Nickie’s protest froze in her throat. “She never told me anything about him except his name and that he died before I was born.”
Jean threaded her arm through Nickie’s and steered her past a bar and into a quiet coffee shop. “That I didn’t know.” She headed for a booth in the corner and sat down. “He was a scientist. Did you know that? Your mom was never going to fall for anyone who wasn’t brilliant.”
Nickie slipped into the booth across from Jean and dropped her bags on the seat beside her. “Why are you telling me all this now? Like I said, it doesn’t matter. I never knew him, and my mom never bothered to tell me anything about him.”
Jean frowned, concern in her eyes. “Then it’s time you got some understanding. You can’t keep blaming your mother for her choices.” She held up a finger before Nickie could interrupt. “You can’t keep blaming her for yours either.”
Nickie’s shoulders dropped as she recognized the truth in Jean’s words. “Well, shit.”
Jean pressed her lips together. “I’m not done yet. You aren’t the only one who lost someone, but you sure as shit weren’t left holding a baby when you did. Your mother didn’t have the luxury of being able to throw the Empire’s biggest temper tantrum when your father died. She had you to take care of.”
Nickie shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about my mom,” she admitted. “She hurt me, Grandma.” The urge to run was almost overwhelming, but Nickie made herself stay in the booth. “I don’t need to be reminded of what a disappointment I am.”
Jean snorted. “You were never a disappointment. An ass, yes. You get that from your grandfather. Not your looks, though. You might think you look like John, but there’s more than one blue-eyed, blond man in your gene pool, and you have his eyes.”
Nickie traced the lines on the tabletop with her finger. “What was he like? My, um…dad?” She stumbled over the word, the taste of it strange in her mouth.
Jean smiled sadly. “I didn’t know him that well. They met on a research station they were both working on while your mom was going through her ‘save the universe’ phase. We spoke in the background of Lillian’s calls. He was kind. Smart, like your mom. Regular human, not enhanced.”
“I figured that from the weak-ass dose of nanos I got,” Nickie conceded. “How did he die?”
Pain flashed across Jean’s face. “There was an attack on the station, some enemy of the planet below. The station was destroyed in the crossfire.”
Nickie was suddenly angry for the man she never knew. “Who attacked? Was my mom hurt?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Jean told her. “Bethany Anne resolved it, as Bethany Anne does. Your mother only escaped because she was away on an expedition with her team.” She placed a hand over Nickie’s briefly before reaching for the menu. “I thank my lucky stars every day that she wasn’t aboard that station. What would I do without my girls, hey?”
Nickie gave her food order and put the menu to the side. “You and she don’t do anything but fight like cats.”
Jean’s eyes wrinkled at the corners. “Sure, and we love every minute of it. I’ve come to realize the only important thing is that we stay connected, even when we’re mad at each other. You’re home, and that’s all I care about.”
Their food arrived a few minutes later, giving Nickie time to chew over her thoughts as well as the sticky ribs on her plate.
Did she feel like she was home? She wasn’t sure if “home” was anyplace other than her ship these days. Where she was suited her, no matter what everyone else in her life seemed to think. She was happy out on the edge where she could act without too much oversight.
Jean broke the silence. “How did your briefing with Barnabas go?”
Nickie dropped the bare bone onto her plate. “He put it off until we get back to High Tortuga. I don’t know why. He’s only going to lecture me into breaking something of his.” She shrugged at Jean’s quizzical look. “I don’t know whether to take his offer. He’s bugging me about it by not bugging me about it.”
Jean waved her fork, spilling rice back onto her plate. “This isn’t about the offer.”
Nickie shrugged. “I need to talk to my crew. There are some communication issues between Grim and me,” she confessed. “I’ve been holding onto my full orders until I know for sure what his motivation for sticking around is.”
Jean’s face softened. “Oh, Nickie. That’s not going to resolve anything.”
Nickie nodded, poking around on her plate with her fork. “I know, Grandma. I’m not the one avoiding the issue, but I don’t want to push if it’s going to break up what we all have.”
