by Layla Stone
Clalls asked, “What does any of that have to do with Eldon?”
Rannn touched his Minky screen, called Admiral Orin, and then hung up. Then he told Pax, “Take a transporter and go grab the captains from those ships. I’m assuming Sands can get you on the ships with little effort.”
How was Sands going to get onto a closed ship?
Then, Vivra remembered that Sands had had access to her system without her giving it to him. He would be able to do it to other ships, too.
Rannn really did have an elite crew.
To Clalls, he said, “You know how much I believed it was Armsono. So, no, that wasn’t easy for me. The two battleships you see were also sent to Eldon. Not because of Veeda, but by some other Numan named Calum. These two ships work as these Numan’s enforcers. The Numans send them if they don’t get paid, or if someone is late on their payments. Someone, apparently, didn’t pay Calum and tried to double-cross him, so he sent them to drop off the Eldon disease. But they were sent back to nebulize the planet because Calum said he didn’t want anyone tracking the disease back to him.”
Numans?
Rannn exhaled slowly, and then the Minky screen pinged. Rannn answered the call from Admiral Orin.
“Admiral.”
Orin sat back. Vivra assumed he was preparing himself for potentially bad news. “What happened?”
Slipping back into the captain’s chair, Rannn said, “I would like to formally request a new mission. To round up two Numans, Veeda and Calum.”
“And what exactly did they do? You do remember you’re on the Garna not your battleship, right?” Orin pressed his index fingers together.
Vivra was impressed by Rannn’s sequence of actions. He’d apologized to Armsono the second he found out that he was wrong. An honorable action he took even though he was still sore about it.
She didn’t even apologize when she messed up her transfer orders.
His actions made her rethink herself.
“Veeda is the Numan who kidnapped and experimented on thousands of people to create the Flourg.”
“The glowing people?”
“Yes, and she was looking to kill off the rest, not wanting her property to be tracked back to her.”
Orin squinted. “How do you know this?”
Rannn tapped his head but said nothing.
It took Orin a few seconds to figure it out. When he did, his eyes rounded.
Rannn continued, “Calum was the one who sent the battleships to Eldon to nebulize it. Which means something was on that planet that he didn’t want traced back to him.”
“Like what?”
Vivra had pressed her hand on the nearest chair. She too wanted to know what was on Eldon that was so important that it had been nebulized. And did Calum know about the survivors before or after he sent someone to end the planet?
Just what kind of monster wanted to kill all life on a planet?
“According to Ansel….” Rannn began, “Calum specialized in infectious diseases.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re telling me.” Orin rubbed the side of his temple. “A Numan was behind the Eldon outbreak?”
“I can’t say for sure. I don’t have verification from Calum himself. But Ansel knows the Numan and knows that he experiments with disease. What I do know, is the captains of the two ships that tried to attack me also worked for Calum and were sent by him to nebulize Eldon. If they were sent to Eldon for the same reasons they were sent to Brica, then it stands to reason that Calum could be behind the Eldon outbreak.”
Orin had both hands in his face now. He rubbed them top-down several times. “If I send you, I could be stirring another outbreak.”
“Or preventing one,” Rannn said.
Orin didn’t speak. He just stared at Rannn, then typed something on his side of the screen. Vivra wasn’t sure if he was writing up orders or not. She also wasn’t sure whether she wanted to be on a ship that was going after someone who could make and manipulate infectious diseases.
“I have to brief the council admirals first. I will get back to you.”
Rannn terminated the call.
Clalls was the first to speak. “How long do you think it will take them to decide?”
Blowing out a breath between his cheeks, he answered, “Could be weeks. No recent Federation ship has been on a hunting mission for a Numan.”
“That’s an oversight on their part,” Pax said from behind her.
Vivra could feel the tension building in the room. The captain was still holding a grudge about Eldon and the survivors. Clalls was nursing the same wound. Vivra could see and feel the determination in both of them to go after Calum with everything they had. And she suspected that they would act the same way as they had on Brica, with little to no sleep or rest. To power through until it was all over.
