Chosen of Chaos (Eve of Destruction Book 1)

by Benjamin Medrano

  “Not taking that bet,” Evelyn replied dryly, a smile playing across her lips.

  “Didn’t think you would! That leaves the expensive ship, and I like that one a lot, but it is expensive, and the Hellion’s Smile,” Fya said, examining each in turn, though she looked a little dubious. “If you were planning to kill people, the latter would be perfect, but it’s cramped and doesn’t have space for a mech. I think you’ll want one eventually, and the other could hold four of them, if you got rid of a couple of shuttles or fighter pads. I don’t think that’s what you’re actively wanting to do, though. So… in that case, I think the only real option is the expensive one.”

  Evelyn grimaced and nodded reluctantly, letting out a heavy sigh. “That… was about the conclusion I’d come to. I was really, really hoping that you’d see something I didn’t, but… beggars can’t be choosers. Unless we were willing to wait for a custom-built ship to come out of the yards, and I sure am not waiting for that, we’re going to have to go with something imperfect. The problem I see is that they’ll likely jack the price the second they realize I’m involved.”

  “Sure they would,” Fya agreed, smiling in amusement, her eyes glittering with mischief. “If you’re the one who goes to buy it, anyway. If you aren’t, we might be able to even bargain it down slightly. Probably not much, but… every bit helps, right?”

  “Yes… but the question is what you’re thinking where that’s concerned,” Evelyn said, looking at Fya skeptically. “If I don’t go, that pretty much leaves you. I didn’t think you liked doing that sort of thing.”

  “I don’t like leaving. When I leave, you get yourself killed,” Fya teased, grinning broadly at her. “But that doesn’t mean that I can’t. I mean, think about it. I can play the rich, arrogant noblewoman, but the problem is usually a lack of staff. But if you give me Zelirana as a majordomo, and the twins as my personal chef and accountant, I’ll bet you that I can trick them. We can even change my appearance to make sure they don’t realize that I’m your friend! Then I can buy it and sell it to you for a mythrite and a night in bed. We’d have to break in the bed anyway, so I think that’d be perfectly reasonable.”

  “You’d be buying it with my money,” Evelyn pointed out, scowling at the djinn. “Why should I have to buy it from you?”

  “Because you like me, Milady,” Fya replied unrepentantly, and Evelyn let out a sigh, rubbing her forehead as she thought.

  “Damn it. You probably have the right idea, even if I feel like it isn’t the right thing to do,” Evelyn groused after a moment, staring at the holograms, then killed them again. “We’ll wait on making a decision, though. Only Zelirana has signed her contract, and we do have Beatrice aboard. I don’t quite trust her, so I’d rather wait until she’s off the ship before making a final decision, or telling the others.”

  “Sounds good!” Fya agreed, grinning broadly. “So, you think she might be considering trying for your bounty too?”

  “That’s right.” Evelyn confirmed, smiling a little as she added. “Though the incident with the Nebula Runner seems to have changed her mind slightly.”

  Fya began giggling, and Evelyn managed to hold back her laughter for all of about ten seconds losing control. She never did understand why people who didn’t have much of a chance were willing to attack her. It seemed like suicide to her, but it was their funerals.

  Chapter 26

  “I’ve made my decision.” Beatrice said, and Evelyn looked over at her, still doing her squats. The machine adding weight to her back made it harder, but that just made it good exercise.

  “Oh?” Evelyn asked, breathing slowly and evenly. “I was beginning to wonder. You sent off a lot of messages.”

  “Yes, well, it seems that the mutiny succeeded, and I had to contact a lot of people to figure out if I had anything left,” Beatrice said, grimacing and shaking her head. “More than I was afraid of, but less than I’d like. Unfortunately, that means that I didn’t have a position to go back to, unlike some of the others. I thought about it, then applied to several other companies that had tried to poach me over the years. I found a position, and they agreed to wait for me a couple of systems over while they resupplied, so… I’m going to be heading out. Thank you for the funds, they’re making this easier. Replacing my gear isn’t going to be easy, but I’ll manage.”