Chapter 14 Tabitha and Nickie
High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Barnabas’ Office (one week later)
Barnabas caught a glimpse of the main arena in the center of the Hexagon as Tabitha chased her escaping son. “Don’t you sit still for one minute?”
Tabitha laughed, the camera feed from her drone bobbing to keep up. “Which minute do I have for that? The one between my eyes opening and closing each night? My child has inexhaustible energy, Barnabas. There is no rest.”
Barnabas chuckled at her good-natured bitching. “The joys of parenthood are bountiful, I’m led to believe.”
Tabitha's grin transformed into a frown. “One second, Barnabas.” She turned to her left and got the mom voice out. “Todd Michael, you get down from those ropes right now.”
The child in question did as he was asked. However, the set of his lip reminded Barnabas so much of Tabitha’s sulky side, he couldn’t help but snicker.
Tabitha turned her frown to the camera when Barnabas cracked up completely. “Not funny.”
“’Lexis and Gabriel are allowed to go in the ring,” Todd protested, encouraged by Barnabas’ apparent approval. “I’m big too!”
Tabitha knelt by Todd, doing her best to keep her stern expression fixed in the face of his adorable petulance. “Alexis and Gabriel are teenagers, honey. You have a ways to go before you’re as big as them.”
Barnabas snickered at Todd’s petulant tone, enjoying the go-around from his long, long come-around. “He reminds me of you, Tabitha. Hard-headed.”
Tabitha pouted, scooping Todd up to carry him to the elevators. “Oh, you'll get your turn with him. Probably when he's all teenage and hormonal.”
“Saints preserve me.” Barnabas groaned as he sat back in his chair. “Will I ever be free of stubborn children bent on driving me back to my old ways?”
Tabitha raised an eyebrow. “Nickie giving you trouble?”
Barnabas shook his head. “The opposite, actually. She prevented a pirate attack and got a lead on Jennie’s crew in the process.”
“That’s great!” Lillian appeared on the camera as Tabitha walked into the apartment. “How is she?”
Barnabas’ face softened. “She’s doing well, Lillian. I’m just sorry she hasn’t gotten past her anger at you yet.”
Lillian’s eyes dropped. “She’s doing well otherwise?”
Barnabas smiled. “Better than any of us could have hoped, given the circumstances.”
Lillian nodded. “Then I’m not going to push her. I don’t want her to run again.”
Tabitha reappeared minus her tiny terror and did something to switch Barnabas’ view so it was stable. “Have you told her you’re based on QT2 these days?” he asked.
Lillian shook her head. “She knows. She hasn’t reached out. She will when she’s ready, and until then, it’s enough to know she’s doing okay.”
Tabitha nodded in agreement. “Maybe it won’t be so long. She’s still pretty guarded in her messages, but she’s coming around, right?” She looked at Barnabas. “Right?”
Barnabas lifted his hands. “I wouldn’t know.”
Lillian narrowed her eyes at him. “What, you haven’t even peeked into her mind to see how she’s feeling? I don’t believe that for a second.”
Barnabas’ mouth twitched. “I did check her sanity when I found her um…wrestling with Rickie Escobar.”
/>
Tabitha squealed. “Oooohhh! I remember when she had a crush on him!”
Lillian rolled her eyes, chuckling. “Don’t remind me. All I had to do was mention his name when she was sixteen, and she’d turn bright red and run. It was almost painfully cute.” She made a face. “Wrestling?”
Barnabas nodded. “In the middle of the hangar, no less. So, of course, I looked.”
Tabitha waved her hand in a circle. “And?” She shrugged at Lillian’s reaction. “What? If our favorite loud-ass tempts her to come home to us, let’s not complain.”
Barnabas wrinkled his nose. “There’s a small snag in your plan, Tabitha.”
“Rickie wasn’t looking at her that way,” Lillian guessed.
Barnabas pointed at her. “Got it in one.”
Lillian shrugged. “He never did. I know Rickie is a pain in the ass, and also in the head—but he’s a good man. He looked out for her as much as he could when she went off the rails. A couple of times, I only knew what party to go drag her out of because she had told him where she was.”