Pax took a step and towered beside her. “Do you agree?” he asked the captain boldly.
“Obviously. Or I wouldn’t have told my cousin what my next mission will be.”
Vivra lost all decorum. “He’s your cousin?” Her voice shrilled at the end.
Rannn smirked. “You couldn’t see the family resemblance?”
“No,” she said back, unsure why it sounded like he was joking. She was serious. And then she wondered if that’s why he felt so confident talking to Orin, or why Rannn didn’t seem to cower around him or the other admirals.
“He’s my aunt’s son.”
Somehow, it made Admiral Orin less daunting. Vivra actually liked that.
Rannn yawned. “All right, we have a ship to repair. I know we took some hits. Let’s set up an orbit-dock on Lotus Adaamas and get them fixed. Pax, you have a job, get going.”
To Clalls, he said, “Keep an eye out for any other ships Jaccy might send. Alert me the second you see anything in our vicinity.”
To Vivra, he said, “When we stop on Lotus Adaamas. Restock the ship. You know what to do.”
***
Karr, the Demon who ran Lotus Adaamas was enthusiastic about the Flourgs. “I look forward to meeting every single one of them.”
It was believed that Karr was a Silk Demon. If he intended to meet each Flourg it would be to insure they received a silk thorn, that would give Karr access into their conscious and unconscious mind. A silent observer. A deadly stalker. A sleep snatcher.
“My captain is very serious about their safety. You should know that we’ve chipped them so we know if any of them leave the planet, if they are injured or die or get trafficked. Also, these people have something Jaccy wants. He’s most likely going to come after them,” Vivra told the black Minky screen.
Karr didn’t allow video calls, only voice. He liked to keep his identity a secret.
“Your captain made the right call. This is the safest place they can be. I can personally see to their safety, no need to chip them.”
She doubted it, but she didn’t say so.
“Your silence is telling, Officer Vivra. But that’s because you don’t know me, and you don’t know how I run my ports. As I previously agreed to when I spoke with Rannn, no harm will come to the Flourg. No one will be allowed to be enslaved in anyway. That’s a personal guarantee. ”
“I’m glad to hear that. I assume you will also punish those who try to do so? ”
“Correct. Regardless if it’s a Demon, Jaccy or some smuggler, they will not make it off my planet alive. However, if one of the Flourgs set up shop and want to move to another port, I won’t stop that. I’m thoughtful that way.”
Vivra blinked, ignoring his thoughtfulness. “Do you know Jaccy? Personally?”
“I do,” he said casually.
Did the captain know that? Was that why he was transferring them to Lotus Adaamas? Was this another trap?
“If you’re silently wondering how to use me to get to Jaccy, I’ll advise you to stop plotting. Jaccy is not a regular on Adaamas. Probably because I threatened to eat his intestines i
n front of him if I ever saw him again.”
Vivra covered her throat. “That’s graphic.”
“I like to get my point across. Leave a lasting effect.”
“Yes, very effective.” Especially since she was now picturing just that in her mind.
“Okay, I’m done. Send me word when you get within range. I’ll send my guys to the port to pick up and welcome my new guests.”
The call terminated before Vivra could agree.
Eight hours later, Rannn and Admiral Orin signed off on the Flourg transfers. The moment the galleon ship touched down on the planet with the refugees, several Demons were waiting to welcome them.
Epilogue
Lotus Adaamas
That was five hours ago.
Walking out of the spa that Pax had told her about, Vivra brushed her skin, and it felt flawless. She’d had no idea a Demon-run planet would have the best samqua massage but, it did.
Leaving the spa, she walked down the sidewalk to the bar where Pax was waiting for her. Her Minky pinged, and she saw a message from one of her providers.
