“Are you going to spit it out or just keep looking at me?” Rikkard grumbled.
Selene smiled sheepishly and twisted in her co-pilot’s chair to face him. It was just the two of them this time. They would grab Kayl and get the hell back to the pirate ship, no reason for the rest of the gang to come along, even though they’d clearly been annoyed at being left out.
“So you grew up in the Outskirts?” Excitement burned through her at learning something new beyond the captain’s cold exterior. She watched him for any signs, but he hardly glanced at her before looking forward again.
“Yes,” he said.
She waited for more, but he didn’t elaborate. “And?”
“And what?”
Selene sighed. “All right, I’ll try direct questions if you want to be difficult.” The corner of his lips twitched, but the smile was gone as fast as it had come. “Did you live there until you joined the Smugglers Legion?”
Rikkard’s fingers tightened on the plastic handles he used to steer. “Yes… and for a few months after.” His knuckles turned white. “They had some business in town.”
“Hm.” She didn’t care much about the smugglers business, but it was interesting he seemed so tense about those days in particular. “Did you have much family?”
Rikkard shook his head. “Just a mother—if you could even call her that.”
Selene winced. “What happened to her?”
His shoulders stiffened, and for a long time he didn’t answer. Her question hung in the air so long she almost repeated herself. Instead, he finally looked at her, sadness clouding his eyes. “She died. Overdosed.”
Her pulse skipped. “I’m so sorry.”
He sighed. “I should have seen it coming. She was a drug addict almost her entire life. Living in that shithole did that to a person.”
Selene shifted uncomfortably. If she’d remained in the New Manhattan Outskirts all those years ago, would she have turned out like that? She wanted to think she wouldn’t have, but she only had snippets of memories from those days.
“So not much of a childhood, huh?” She tried to keep the question light, but her words felt hollow, even to her.
Rikkard shrugged. “Not really.” He paused. “I spent most of my time trying to scrape by working in the booster factory on the edge of town.” His lips twisted ruefully. “She spent most of our money on boosters, and the rest I tried to save and use for food and repairs around the house.”
“So you’re a handyman, huh?” she joked.
He smiled. “Back in the day.”
“So how did you escape?” she asked. It seemed they’d both grown up in the Outskirts of their own respective cities. Both of them had hated their lives and wanted better, but she’d chosen to try and join society, while Rikkard chose a life of crime.
Rikkard leaned back in his seat, his fingers relaxing. “One day at Jules’—” He glanced at her, as if realizing she might not know what the hell ‘Jules’ was. “—The local bar, I overheard a conversation between two drunkards talking about the Smugglers Legion and how they were paying big bucks to anyone who could steal the new prototype from the booster factory.”
Selene’s eyebrows rose in understanding. “So you took them up on the offer?”
He nodded. “But instead of wanting money, I bargained for a job. It was the only way I could see to get out at that point.”
“And you stayed.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “For the money.”
“And?”
He sighed. He must hate that she knew him so well. “And for Eria.”
Selene’s heart squeezed with jealousy and she quickly pushed the feeling down. They’d already had this talk. He wasn’t interested in her anymore. She had to remember that. “I see.”
Rikkard looked back at her as if expecting her to yell. When she didn’t, his shoulders relaxed.
“Did you like working with them?” she asked.
“Sometimes. Not all of them were hardened criminals. Some of them…” he trailed off, his gaze darkening.
“Some of them… like Kayl?” she filled in the blank.
Rikkard sighed. “Yeah. Some of them like Kayl, were different. More like a family. He and Sarah took me under their wing, along with Eria.”
Selene nodded. “I get it. You’d never really had a family before.”
He grimaced. “Not like that.”
Selene smiled sadly as the Old Boston Ruins came into view on the horizon, dark peaks sticking above the sand, the sun blazing behind them. Selene sat straighter, her fingers clenching around the armrests of her chair.
“We’re here,” she said.
