Ganymede Steel

by Richard Parry

  He gave a short laugh. “It’s Cameron. My friends call me Cam.”

  “Are we friends?” Grace leaned forward, mouth dry. She felt nervous, like the jaws of a trap were closing in on her.

  Cam offered a lopsided smile, like even his lips were weary after talking to people at border control all day. “We could be. The reason why you don’t look like a Tanaka is because she reported her ident cards stolen three weeks back. A little less, but whatever.” He waved a casual hand, the gesture at odds with the panicked pounding of Grace’s heart. “And while you’re in the departure lane for the starship Elena, a merchant liner from Leigh Station, the Immortal docked not a half hour back. She’s been at sea since then. Seems about the length of time you’d need to be out of the world to miss hearing the ident cards you stole reported missing.”

  “Ah.” Grace had a lie prepared for this. “I reported my ident cards missing but found them later.”

  “Right.” Cam nodded. “Ayako Tanaka is also not an expert in kendo, but not two minutes past a sword was taken from one of the crew aboard the Immortal. We believe Grace Gushiken, who is a master of kendo, to be aboard the Immortal. You see where this is going?”

  Still nothing but careful/cunning from Cam. “I think it’s going toward a bargain.”

  “It is. I can get you the sword back. I can also get you through border control.”

  “It’s not my sword,” said Grace. “Why would I want it back? I’m Ayako Tanaka, tourist extraordinaire.”

  “You’re a fugitive from the Empire, an assassin, and a thief,” corrected Cam. “It just so happens, I could use a good thief.”

  Grace caught a hint of Cam’s own sadness/caution. Borrowing the emotion, it made her think twice. Trusting people was foolish, but if they had a common purpose, trust became business. “I’m listening.”

  A massive armored man in Empire power armor rapped knuckles on the security door. Grace startled, then faked a laugh. Cam pressed a button on his console, opening a channel to the guard. “Can I help you?” While Cam spoke with the soldier, Grace feigned disinterest, looking back the way she’d come. Disinterest was a good cover, but she didn’t want her face seen. While she hoped Cam would cover for her, her face would be known to Empire troops.

  “Is this the fugitive Grace Gushiken?”

  Cam blinked. “Hell, did I forget to tell you?”

  “Yes. Is it her?” The massive armored guard sounded excited.

  “No. The reason I didn’t tell you it’s Grace Gushiken is because this is Ayako Tanaka, just in on the merchant liner Elena.” He beamed. “She’s checking into a coffin at Best Universe.”

  “I am?” Grace risked a glance at Cam but avoided turning her face to the soldier. “I mean, I am.”

  “She is.” Cam offered a glare to the guard. It was the kind of well-practiced look one government official offered to another getting in their way. “Maybe you could let me do my job while you go back to terrorizing innocent civilians and costing Starfire Station a lot of money.”

  “I’ll do that,” promised the hulking brute.

  “Excellent.” Cam snapped off the comm, turning back to Grace. “Ms. Tanaka, enjoy your stay on Starfire.”

  “I will.” Grace waited until the Empire soldier walked away, then left the immigration bay. Grace needed her sword. She needed a plan.

  Likely both could be found at Best Universe. And, if the winds were fair, maybe a friend too.

  Treat yourself to Dragon’s Run today!

  [https://www.books2read.com/DragonsRun]