  “Ah. I’m sure you will,” Evelyn said. After a few moments she asked. “Dare I ask which company you joined?”

  “Well… Adrian’s Battalion,” Beatrice replied, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face as she continued. “I know they aren’t actually a battalion, but they’re a good company to work for, assuming that the same thing doesn’t happen again. That would be unpleasant.”

  “I’ve heard of them, and you’re right. They have a good reputation,” Evelyn agreed, smiling. “I considered hiring them before I overthrew Peldra, but it turned out that they were occupied, and it wasn’t really necessary. It’s just as well, considering everything that happened. They might have gotten some backlash after I decided I didn’t want to rule anymore.”

  “I… hadn’t realized that,” Beatrice said, examining Evelyn again, almost cautiously this time. “Anyway, I’ll be going.”

  “Very well. Have a safe trip. Perhaps we’ll cross paths again,” Evelyn told her, and started exercising again as the woman made her way out.

  Evelyn just hoped the woman wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to get the company to come after her. They did have a good reputation, and she’d rather not destroy them utterly. If she had to, though… well, that would be that.

  She didn’t pay it any more mind, though. Once Beatrice was gone, she be able to have a nice discussion with the others.

  “So, are you alright with this?” Evelyn asked, looking at the women around the table.

  There were significantly less of them than there had been before, which was something that made Evelyn happier in some ways. She far preferred having people aboard who wanted to be aboard. It was just the twins, Fya, Ilyra, Vaneryth, and Zelirana at this point, which was a more intimate group, in her opinion. Only the twins had taken the advance, though the other two had happily taken the contract. Evelyn was mostly amused that the succubus had also taken Ilyra and the twins shopping a couple of times.

  “Most certainly!” Zelirana said, grinning like a cat that had caught a particularly tasty bird. “This plays to my strengths! Oh, I think I’ll need an outfit or two just for this, but those will be rather useful regardless, so I won’t ask that you pay for them. When would we be leaving?”

  Evelyn looked at Fya, who smiled and shrugged. “Tomorrow, most likely. I know there are two ships going that way, but we need to book passage in a properly prestigious ship. Otherwise, they might not believe us when I give them a long, flowery title. I mean, it isn’t real, or at least not on this plane, but I’d rather they believed us.”

  “My biggest concern is… me,” Moon chimed in, looking embarrassed. “I never finished my training, after all.”

  “Ah, but can you identify a kitchen that’s laid out in a useable way, and which has all the tools you’d need for the job?” Evelyn asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

  “Yes? Probably, at least, as long as it isn’t anything too exotic,” Moon hedged, shifting in her chair.

  “If it is too exotic, then you’ve found a problem,” Zelirana replied, clicking her tongue. “These sorts of things should be familiar for almost any chef, with plenty of space for someone to bring in their own unique appliances. I’ll help you with your poise and attitude along the way, however. You’ll be expected to have a certain bearing, but I’ll deflect questions unless they’re specifically about cooking. That should make it easier for you.”

  “Ah… thank you,” Moon said, her face coloring slightly.

  “What about me? I don’t see what I’d be useful for,” Star said, frowning.

  “A noblewoman rarely controls her own finances,” Fya said, raising her nose in the air and sniffing. �
�Maybe negotiate, of course, though I may foist that off on Zelirana, but I’d be looking at you to ensure that we have the funds available. Essentially, you’ll be told how much we have to spend on the trip, and it’s your job to ‘rein me in’ if I go overboard. Respectfully, of course… but most likely you’ll just whisper in Zelirana’s ear and have her do it. The entire point is to make me out to be some ridiculously wealthy noble with more money than common sense, so they’ll sell the ship without any qualms.”

  “I just wish it wasn’t primarily ivory and gold,” Evelyn said, looking at the hologram again unhappily. “Why not black and red? Or even, I don’t know, royal blue and red? I like darker color schemes.”

  “Think of it this way, Milady. No one will expect you to be buying a ship that looks like that!” Fya said, grinning broadly.

  Evelyn sighed and looked at the twins, asking. “Are you alright with it? I know it’s a sudden thing, when you just barely signed the contracts.”

