“Yeah, Sissi, why don’t you return to Austria and sit your pretty butt on the throne.”
Sissi looked at Altanor and shrugged. Altanor pointed at the door with his head and the henchman left.
“Interesting specimen you have there,” said Kevin. “Not the brightest though.”
“On that we can agree.”
“Ok, so we’ve established you need me for something, so what about we get down to it? I can’t say I appreciate the accommodations all that much. A little dark and damp for my taste.”
Altanor took a step back and sized Kevin up a couple of times.
“I still can’t believe how a frail boy like you could have defeated an entire armada of Kregan ships.”
“That’s because you should never judge a book by its cover. It’s what’s inside that counts.”
“Yes, your brain. That’s what we need.”
“Sorry, I don’t have a spare one, and I’m quite fond of mine. So what else can I do for you?”
“Ha ha ha, if nothing else, I enjoy your sense of humor.”
Let’s revisit the question when I find a blaster rifle and lodge it up so far up your ass you’ll be firing from your mouth.
“Glad to hear it. But, like I said, I like my brain inside my head just fine.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry, it will stay there. That doesn’t mean it won’t be mine to do with as I please, though.”
Why don’t I like the sound of that?
“I thought we agreed that damaging me physically wouldn’t get you what you’re after. It’s a package deal, you see, so if I die, so does my brain.”
“I have no intention of killing you.”
“Glad we’re on the same page then. But what makes you think I’ll agree to help the people who just beat the crap out of me?”
Altanor smiled, revealing just how gross and putrid his mouth was. “You don’t seem to grasp that there are ways to obtain your cooperation without your consent. But you’ll see that soon enough.”
Yep, whatever this guy is cooking up could mean bad news for me. Where in the hell is Ziron? I would have expected him to try and mount some sort of a rescue. If Boomer didn’t turn him into a meatball sub, that is.
That thought was risking Kevin’s sanity, so he decided to push it to a deep, dark corner of his mind. He needed to stay positive and try to find a way to get himself out of his current predicament. Counting on others might not be an option.
“Oh, I can’t wait,” said Kevin as defiantly as he could muster.
“Well, we’ll be out of hyperspace within the hour, so you won’t have to.”
Kevin’s stomach made a rather long and noisy growl.
“Are you hungry, boy?”
“Somehow I doubt my stomach will agree with what you have to offer.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll be back.”
Whatever you say, Arnie.
Altanor left the cell and as the door slid shut, the cell was once again plunged into darkness.
Kevin sighed. He dropped the tough guy attitude and let his sight drop to the floor. Little by little, his eyes adjusted to the dark.
It could have gone better…I think I’m in serious poodoo. Where’s Jack Bauer when you need him?
* * *
“What do you mean we can’t go after Kevin?” barked Boomer.
“We have to secure the princess’ sister first,” said Ziron, taking a couple of steps back.
“Screw that bitch and her family. We’ve risked our lives and as a thank you, she fed my master—my friend, to the wolves. I’m not helping her do anything besides walking her to an airlock and flushing her to space.”
Ziron’s eyes doubled in size. “Heresy! She’s the leader of our people.”
“Your people, a people that could have been wiped out if it wasn’t for Kevin, a fact she seems to have conveniently forgotten.”
Ziron lowered his head. “She hasn’t forgotten, and neither have I. But it’s a complicated situation. Please try to understand.”
“All I understand is that I hate her with all my guts.”
“I can’t blame you. Unfortunately, we don’t have much choice. At least not until we save Athala.”
“It’s not my fight, and it wasn’t Kevin’s either. But he had the decency to help when asked, and look what that got him.”
“We would have a better chance of success with your help.”
“I don’t see how, you said both smart armors are toast.”
“They are.”
“So how can I help, I’m just a dog.”
“Your implant still has Kevin’s tactical knowledge.”
“I thought that required a link with Kevin’s mind.”
“It’s a subspace link. It will keep working as long as he’s in range.”
“Are you telling me we could piggyback to find his location?”
“Technically, yes. But we’re heading back to Arcadia at the moment. Eventually, we’ll travel out of range.”
“At which point I’ll be useless to you. However, that’s beside the point, screw what Kalliopy asked you to do.”
“I have my orders, I’m sorry.”
“You and I both know these orders aren’t fair!”
“On that, we agree. But that doesn’t matter, I must obey.”
“I have half a mind to eat you, like now.”
Ziron hissed.
Boomer growled, and Ziron ran behind a console.
“Yeah,” said Boomer, “empty threats, just as I thought. Just like your empty promises. You disgust me. Leave me the fuck alone, or I’ll make sure you suffer before I put you out of your misery.”
Ziron’s voice echoed behind his cover. “Please, Boomer. I need your help.”
“I don’t care. Send me back to Earth, now!”
Ziron walked out from behind the console, and Boomer resumed his growling. Ziron froze and looked into Boomer’s eyes.
“There’s nothing you can do to help Kevin where he is.”