Rikkard turned west, away from the ruins until a small town popped up on the sandy landscape below. The cruiser banked lower, slowly as it descended from the sky and down to street level, staying a few feet above the sand-covered ancient pavement as they zipped toward the center of the city.
If it could even be called a city.
It was so small most buildings were off one main strip of road with several shack-like houses on the edge, along with a large brick warehouse. Closer to the center, a few people milled back and forth, covered in rags with bloodshot eyes and vacant expressions.
Selene shivered. She had a feeling most people there were hopped up on drugs for a reason. This place looked like hell, even compared to the Outskirts she’d grown up in.
The cruiser slowed and landed in a parking lot next to a long dark building with blacked out windows and an old, broken sign above the door. In the front window a piece of wood had ‘Jules’ Tavern’ scrawled across it in red paint.
“This is the place?” she asked.
Rikkard nodded, shutting down the cruiser before he unbuckled himself and stood. He offered her his hand, and she took it, following back down the hall to the cargo hold where they exited onto the windy street.
Sand blew in her face and tossed her hair wildly. She spit out a glob of hair, and tucked as much of it behind her ears as she could.
They hurried out of the cruiser, only stopping to close the cargo door before racing across the sand and into Jules’.
The musky, pungent scent of old beer wafted up her nostrils, overwhelming her senses. Selene sucked in a breath through her mouth, trying to ignore the smell and simultaneously stop her eyes from watering.
Rikkard seemed unaffected by it, and simply scanned the room. He froze, eyes on the bar, and the older blonde woman standing behind it.
“Rik?” the woman asked, a bit breathless. “Is that you, doll?”
Selene’s eyebrows rose as she looked between them.
The woman shuffled out from behind the bar, a huge smile on her face as she strode toward them. “My damn stars, it’s been a long time!” She enveloped Rikkard in a quick hug, which Rikkard stayed completely still through, until she stepped back and held him at arm’s length, her eyes shining with memories.
“Hi Jules,” he said stiffly.
Jules shook her head and looked at Selene, her eyes widening in surprise. “Oh, you have a friend with you!”
Selene smiled. “Hi. I’m Selene.”
“Isn’t she a real looker?” Jules winked and went back behind the bar, motioning them to follow her to the long slab of wood with a bottle display lit up behind her and a row of faux-leather stools in front. “What brings you back to town?” she asked. Selene didn’t miss the flash of mischief in her eyes.
“Looking for someone,” Rikkard said quickly.
“Hm.” Jules pouted. “Not to see lil’ ol’ me?” A southern twang laced her words, one Selene was sure wasn’t natural. “You know we all thought you were dead.”
Rikkard shrugged.
“Can I get you the usual?” Jules asked.
Rikkard shook his head and turned from the bar, seeming to remember why they were there. He scanned the long room, his gaze lingering on the dark corners before returning to the booths.
; “You haven’t changed one bit.” Jules sighed.
Selene smiled. “He was like this even back then?”
Jules raised an eyebrow. “Girlie, he hasn’t changed since the first day he walked in this bar.” She paused, looking Selene up and down. “First time he’s ever brought a girl in though.”
Selene couldn’t help the warm flash of approval that passed through her. She cleared her throat, and looked back at Rikkard as he jerked away from the bar and stormed across the room.
Her heart leapt with surprise, and she followed quickly, looking around him to see what he was moving for.
An alien with dark green skin and buggy navy eyes sat in a booth with a glass of whiskey in hand, and a hood heavy on his shoulders. He glanced up as Rikkard stomped toward him, and Selene froze where she stood.
Kayl.
It felt like a long time since she’d seen the man, the last time being when he’d left her to die, and the Dominion dragged Rikkard away before her eyes.
Her fingers curled tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
Rikkard grabbed Kayl by the front of his shirt and yanked him out of the booth only to slam his fist into Kayl’s protruding cheekbone.
Kayl gasped, his head thrown to the side.