  “Sure. I mean, you said that you were getting a new ship, I just didn’t expect anything like this right out the gates,” Moon said, gesturing at the ship as her cheeks colored. “You’re putting a lot of trust in us, and I… didn’t expect it.”

  “Agreed,” Star murmured.

  Evelyn rolled her eyes, glowering at them as she spoke sharply. “If I didn’t think I could trust you, I wouldn’t be sending you. I don’t know that I would have sent anyone else of those who left. Perhaps Orm, but she chose to leave, and that was that. I believe that the two of you can do this, and that’s the end of it.”

  The silence that came in response was almost deafening, at least for a few moments. Then Vaneryth spoke up.

  “May I ask what we’re to do while they are gone?” the angel asked, fidgeting in her chair as she looked around the table.

  “Nothing of note,” Evelyn said, shrugging. “Oh, we might want to prepare things so we can unload the ship quickly, but there’s no reason we need to worry too much. If something else comes up, we can always take care of it. As long as we’re in-system when they return, that’s what matters. I suspect this will take three to five days… Fya?”

  “Probably! I might have to take longer to fit my role, but who knows for sure?” the djinn said, shrugging. “Think of it as a vacation! I’m taking Zelirana with me, after all!”

  “This is true,” Zelirana agreed, smiling widely. “That means I can tease you when I get back.”

  “I’d prefer it if you didn’t tease me at all,” Vaneryth retorted, glowering at the succubus. “I wish we weren’t aboard the same ship, but it isn’t like I have much of a choice in the matter.”

  “Enough,” Evelyn interjected calmly, and glanced at Ilyra. “What about you? You’ve been rather quiet.”

  “I didn’t have anything to contribute. I’m just… going to keep training, I think. Maybe I’ll visit the firing range to practice some more or pick up a couple more texts on magic,” Ilyra said, smiling nervously. “It isn’t that important right now, but I want to get better, so that I’m useful.”

  “Good enough,” Evelyn said, and nodded to everyone as she stood up. “Unless anyone comes up with something, I think we’ll adjourn here. Zelirana, you’re in charge of getting your clothing for the trip, as well as that of Moon and Star. You have a budget of two hundred mythrite, which should be enough for the quality they’d expect.”

  “Of course. I’ll take care of it,” Zelirana said, standing up as well. “I’m looking forward to this.”

  “So am I!” Fya said, grinning broadly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been aboard a new ship!”

  Evelyn laughed, nodding as she murmured. “That’s an excellent point. I don’t think I’ve been aboard a new one that’s that nice, either. Try not to damage it.”

  “I won’t!” Fya assured her, her smile only widening.

  “This should be interesting,” Star murmured, to Evelyn’s amusement.

  It would indeed.

  Chapter 27

  The incoming comm request surprised Evelyn, and she looked up from her book, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at the time. It wasn’t Fya and the others she determined almost instantly. They’d entered astral about four hours earlier, and that wasn’t nearly enough time for them to have reached their destination. No, it was someone else… and both eyebrows rose as she registered where the call was sourced from. The draconic embassy wasn’t expected, to say the least, but she didn’t have anything better to do, so she may as well answer.

  “This is Captain Tarth,” Evelyn said, just as the hologram sprang to life, revealing a woman with orange eyes and bronze hair she recognized, and Evelyn smiled, adding. “Ah, Lady Xalryx. I didn’t expect to receive a call from you.”

  “And I did not expect to be contacting you, Captain Tarth. I believe that many of the locals wish that you’d left already, yet here you are, still in port,” Xalryx replied, showing just a hint of teeth as she smiled back at Evelyn.

  “Yes, well, saying I’m in port might be putting it a touch strongly,” Evelyn replied, glancing at the charts. “I chose a parking orbit since it was less expensive, and there’s no reason to remain docked constantly. I’m expecting a message soon, I’m afraid.”

  “Ah, much is explained! It is to my advantage, however. I believe I have a bargain for you, one which may help defray the cost of you remaining here,” the dragoness replied, her smile fading slightly. “Are you interested?”