“Which is why this could be perfect!” Tabitha argued. “Think about it. We get her and Rickie together, and then she comes home to us.”
Barnabas rubbed his temple. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
Tabitha winked. “Hell, no. I’m gonna go find Rickie and grill him just as soon as Trouble wakes up from his nap.”
Barnabas sighed. “I wouldn’t meddle if I were you,” he cautioned. “Besides, Nickie's infatuation appears to have passed.”
Tabitha waved him off. “Don’t sweat it. As far as Rickie will know, I’m just a concerned aunt asking after her niece.”
“And I'm just a harmless monk,” Barnabas returned dryly. “Now isn't the time to throw a relationship at Nickie. She'll find someone if and when she's ready. Without our help.”
Tabitha pouted as she headed out of the room. “Buzzkill. You're right, though.”
Barnabas nodded sagely. “I generally am.”
“You're an ass, is what,” Tabitha told him, ending the call.
Barnabas waved a hand to collapse the screen, then sat back for some contemplation while he had some peace and quiet.
Which was apparently something that didn't exist in this lifetime.
The door bounced open before Barnabas had even begun to regulate his breathing. “Good afternoon, Nickie.”
Nickie strode in and dropped into the guest chair with all of the usual care she showed his beloved antique furniture. “You ready for the briefing?”
Barnabas opened his eyes and sat up in his chair. Contemplation would have to wait. “Yes, which is why I asked you to stop by when you got back. I have a new assignment for you.”
Nickie frowned. “I already have an assignment, and I haven’t even decided if I’m going to accept it yet. Is this about all those dead pirates? One little fight, and you have me going back to High Tortuga?”
Barnabas waved away her interruption. “No, no. Quite the opposite, in fact. I had a very interesting discussion with the Skaine you picked up.”
“Missy,” Nickie supplied.
Barnabas pursed his lips. “Ah, that explains the discrepancy. Apart from the name she gave, everything she told me checked out.”
Nickie broke into a grin. “I think I'd go with a nickname too if my name was—”
He held up a hand. “Indeed. Back to the matter at hand.”
Nickie got to her feet. “You want me to get the missing crew back? Just give Meredith the coordinates, and I’m gone as soon as I’ve informed my crew of the schedule change.”
Barnabas shook his head. “I’m splitting you off from your crew for this. They will continue on their regular route, and you, my dear, are heading a little deeper into the Federation.”
Nickie groaned and sat back down. “The Federation? Is this another attempt to get me to fangirl over unity and togetherness?”
It might have been—if Barnabas hadn’t already decided to pick his battles with her. “No, this is an attempt to extract our people from an extremely hostile situation using the best tool I have at my disposal for the job. You.”
“Call me a tool and ask me to do something for you, sure,” Nickie grumbled. “Can I at least take Grim with me?”
Barnabas inclined his head. “If you must. There’s a ship waiting for you in Hangar Three. I’ve also arranged with Lance to provide some additional resources. It’s a short diversion to pick them up on your way.”
Nickie’s lip curled. “Why do I think I’m not gonna appreciate whatever you’ve arranged?”
Barnabas lifted his hands, a smirk touching his lips. “Not a clue. Meredith has your brief, so good luck.”
Nickie got to her feet and headed out of the office.
Barnabas waited for the usual slam but was rewarded with the soft snick of her closing the door quietly instead. He almost felt bad about the surprise awaiting her at the outpost.
Almost.
High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Hangar 003, QBS Sayomi
Adelaide gazed at the Shinigami-class ship enviously. “It’s just so…”
“Pretty ship, huh,” Nickie agreed, putting an arm around Adelaide’s shoulders. “But it’s only a loaner. Besides, Grandma sent a message with the ship that said if we mess with it, she’ll personally see to it nobody on the crew will be able to eat solid food for a month.”
Adelaide took a step back. “Yeah, um, I’m good on the Penitent Granddaughter, thanks.”
Nickie released Adelaide. “I thought you had a great time learning from Grandma? She was impressed with you.”