“Apparently, there’s nothing I can do to help him from here either.”
“Yes, there is, but you need to trust me.”
“Trust you? That’s rich.”
“I understand how you feel, I really do.”
“You don’t understand shit!”
Ziron’s eyes watered. “He’s my friend too!”
Boomer did not expect to see tears or hear the sincerity in Ziron’s voice.
“Then why won’t you help me save him?”
“I will, I promise. I have to find a way to do that without disobeying my orders. I think I have an idea how to do just that.”
“I’m listening.”
“If I cannibalize secondary systems from the Osiris, I think I can make you a new armor. It won’t be as advanced as the last one, but it will give you an edge.”
“So that I can help Athala?”
“Unless you have a better idea?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“What is it?”
“Not so fast. You owe me, just like you owe Kevin. Get cranking on my armor. You’re going to have to work at regaining my trust. That’s non-negotiable.”
“Alright, but I need your help uploading Kevin’s current tactical knowledge into Mira’s main computer. At least with that knowledge, she should be able to defend this ship from attack.”
Boomer thought about it. While he didn’t like the idea of helping the Arcadians with anything right now, he was thinking of the bigger picture. Once he had a working smart armor, he could secure a ship of his own and go help Kevin.
“What do you need me to do?”
3
Lacuna walked out of the shower.
“What do you mean the seven-hundredth floor is gone?” she exclaimed.
Darmak covered his eyes. “New bothhh, bothhh.”
Lacuna had feared something like this would happen. Because Kevin had destroyed most of her automated defenses, whoever had executed a hostile takeover of her property had an
easy time doing it. That’s how she had made her own move. She had waited for the previous owner to repel multiple assaults, and she attacked when he was at his weakest.
Now she had no stronghold on Omicronia and no fleet of ships. Every move that she had made in the last few days was the wrong ones. She had lost everything. Everything but her life.
She hated how vulnerable that made her feel, and part of her wondered if it wouldn’t have been better if Kevin had killed her. But there was something special about that boy. She didn’t understand why she felt this way or why she was even attracted to him. She usually went for strong men with no moral barometer, men that took what they wanted, when they wanted.
Kevin was the antithesis of the men she usually fell for. Somehow he had still managed to make an impression on her, and one she couldn’t easily shake. For reasons that baffled her, she longed to see him again.
Perhaps, right now, he was the only one who could help her. Not that he’d be inclined to do so. Lacuna had no doubts that he would most certainly be opposed to helping her in any way, and if she was being truthful, she knew that she didn’t deserve it after all she had done. But she’d work out the details later. First, she needed to find him.
“Bothhh?” asked Darmak with a rather blank expression on his face.
Lacuna had been lost in thought and completely forgot she was in the middle of a conversation with her henchman.
“That’s unfortunate, Darmak. But it is what it is.”
“You not angry with Darmak?”
Maybe he was a simpleton, and maybe it had been a bad move leaving him in charge, but his heart was in the right place, and he had found her. Now that she didn’t smell of her own urine, and even if she felt like she was right back where she started when she landed on Omicron all those years ago, at least she was alive.
“I’m not happy about losing it all if that’s what you’re asking, but it’s gone, so why lament on it. Sooner or later someone more ambitious would have tried to cut my head off to replace me. Maybe it was destined to happen, and perhaps it was better I wasn’t there when it occurred.”
She could tell from Darmak’s face that he was confused, and rightfully so. Lacuna was well aware of how temperamental she was in situations that displeased her. But that was the funny thing about this particular situation, the days spent alone tied up on the small ship provided plenty of time for her to think.
At first, she wanted nothing more than to kill him, of course. But, little by little, her outlook changed. It was only when she was freed, and felt both alive and clean, under a nice hot shower, that it all started to make more sense.
Was it inconvenient to have lost it all? Hell yeah. Was it the end of the world or her life for that matter? Definitely not.
“No, I’m not angry. Thank you for finding me. I don’t really have anything left to pay you with, so maybe you should be on your way, you don’t owe me your services anymore.”
Darmak’s eyes oscillated from side to side as he tried to assimilate Lacuna’s words.
“You no boss of mine no more? Darmak sad…”
Lacuna smiled.
“You’re welcome to stay with me. I can’t guarantee I can pay you or that we’re not going to put ourselves in danger.”
“Oooookay. Wut do we do nest?”
“We have to find someone.”
“A mark?”
“Not exactly. But something tells me it’s important I see him again. And soon.”
* * *
Kevin didn’t feel Leg’olas as she crawled next to him. She startled him.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
Kevin shivered and nodded.
“Kind of. That brute hit harder than I thought he would.”
“Are you in pain? I can help.”
“Well, no offense, but licking a wound better is one thing, but my injuries are internal, and I’m not letting you inside my body. Not that I think you could get in there anyway. Truth be told, I’m still adjusting to physical contact.”
“But you’re my friend, I want to help.”
“That’s sweet, but I don’t see how.”
“Tell me where it hurts, and I’ll make it better.”
