The Smuggler's Radiant (Renegades Book 2)

by L P Peace

  ‘We’re on the way. I’m not going to let it slide back,’ Vadia whispered in her ear before she left. ‘I hope you see your parent’s soon. I hope you meet your brother.’

  ‘Me too,’ Rhona admitted.

  Kadian explained to his family why he wasn’t returning with him. They were upset but understood his reasons.

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ Rhona said as he watched his family leave.

  ‘I will see them again when I’m done,’ he said, looking at Rhona. ‘This is more important right now.’

  While Makios went back to the ship to do whatever he was doing. Kadian went shopping with Rhona, bought a few essentials and was gone.

  ‘Are Ivoresh males like that as well?’ Rhona asked.

  Vella nodded. ‘I believe males the galaxy over are all the same.’

  Rhona had never been a big shopper, so was quickly done. However, Vella was determined to keep her off the ship until she got the all-clear from Makios, so they found a place to eat. Besides a few sideways glances, they didn’t have any trouble. Rhona was sure she had the giant Ivoresh to thank for that.

  After another hour had passed, Vella got the signal and they went back to Tala. Makios welcomed her back on board with a kiss and pulled her into his arms.

  ‘Missed you, little human,’ he muttered in her ear.

  ‘Missed you too, you brute.’ Rhona held him tight. ‘Where’s my surprise?’

  Makios released her and looked up at the mezzanine. ‘You’re not allowed in there.’ His voice brooked no descent.

  Rhona shrugged. ‘I had no intention of going there anyway.’ She eyed the mezzanine and wondered if she’d be able to sneak up there while Makios was asleep. ‘Did I ever mention I hate surprises?’

  They went through the gate, another harrowing experience and emerged in what she was told was Gaoalin space. From there, it was a three-day trip to Tessa.

  Everyone seemed to be working on the secret project upstairs, though there was always someone on the bridge with Rhona while she learned more of the ship’s systems.

  In the evening, the crew sat around together and had dinner. It felt more and more like a family as time went on. Kadian fit right in, and Rhona knew she’d miss him when he left, just like Daris and Devorak.

  Rhona began walking Kadian through some essential Earth customs and warned him of the anti-alien sentiment. He accepted it all in his stride. She was worried she had set him up for unhappiness and even abuse. Her fears were soon set to rest when she found Makios and Kadian sparring in one of the downstairs storage rooms. Despite Makios’s clear advantages with Kadian being significantly shorter and leaner, he was a breath-taking fighter. Fast, nimble and tactical.

  ‘Hey, sleepy human.’

  Makios’s voice woke Rhona from a pleasant sleep. She smiled at Makios when she opened her eyes. The sun was beating down on his face and glinting off the red tattoos that curved near his chin.

  The sun?

  Rhona tipped her head back and saw a yellowish-pink sun in a lavender-blue sky shining from the viewscreen.

  ‘Is that real? Is this Tessa?’

  ‘Yes.’ Makios grinned at her.

  ‘Oh my God.’ She sighed. ‘My first alien planet.’

  Rhona looked at him. ‘When did we land?’

  ‘About five hacri ago,’ he said. ‘You’ve been asleep for about thirteen hacri.’

  ‘No.’ Rhona looked out at the sky again. It was beautiful. She could see why Makios loved it here. ‘I’ve never slept in. I’m always too busy.’

  Makios’s face softened. ‘You’ve been through a lot this last cycle.’ He stroked her face. ‘Your body needed time to relax and reset.’

  ‘And now it’s time for me to see my first alien planet.’ She grinned up at him.

  Makios shook his head. ‘No, now it’s time for you to come see your surprise.’

  Rhona’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’

  Makios nodded.

  A few minutes later, after a quick shower at Makios’s insistence, she was going up the stairs to the mezzanine above the galley. The crew, including Kadian, were waiting there for her.

  ‘Hello, everyone.’ Rhona waved, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

  When they got to the door, Rhona stood in front of it with Makios behind her and Vella’s hand gripping the handle. That was the last thing Rhona saw before Makios’s hand descended to her eyes and blocked her vision.

  Rhona heard the door open, and Makios guided her inside.