“She was?” Adelaide pressed her lips together and nodded. “I did. I learned that she makes you look even-tempered and that she’s a million times smarter than me. The woman scares the crap out of me.”
Grim chuckled as he passed the two of them on his way to the QBS Sayomi. “You and me both, and I’ve known her a hell of a lot longer than either of you.”
“Just how long is that, Grimmie?” Nickie asked.
Grim shook his head and made his way up the ramp. “Impatience will get you nowhere,” he chided gently.
Nickie watched him go, the discomfort she’d felt since the truth about Grim had begun to surface bubbling up. “He’s not getting out of it this time,” she muttered, turning back to Adelaide. “We’d better get going. Are you guys going to be okay without us?”
Adelaide snorted. “Are you kidding? The ship is in the best shape I’ve ever seen her. The run is going to go smoother than ever.” She bumped Nickie with her shoulder. “Besides, I was going to ask you the exact same thing.”
Nickie nodded, the weight of the mission ahead settling over her. Was this how it felt to be responsible? She shook it off. “Me? I’m just fine. It’s Captain Jennie we need to think about.”
Adelaide pressed a hand to Nickie’s shoulder. “If Jennie and her crew are still alive, you’ll bring them home safe and sound. I know it.”
“I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure of it.” Nickie smiled and moved toward the Sayomi. “See you when we get back.”
Nickie headed up the ramp, considering the best approach to get Grim’s story out of him while they were alone. Her head down, she almost crashed into him as she walked onto the ship. “Shit, did your legs stop working or something?”
Grim lifted a finger to point at the translucent human shape floating in the center of the corridor. “What the hell is that?”
Nickie considered the black-eyed apparition for a moment and shrugged. “Fuck if I know. Why don’t we ask?”
The apparition spoke, her long, blond hair lifted by a nonexistent wind. “I am Sayomi. Welcome aboard my ship, Captain Grimes.”
Nickie raised an eyebrow and nodded at Grim. “Avatar.” Fucking kooky EIs.
Shinigami-class ships house AIs, Meredith told her.
Okay, then, Nickie modified, fucking kooky AIs. Same difference.
I don't know, Meredith countered. I wouldn't annoy a
being Eve created from Shinigami. It could get painful.
Sayomi turned in midair to glide away, her robes swishing gracefully around her. “If you would follow me. We will be departing shortly.”
Nickie adjusted the weight of the bags she was carrying and set off after the avatar. “Thanks for the ride, Sayomi. You heard the nice AI, Grim. Let's go.”
Grim hesitated for a moment, looking at Nickie. “Are you sure about this?” he whispered. “She looks like something out of one of those human movies where everyone dies horribly.”
Nickie shook her head minutely, glaring at Grim to shut him up before he offended Sayomi and his fears became reality for them both. “Show some respect and you’ll be fine. Besides, do you think I’m gonna let you die before we have that conversation you’ve been putting off for so long?”
Grim shuffled along behind Nickie. “I’d like to think you wouldn’t let your dearest friend die at all.”
Nickie snorted softly. “That remains to be seen.”
Federation Outpost
Nickie looked around the landing pad, pointedly ignoring Grim.
Grim wasn’t falling for her mood. “It’s not the right time.”
“When will that be?” Nickie retorted. “Or am I just supposed to carry on as though I trust you until you decide that time comes?”
Grim looked hurt. His reply, however, was soft. “I’m not denying that our meeting was no accident, but I didn’t have to stick around. I chose to stay because we forged a bond. You can trust that. Besides, I’m not the only one playing my cards close to my chest, am I?”
Nickie’s stomach did a somersault. “We have a mission to get through.”
Grim’s reply was cut short by the appearance of a uniformed man in his mid-thirties who slipped out of the crowd and came up to her with his hand out. “Hey, you must be the Grimes we’ve heard absolutely nothing about. I didn’t know there was a girl Grimes.”
Grim sucked in a breath.
Nickie ignored his hand and poked him in the chest. “Do I look like a fucking ‘girl?’”
The man’s mouth quirked to the left. “If I say you’re definitely all woman, will it get me punched?”
Resolution Page 14