered the space. Mixed with the bitter, yet somehow fruity scent of black onyx cocoa powder and the herbal warmth of sage, the smell of roasted lamb and beef made her mouth water. The LaRue’s had the delicacies flown in special from Earth every year for the festival; Amber couldn’t even begin to fathom the expense.

  People and aliens from across the galaxy intermingled in the large, open casino. A large, bulbous creature with three tentacles on its head slugded past her, leaving behind a trail of glittering mucus. Brass instruments played from an elaborate stage set at the front of the high-stakes room. In the shadowy corners of the casino, vibrant wines glowed softly, casting multi-colored auras on their drinkers. Amber’s cheeks heated from the amount of entangled flesh revealed by the wines.

  Amber thread her way through the overly-packed room until she was at the bar on the outside of the private gambling room. A guard clad in a black uniform and a devil’s mask stood outside the room with a gun holstered at his hip. From what Amber could see, it was one of those calibrated ones Duncan Enterprises had released a few years ago. Instead of bullets, they fired different concentrations of lasers. Morta had refused to equip any of her guards with them, claiming they’d been made from the illegal genetic testing of a select few NAs.

  “Can I buy you a drink?” a distinctly masculine voice said from behind her.

  She jumped slightly as a cool hand stroked her arm. Her cheeks burned as she glanced in the direction of the speaker.

  His dark brown eyes shone in the candlelight. He wore a long cape that stretched over his broad shoulders before draping across his lean torso. Half his face was covered by an intricately designed metal mask in the shape of a fox. His tousled hair was a mixture of chocolate brown, copper, and gold. She sucked in a breath as he bent down and grazed his lips over her knuckles.