  Rhona’s one and only time in this room had been brief and full of passion. She hadn’t taken any notice of the space.

  Not stopping inside the door, Makios led her down a long hall. He turned her right, walked a few steps, then made a left turn. Light filled her eyes as Makios lifted his hand. It took a moment for Rhona’s eyes to adjust, but when she did, she realised she was standing in a living room.

  Warm grey carpeted the floors. The sofas, which hugged the walls on the curved space, were made out of an animal hide. They looked plush and comfortable. Tables filled some of the space and were covered in plants.

  There were touches of Kathen red, and butterscotch, the shade of the Martian sky Rhona missed. Her throat closed, and she reached up to the arms he had placed around her chest and held onto him.

  ‘Oh, Makios,’ she whispered.

  ‘This is the best room,’ he said. ‘The most finished. But let me show you the rest.’

  There were three bedrooms and a kitchen diner. Rhona knew they’d only use it rarely; their place was down in the galley with the rest of the crew. Other than that, it was absolutely perfect.

  The master bedroom and its bathroom, along with the living room, were the most complete.

  ‘How soon can we move in?’

  ‘Now,’ Makios answered.

  Thanesh was standing in the mess when they descended. Behind him stood two uniformed Protectorate.

  ‘I thought I would come to you, seeing as you have not come to me.’ He looked up at Makios as he walked down the stairs.

  ‘Some things are more important than you, Protectorate.’ Rhona was shocked by the tone Makios used. She thought they were friends.

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Providing my female a home,’ he said.

  Thanesh considered, then nodded. ‘Agreed.’

  ‘Did you convert the top suite back?’ a woman’s voice said from behind Thanesh.

  Alethia popped her head out.

  Makios descended the steps and Alethia rounded Thanesh. The two of them held each other for a moment before Alethia glanced nervously at Rhona.

  ‘Sorry,’ she said, backing away.

  ‘No need to be sorry,’ Rhona smiled. ‘I’m not the jealous type.’

  Makios huffed a laugh.

  ‘He is.’ Alethia jabbed her thumb in Thanesh’s direction. He was staring at Makios with an unhappy look on his face.

  Rhona laughed. ‘Hold it together, big guy. You’ve nothing to worry about.’

  ‘I know that,’ Thanesh growled. He seemed to be more annoyed by his reaction than Rhona’s words. But when Alethia stepped back into his waiting arms, there was definitely a ‘mine’ vibe radiating from him.

  ‘Have you got the radiant?’ Thanesh asked from above Alethia’s head.

  Makios nodded at Vella, who disappeared down the stairs to the storage below where Kadian had been intermittently monitoring the radiant while it was in transit.

  A minute passed before she reappeared holding the metal-encased energy source. Thanesh nodded to a grey-skinned Protectorate with vibrant, almost luminescent green-blue eyes and white hair. He stepped forward and took it. Rhona noticed that beneath the collar of this uniform, several scars licked up his neck.

  She glanced at the other Protectorate that was standing behind Thanesh. He had three large scratches down his face. These people seemed to have been through the grinder.

  ‘Were you all human?’ Rhona asked.

  Thanesh’s eyes slid to Kadian,
who had gasped.

  ‘Korren,’ he indicated the black-skinned man, ‘was born to one of us.’ Thanesh nodded at the one with the facial scars. ‘Jarit and I are from the original group.’

  Rhona nodded.

  ‘You were human?’ Kadian asked.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ Thanesh answered. ‘What’s your story? Why are you here? There was a ship to take you home.’

  ‘I made a promise to Rhona,’ Kadian said, stepping forward. ‘To help humans develop an engine that will take them to the IGC to apply for membership.’

  This time, it was Alethia’s turn to gasp.

  ‘And your qualifications are?’ Thanesh’s tone was curt.

  The Todaal frowned. ‘I am Kadian Helass, a radiant scientist and elite operative. I used to develop radiant engines for the Todaal military, among other things,’ he said. ‘That’s why the Goedan took me.’

  A smile emerged on Thanesh’s face. ‘I was planning on searching for someone to do this job,’ he admitted. ‘Part of this radiant is for the humans, for the ship I intend on helping them build.’