Kevin thought about it for a bit but knew that Leg’olas was impulsive and he was worried the spider would do something creepy without warning. So he shook his head.
Leg’olas dropped her head and all her eyes looked downward, making her appear sad. “You don’t trust me…”
Trust.
How could Kevin not be distrustful right now? Especially after risking his life for someone that just threw him to the wolves the first chance she had. To think he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Part of him wanted to believe she had no choice, but his pride was still hurt, and right now, most of his abdomen area hurt too, even though it was a different kind of pain.
“Don’t take it personally, okay? I don’t trust anyone at the moment. Maybe with the exception of Boomer.”
“What’s a Boomer?”
“He’s a friend, like you, just bigger with fewer legs, more fur.”
Kevin could tell from Leg’olas’ expression that his definition of his best friend was hard to visualize.
“Never mind,” added Kevin.
A sharp stab in his stomach made him wince in pain.
Leg’olas didn’t say a word as she traveled down to the area.
“What are you doing?” asked Kevin.
“Shhh—”
“Did you just shush me?”
Leg’olas didn’t answer, and soon her yellow body started to glow.
What the hell?
Warmth radiated through Kevin’s stomach and the pain slowly turned from stabbing to soothing. In mere moments, he could feel that whatever internal damage he had suffered was being fixed.
This is unbelievable.
When all the pain was gone, Leg’olas stopped glowing and returned by Kevin’s shoulder.
“Better?” she asked.
“Much, thank you. How did you do that?”
“I’m not sure…you were in pain, and I wanted you to not be in pain anymore.”
If only everything was that simple, life would be a joy.
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter how, but thank you, Leg’olas.”
“You trust me now?”
Kevin smiled. “Yes.”
Leg’olas jumped twice on Kevin’s shoulder and then started panting.
“What’s going on?” asked Kevin.
“I’m tired. I think healing you took most of my energy.”
“I’m sorry. But, thank you, I really do feel better.”
“It’s okay, I’ll get my energy back in a day or two I’m sure.”
Kevin had to admit the child-like personality of Leg’olas was endearing. It reminded him of a time long ago, when he was a small child, not worrying about anything, just happy to be alive and discovering new things.
Growing up sucked. His relationship with his father was the first thing that made Kevin feel this way. He always wondered what he had done to his father to deserve all the anger and disdain that he associated with living under the same roof. And, truth be told, the adventures Kevin had been through lately had been a nice change of pace.
Kevin would give anything to spend a night back home, though, to have a nice home-cooked meal and suffer his father and sister’s teasing. He missed his mom. But most of all, he missed Boomer and hoped he was okay. If anything happened to him, Kevin would never forgive himself.
“I hear a noise,” said Leg’olas. “I think the bad men are coming back.”
“Go hide, Leg’olas.”
Before the cell doors opened, Kevin’s new yellow furry friend disappeared into the darkness.
Here we go again.
Altanor stepped in with a different pirate this time. A much less muscled one, but one that looked taller, thinner, and was wearing glasses.
You’d think advanced races would have found ways of curing bad vision.
Just as his thought ended, lights blinked inside the creature’s glasses, displaying a HUD interface.
I guess Google Glass caught on in this part of the galaxy.
A sound emanated from the four devices holding Kevin’s limbs and he felt gravity’s pull. Kevin tried to land on his feet but the moment they connected to the ground, he lost his balance and fell. His muscles felt weak from not having been used for days.
“Time to go,” said Altanor.
“Where?” asked Kevin.
“It’s a surprise. Someone wants to take a look at you, and specifically, your brain, to see what makes you so special.”
Why don’t I like the sound of this?
Kevin caught his eight-legged friend’s eyes reflecting in the corner of the room. He didn’t know if it was his own imagination or if he saw worry in Leg’olas, but Kevin felt agitated.
I have a bad feeling about this.
* * *
Boomer was resting on the lower bunk in his quarters. The same one he shared—had shared—with Kevin until Kalliopy literally served him to the enemy. Anger rose within his soul, but also frustration, as Boomer wished he could walk to the nearest shuttle, take off, and go look for his best friend.
The beagle’s train of thought was interrupted when he heard a tiny mewing coming from the air vent.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
But there was no answer.
It sounded like a cat.
“Ziron? You’d better not be creeping in the vent shafts and spying on me, or I’m gonna put you in between two large slices of bread with mayo and mustard. I’m warning you.”
But there was only silence.
A faint scent reached Boomer’s nostrils. There was no mistaking it—a cat was in the area. Boomer jumped off the bed bunk and sniffed his way over to the ventilation plate.
He heard two more mewing sounds.
Boomer tried to use his paw and claws to tilt the vent open, but that didn’t work. His paws kept sliding off the border. The beagle tried looking through the vent but all he saw was darkness. Still, his instincts and nose told him there was something or someone beyond.
Across the Galactic Pond - Box Set: The Complete FAR BEYOND Space Opera Series Page 23