The sound spurred Selene back to reality. She raced across the open floor and grabbed Rikkard’s shoulder. “Rik! What the hell? We need him to help us!” Though she understood the impulse, wanting to do far worse than simply punch the alien in the face, they needed Kayl. Vengeance, or justice could come later.
“Take it outside boys!” Jules’ voice boomed.
Selene glanced back before looking meaningfully at Rikkard.
“Fine.” Rikkard yanked Kayl back up. The man let himself be dragged along in a stunned stupor as her boss pulled Kayl out a back door into an alley.
Once there, Rikkard pushed Kayl into the opposite wall, the wood groaning under the pressure.
Kayl grunted and shook his head, finally seeming to get his wits about him. He straightened, rubbing his jaw before looking between them. He froze when he saw Selene.
“What the fuck?” his exhale nearly masked his words. “You’re dead.”
Selene smirked. “Not quite.”
Kayl shook his head. “But, Zelena?”
Her lips twisted in a scowl. “Dead.”
“They didn’t kill you?” He paused. He didn’t say it, but Selene knew what he was thinking: I didn’t kill you?
“Nope.” She didn’t elaborate.
Kayl looked between them—the seething Rikkard, his fists clenched at his sides, and a stare like death itself, and Selene, lips pursed with annoyance. She thought she’d feel a lot angrier when she finally saw the alien again. But no, she just felt sad. Guilt twisted around her heart and squeezed. All she saw when she looked at him was her best friend, Sarah.
“What do you want?” Kayl asked when no one spoke.
“You owe me one.” Rikkard shot a meaningful glance at Selene.
Kayl’s fingers balled into fists. “Hardly. My wife is dead.”
Selene’s nostrils flared. “And you nearly killed me.”
Anger twisted his face. “You’re the reason I’ll never see her again!”
Selene’s lips snapped shut on a retort. He wasn’t entirely wrong. She was a large part of the reason Sarah was no longer with them. If she hadn’t have gone back to the smugglers, Sarah would still be alive.
“We need your skills,” Rikkard interrupted before they could continue their argument.
Kayl smirked. “My amazing dance skills, or my smuggling expertise?”
Selene rolled her eyes. “Your background in engineering.”
Kayl’s smile fell, and the skin of his forehead wrinkled. “Why?”
“We’ll explain on the way.” Rikkard stepped back, as if he expected Kayl to follow. He didn’t.
“I’m not going anywhere with you two.”
Rikkard narrowed his eyes. “You owe me.”
Kayl growled. “If I remember correctly, we’ve saved each other’s asses an equal amount of times. I don’t owe you shit.”
Rikkard swung a fist at Kayl’s head, but this time Kayl saw it coming and ducked.
Selene leapt back as Kayl tackled Rikkard, wrapping his arms around his ribs and slamming him into the wall.
“Come on boys, this isn’t necessary.” Selene sighed. Too much testosterone for one alley, apparently.
Rikkard grunted and shoved Kayl back before they both began throwing hits at one another, matching angry scowls on their faces.
Selene crossed her arms and tapped her foot, giving them a few minutes to work out their issues before she interrupted. Once they’d both landed a few good punches to the face and torso, she leapt forward, grabbing Kayl’s arm and yanking him back, right over her heel.
He tumbled over her foot with a startled gasp, hitting the ground hard.
“Sorry Kayl, but this is about a lot more than your vendetta against me, or Rikkard, or anyone else,” Selene said.
Rikkard grabbed Kayl’s arms and twisted them behind his back as he pulled Kayl to his feet. “You’re coming with us.”
Heading back down the alley, Kayl cursed and swore with each step he took, but there was no overpowering Rikkard. Selene took the pistols from his hips, and knife from his boot, tucking the impressive serrated blade into her belt. She might just have to borrow that fine piece of weaponry.
“You’re fucking assholes.” Kayl gritted his teeth. “Just like I remember.”