  ‘Really?’ Rhona stared at the Protectorate.

  ‘Really,’ he repeated. ‘We are mining amot for the ship,’ he said. ‘Most of the radiant will stay here. The rest will be delivered to Earth when they are ready to start testing the engine.’ He looked at Rhona. ‘I have a detailed plan. The first stage of which is delivering a bunch of humans back to Earth and opening talks.’ He looked at Makios. ‘Dairon will be delivering the humans. I want you and Rhona to take the first shipment of amot, Kadian.’ He nodded respectfully at the Todaal. ‘And my proposal.’ He looked back at Makios and Rhona. ‘I want you to be my representative until they are happy with my warship entering Earth space.’

  Rhona closed her eyes and put her hand to her stomach. There was a way forward; there was hope.

  ‘Rhona?’ It was Alethia. Rhona opened her eyes. The pale lady of Tessa was standing in front of her. When Alethia reached out for her, Rhona leaned down, accepting the embrace gladly.

  ‘I think you’ve got a good one there,’ Rhona whispered.

  ‘I know you have a good one there,’ Alethia answered.

  ‘Let’s take this back to the house,’ Alethia said. ‘Everybody is welcome.’

  Alethia and Thanesh led the way. Rhona and Makios took the rear. When she emerged into a red and purple forest, she smiled.

  Michael Ronald Stinar peed clear across the changing mat.

  ‘Young man,’ Amy sighed and shook her head, ‘I never had this problem with your sister.’ The words were out before she could catch them. They hung in the air and caught on her lips, filled her mouth and crawled down her throat, thickening it with emotion. She closed her eyes. Her lips trembled, but through sheer force of will, Amy stopped herself from crying.

  After seven months of grieving, she had come to a decision. Michael deserved better than this. He deserved a mother who didn’t cry all the time. He deserved a father that didn’t stare listlessly into the distance. He deserved to hear happy stories, happy laughter, happy voices.

  Not knowing what had happened to Michael and Rhona was eating her alive. But she needed to be present for her son.

  She opened her eyes and looked down at a pale-skinned little boy. His eyes were exactly like Rhona’s. So was his cheeky, devilish grin. She took solace from her son.

  ‘You did that on purpose, didn’t you?’ She tickled his pudgy little belly. A chortling laugh filled the room.

  This was what her son deserved.

  She cleaned the little devil up and finished changing his nappy, then made her way into the living room of her home. Hermes was purpose-built for the traders. Their ancestors pooled all of the money to buy the dome, oxygen recyclers, access to the aquifer and a hundred different elements. Because of this, they’d built the homes themselves, using sandbags and the Martian soil and clay. Superadobe homes, they were called, and because of the method of building, they were smooth, organic and had few corners.

  Better for little heads, Amy thought as she kissed Mikey.

  The best thing was because the method was so cheap and quick, when a new trading family needed a home, the community in place at the time made a few days of it. Coming together, building, cooking, playing under the Martian dome like the Amish of Earth. Amy had looked forward to the day they would do this for Rhona. Now it would never be.

  Anders stared out at the back garden, a grim, haunted look on his face. He looked at her and forced a smile; it was taking him longer to adjust. At night, he had nightmares of what might be happening to his little girl and seemed to blame himself. Bit by bit, he was coming back, but it was slow going.

  A knock on the door stopped Amy from putting Mikey down in his playpen. She looked out of the window and saw a government vehicle. As the community representatives here in Hermes, the government usually came to them to disseminate news. Usually bad news.

  ‘Oh, God.’

  ‘What is it, love?’ Anders joined her at the window. His skin paled. ‘Stay here. I’ve got it.’

  Anders went to the door. There were muted voices, and finally, Alexander Peyton, Mayor of Persephone, entered the house.

  Amy stared at him, confused. They’d never met him, let alone him come into her home. There was only one possible reason she could think of. They must have found Michael and Rhona’s bodies, spaced by the aliens before they left. It was rare, but it happened.

  ‘Oh my God.’ Amy shook her head. ‘Oh, God, please.’

  ‘Mrs Stinar,’ the mayor acknowledged her.

  Anders entered behind him. His arms were folded.