Hey, sweet lady, I just saw your bid for a monster-sized water tank. I have a few I can send you. 567 keleps, and they’re yours.
Z
Z was a male who was able to fill a lot of her special orders. He lived and operated out of Lotus Adaamas. She had never seen him, but he was using the same pet names that all the other Demons used. She wondered what kind of Demon he was.
He was also the one who’d sold her the pixy pistol.
She didn’t need the tanks, but she did need a new gun, so she quickly responded.
Z,
Too slow, already got the tanks.
Vivra
Quantum message was quick, but he didn’t return her message for ten minutes.
Sweetness,
That hurts, hope the tanks are as good as mine are. But, how about I send you what I have in stock and you can take a look.
Z
Vivra didn’t look at the attached stock. Instead, she quickly typed out:
Do you have another pixy pistol? Need a replacement or two. If so, same amount as last time?
Vivra
Then she hit send and waited. She turned in her chair, moving back and forth, feeling less than productive. When the Minky screen pinged, she felt her heart pick up a few beats. Opening his message it read:
Sweetie?
If you used your pixy, then something happened. You okay? And I have something better than a pixy. I’ll give it to you for the same price. And send it to wherever you are with no cost on shipping.
Z
And everyone kept saying Demons were jerks. Most of the ones she knew were great. She pulled up the old order wire from the pixy pistol and sent the one hundred and seventy-five keleps from her personal account. Then she responded.
I’ll be on Lotus Adaamas until tomorrow. Will it be ready by then?
Vivra
She was a little impatient, hoping she could get her new weapon before she left. It took twenty minutes for a response this time.
You’ll get it by then.
Z
Also, I look forward to meeting you.
She looked forward to meeting him, too, but she didn’t say so. She stuffed the Minky back into her pocket and continued down the sidewalk, watching a lot of Demons pass by, completely oblivious to her.
Vivra had wondered many times if it was strange that she didn’t feel weird about being mated. It had happened fast, but Pax had made the transition so…casually that she didn’t feel weird.
Walking into the pub, she heard Kirca music and realized that she wasn’t a fan. It wasn’t too bad, though. She saw Sassen and Ekhov at the bar. She sat down next to them and scanned the room for her mate.
When she didn’t see him, she commented on the glasses in front of Ekhav. “Three drinks? Starting off with a bang, huh?”
Speaking louder to be heard over the music, Ekhav answered, “These are for Pax. He ordered two for him, and one for you. I had to guard them, though.”
“Why?”
Ekhav pointed at the dance floor. “Because your male is a Red Demon. And they like to party.”
Vivra followed the line of her co-worker’s arm and saw her mate dancing in a group of males and females. She picked up her drink and sniffed it, snorted at the horrible burning scent, backed off and then hailed the bartender.
A Night Demon approached her, two pointed horns at his temples. “What can I get you, sweetheart?”
“Do you have anything from my side of the ‘verse?”
He smiled. “That I do, but I also have something else you might like. Trust me?”
Sassen shook his head. “Don’t do it.”
“Yep, make me something tasty.”
The Night Demon gave Sassen a look as if to say, “See? Told you so.”
Arms wrapped around her, and she felt lips press against her neck. Pax’s scent was strong, and she didn’t resist his touch. Leaning into him, she gave him her exposed neck.
“Mmm. Tasty.”
The Night Demon placed a pink drink in a martini glass in front of her.
“What’s that?” Pax asked. He reached for it but she swatted his hand away. “Mine. You can drink whatever you got me.”
“Whiskey. And you can still try it after you drink whatever that is.”
She took a sip. A sweet, flowery, and earthy taste tingled her taste buds. She set it down and thanked the bartender.
“Come dance with me?” Pax asked.
She did. And after about an hour, she was done dancing and ready to play since Pax kept rubbing, pinching, and teasing her.
She took another swig of her drink, finishing it off, then told Pax, “I need a thirty-minute headstart, then come and find me.”