Selene chuckled and patted his shoulder as Rikkard forced the alien up the cargo hold ramp, and into their ship. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
Rikkard shoved Kayl down the cargo hold ramp after they’d descended back into the pirate ship. The alien turned with a growl, but Rikkard only shoved him forward again, making him stumble.
Selene sighed and followed. Kayl had been restrained on the trip, his wrists shackled behind his back. She’d done another search of his person, removing another few knives, so she was sure he was relatively harmless at this point.
“Quit shoving me,” Kayl snapped.
Rikkard pushed him again, earning a glare from Kayl’s dark blue eyes.
“Come on you two, play nice.” Selene crossed her arms.
They left the pirate ship’s cargo bay and weaved through the halls until they reached Erock’s office. Selene had already called ahead and insisted they all meet inside when they got back.
The door whooshed open, revealing a nearly full conference table. The smugglers, former Alliance members, Erock, his lieutenants, Ivy, Steven, and Jared sat at the table.
Selene flashed a smile. “Oh good, everyone’s already here.”
Erock rolled his eyes before his gaze flicked to Kayl. He watched the alien suspiciously as Rikkard prodded him into the room and forced him to sit in a chair next to Darius. Once their kidnapped former comrade was seated, Rikkard sat on his other side.
“Hey Kayl,” Darius rumbled. His jaw hardened as he inspected the alien’s bruising face.
Selene had never thought about it before now, but the rest of their crew, though it was only Darius and Rem now, must hate Kayl almost as much as she did. Kayl had tried to kill her after all.
“Darius,” Kayl greeted coldly. He looked around the table, inspecting the large group as Selene took a seat on Rikkard’s other side. Ivy sat at her left, and she gave Selene a quick nod of greeting.
“All right, now that the guest of honor has arrived…” Erock smirked. He stood at the head of the table, bracing his fists on the glass top. “I think I should get this out now so you all can begin planning your little suicide mission.” He paused. “I won’t be helping, and neither will my crew.”
Selene’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Erock narrowed his eyes. “We’ve already helped you and your… friends, far more than I ever intended. We have a damaged ship to fix after your last little plan as is.”
Her lips snapped shut. He had a p
oint.
“We’re pirates. We don’t save the world. If you want to, that’s your business, but whatever crazy scheme you’re sure to come up with next, leave us out of it.” Erock straightened and crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his chin up defiantly.
Selene’s heart pounded harder, and she glanced at the others. Erock had a point. The pirates had already taken more than twenty strangers onto their ship, helped them infiltrate a Dominion battleship, and used their own resources to clone her not once, but twice. They owed them nothing. If anything, Selene in debt with a group of pirates. And that she didn’t like one bit.
“You can’t be serious—” Sav snapped, but Selene cut him off.
“He’s right. This isn’t their battle.” She cut the others a meaningful look. They didn’t have time for squabbles in the first place. It was time to come up with a plan and get to the Rocky Mountains as fast as they could. The clock was ticking way too fast for her liking.
Erock nodded stiffly, though his eyes betrayed his surprise at her quick acceptance. “I’ll leave you to it then.” The pirate captain spun on his heel to face the door. He motioned for his lieutenants to follow, and the three pirates left.
Selene watched him go before glancing around his office. Damn that pirate must trust her more than she thought if he was willing to leave her in his private office with her entire team.
Once the door slid shut, Selene turned back to the others.
“You’re in league with pirates now?” Kayl raised an eyebrow.
Darius elbowed him hard. “Shut the fuck up.”
Kayl grunted at the impact, but didn’t say another word.
“Okay.” Selene took a deep breath. “Rem, can you bring up the schematics of the bunker?”
Rem stood, his phone already in hand and slid it to the center of the table. The same three-dimensional rendering popped up in a large schematic that showed the exterior of the bunker, as well as the interior of the first few floors.
“So how do we get in?” she asked.
Rem sat back down and glanced at the others.
Flik leaned forward, inspecting the image. “Are there any other tunnels or entrances we could access?”
The Darri Commission: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure (Dominion Rising Book 3) Page 14