  ‘Did you find our little girl?’ As much as Amy hated hearing the words, it would also bring a kind of peace. They would know she wasn’t being hurt by filthy aliens if she was dead.

  ‘Please,.’ The mayor pointed to the sofa. ‘Sit. Let me explain.’

  ‘Did you find my daughter's fucking body or not?!’ Anders shouted.

  ‘No,’ the mayor answered.

  ‘Michael’s?’

  Peyton looked at them. They were stubbornly standing, facing him. ‘I’m sorry to inform you—’

  ‘Oh, God.’ Amy covered her face with her spare hand and started crying.

  ‘That your brother Michael has been reported as having passed away.’

  She felt Anders wrap his arms around her and the baby. ‘I’m so sorry, my love,’ he whispered.

  ‘Please sit down,’ Peyton said. ‘There’s more.’

  Anders guided Amy to the sofa. As soon as she felt it at the back of her legs, her knees buckled.

  ‘I do have good news,’ the mayor said.

  Amy snorted and looked at him. ‘What good news?’

  ‘Your daughter, Rhona, made it back.’

  Amy felt her heart stop.

  ’What?’ It was Anders who asked the question.

  ‘She was rescued by an alien,’ he said. ‘He brought her and most of the rest of those taken that day back.’

  Amy stood. ‘Take me to my daughter.’ Her voice was firm, resolute.

  ‘Before that, your daughter wanted me to explain something to you,’ he said.

  ‘Explain what?’ Anders asked. He took Amy’s free hand and squeezed it.

  ‘The alien that rescued her is with her.’

  ‘What do you mean “with her”?’ Anders asked.

  ‘Your daughter has assured me she’s in a very happy, very committed relationship with him,’ he said.

  ‘An alien,’ Amy sneered. ‘No, not my daughter. He’s done something to her—’

  ‘Amy.’ Ander’s voice cut across her denial. ‘We just got our daughter back. Are you going to alienate her now, with this?’

  Amy closed her eyes. After several months, she should be happy to just have her back. But after a lifetime of hating aliens, it was difficult to accept her daughter might be in love with one. Amy took a deep breath. She was a Stinar, dammit. Accept it she would, for Rhona, to have her back.

&
nbsp; Amy opened her eyes. ‘Okay, I’m prepared. Bring me to my daughter.’

  Peyton smiled. ‘I don’t need to. They’re in the vehicle.’

  Amy was out of the door before either the mayor or Anders could stop her. Baby Mikey in hand, she charged down the path.

  The door of the vehicle opened, and a blur of red hair shot out of it. ‘Mum,’ Rhona called. Rhona stopped a few feet in front of her. Amy’s eyes connected with her daughter. She looked the same, yet different. The clothes she wore were in a fabric and style that couldn’t possibly have come from the Sol system. She seemed to have aged without adding a single line to her face, and there was a maturity in her eyes Amy had never seen there before.

  Rhona smiled at Amy, and just that took her breath away. Then she looked at her brother. She walked the rest of the way and wrapped her arms around the two of them.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Amy muttered into her daughter's hair. ‘It’s really you.’ She squeezed her daughter tight to her, closing her eyes as sobs rolled out of her.

  ‘Did you call him Michael?’

  ‘Michael Ronald,’ she managed between sobs. ‘What happened to Michael?’ She had to know.

  Anders’ arms embraced the three of them. He choked sobs into his daughter’s hair while Rhona recounted the story of Michael’s death.

  ‘He was so brave, Mum,’ she whispered finally.

  A white and red giant with black horns appeared from the car, and Amy felt her mouth go dry. ‘Oh, shit.’ She couldn’t help the words slipping out of her mouth.

  Rhona drew back and looked at the alien. She held out her hand, encouraging him to come closer.

  ‘I know he looks scary, Mum. I was scared at first. But he’s like dad. Scary to look at, but soft, kind, loving. He’s the best man I’ve ever met.’

  Amy looked into her daughter's eyes and saw the love there. It was the same love Amy saw when she looked in her husband’s eyes—accepting and fathomless.

  ‘Hello,’ Amy tested. Her voice sounded stronger than she’d anticipated.