He winked. “I’m going to check on Rannn and his talk with his sister on the way back, then I’ll be there.”
Rannn had a sister? Rannn apparently had family all over the place. She waved goodbye and smiled, knowing she had a very long and pleasurable night planned.
Outside, she checked her messages and saw that her mechanic had arrived. The one she had found and put in the transfer papers for. She typed with one hand.
Time to check in. Meet me at the dock, we’ll take the transporter together up to the Garna.
Garna was too big to dock, and most of the hull work was being done as she spoke. Sands would probably still be up, watching over the progress. It was the perfect time to introduce him to his new employee.
After a quick five-minute walk, she saw a tall, bronze-colored female with thick, wine-colored, shiny hair. Her eyes were a soft brown, and she was wearing a light blue tank top that showed off her toned arms, a red-orange bra, and tight, grey jeans with thick grey boots that strapped tightly all the way up her calf. She looked like a sexy mechanic. Vivra liked her already. She didn’t look shy for a Terran. She had confidence stamped all over her face.
“You’re Lita?”
Lita looked at her. “You the crazy chick who likes meeting people in the dead of night?” Then Lita pulled out a wrench and clicked the sides, turning it into a lazer cutter. “Had to bring a defense weapon, ‘cause I’m not trying to get abducted by some Demon.”
Vivra felt her lips pull into a smile. “That sounds smart. Did you need to grab a bag or anything?”
Lita gave her an odd look. “Oh, girl, I don’t pack light. And moving from Puerto Rico, I had to bring all my stuff. My truck is in the cargo bay of the ‘verse transporter, they’ll ship it to Garna once I send word.”
“Sounds good to me,” Vivra said, keeping the smile out of her voice. She was getting excited about introducing the Terran to Sands.
Lita followed her onto the transporter. Once inside, the pilot called out that they were leaving the planet. A short, ten-minute ride up, and they were docking on Garna. Both unbuckled, and Vivra walked Lita out of the transporter, then down th
e ramp and into the docking bay. She looked around and noticed that it looked empty.
“He’s around here somewhere. Come on,” Vivra said as she checked Lita in and assigned her a room. When they made it to the exit, Vivra pulled a Minky from the ship’s storage and handed it to her. “This is your personal Minky. It has all the ship’s information and a directory. I’ve also put on a map of the ship and your room number is highlighted here.” She skimmed through the screen on the Minky and showed her where they were and where Lita’s room was.
“Cool. Cool.”
Behind her, Vivra heard a huff. A male huff. She turned around and smiled, her search for Sands was over.
“I said my team was fine.” Sands’ dark hair and eyes didn’t look angry, just annoyed.
Vivra hoped that Lita wasn’t too put off by the dismissive first meeting. “She’s already checked in. You can send her back, but you have to fill out why and get it signed off on by the captain. And I will make sure Rannn knows why I had to sneak her on.”
Sands looked behind her for a moment and then looked back at Vivra. “I know you didn’t like it when Pax assigned workers to you, so I expect this is the last time you do this.”
It wasn’t going to be. But she would wait another six months.
“I’m not sure what you two got goin’ on, but I need to know if I should send up my trunk or if I’m headed back home,” Lita said with her unique accent.
At that, Sands said, “Terran?”
“Of course,” Lita said with a scoff. “Where else would you find my skin tone in the universe?”
Sands responded curtly, “Everywhere. Grach. Kirca. The OutWorlds. But being a Terran, you wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Vivra turned just in time to see Lita’s confused look.
“Yeah, welcome to the universe.” Sands was just as sharp as he had been before.
Thankfully, Lita didn’t act as if she heard his tone. “What are Grach an Kirca?”
Sands crossed his arms over his chest. Lita quickly looked over the cybernetics and then added, “Seriously. I’ve never heard of those planets.”
“You crank?” he asked.
“Do I know how to work on anything with an engine? Yes. You gonna answer me now?”