  “That depends. On the price, the job, and everything else,” Evelyn replied, sitting back and glancing over to check the screens idly.

  She doubted that the woman was part of any attempt to sneak-attack her, but it was possible she was wrong. It wouldn’t make much sense most of the time, but Evelyn had been present for the woman’s deal with Captain Eight-Fist. It was entirely possible she wanted to tie up loose ends.

  “I do understand. First I have to ask a rather important question, though. Do you have difficulties with drakes?” Xalryx asked, a flicker of concern crossing her face.

  “That depends as well. If they don’t attack me or those I care about, I don’t feel obligated to remove their heads, wings, or anything else vital,” Evelyn told her, smiling at the dragon. “Otherwise, I’m willing to leave them be. They’re dimwitted, but that isn’t any reason to kill them.”

  “Excellent!” Xalryx said, her eyes lighting up. “The issue is simple. The sixth planet of this system, Valath, once had a plentiful species of frost drakes that had particularly beautiful scales. Unfortunately, they were hunted nearly to extinction over the years, and now there aren’t many of them left. I’ve been spearheading a breeding program to help them recover, but it’s encountered some difficulties.”

  “Oh?” Evelyn asked, looking back at the dragoness skeptically. “I’m not a specialist in biosciences, life magic, or anything that would be terribly useful with breeding programs. I don’t see how I’d be able to help.”

  “Ah, but you have archmage level magical abilities! I learned that from station security, in case you’re wondering,” Xalryx said, grinning in return as she shrugged. “The issue is rather simple, as it happens. A group of bootleggers have decided to set up camp on one of the primary ley lines on Valath, where they’re draining much of the mana from it for some sort of liquor or another. That’s making it difficult for my facility to raise the drakes in question, their eggs are only viable in areas of high mana densities, which is making my life difficult. Worse, there’s a group of poachers who are hunting down the drakes that hatch before they’re even adults. I would like for you to deal with the poachers and, if possible… adjust the ley line so that the drakes can hatch more easily.”

  Evelyn paused, staring at the woman for a moment, then asked mildly. “Why don’t you ask the local authorities to deal with this instead? Why me?”

  “Valath became a draconic protectorate seven years ago, so dealing with it is our concern. Unfortunately, it’s a rather minor protectorate on the whole, which means that I only have a pair of sh
uttles and two squads of wildlife guards to take care of everything,” Xalryx explained a flicker of embarrassment crossing her face. “If it had more drakes, or stronger magic, the planet would have more dragons there, and more resources assigned to it, but as it stands, it’s stuck in a downward spiral. As I’m in charge of it, that does not reflect well on me.”

  Evelyn thought for a few seconds as she frowned. It was an odd request, but there was something more to it, and she examined the dragon carefully. Xalryx had an excellent poker face, though, and Evelyn sighed, tapping the arm of her chair impatiently.

  “Why should I help you with this, Xalryx? I’m certain that there’s another reason you’re not telling me,” Evelyn told her evenly.

  “I have a certain… rival who is causing me difficulties. They’re rather petty and believe that I organized a significant embarrassment for them. I believe that they’ve been trying to do the same to me for some time,” the dragoness replied, picking her words carefully. “I can deal with the poachers easily enough, but my rival is just important enough that I can’t afford for them to die unless they cause significant issues or attack first. That being the case, I’d like to have someone there who can deal with any problems as they arise.”

  “Ahh, you’re requiring a troubleshooter, then. With an emphasis on the shooting trouble part,” Evelyn said, smiling slightly more now. “I believe that I understand. Now that we have that sorted out, the question is, what sort of timeline are we speaking of, and how much are you offering?”

  “It should take no more than a few days, depending on whether you try to navigate there via astral or not. As long as you don’t cause issues for the biosphere, I’m not concerned with your methods,” the dragon said, and smiled as she tapped a key. “As for payment, I just sent the offer to you. You’ll note that it’s rather generous, if somewhat less than what I’d be paying a full mercenary company for the job. You can do it far more easily than they can, however.”