Capital Games (Audacity Saga Book 2)

by R. K. Thorne

  Kael glanced over her shoulder. “Those Theroki ships are coming. We need to go. Stand aside, Kentt, or I’ll move you.”

  “You want an olive branch? I’ll give you one.” Kentt straightened. “I know where those girls you seek are.”

  Sure she did. “Where? And how do you know?”

  “I know because I took them.”

  Ellen’s mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

  “I helped them get off planet. They wanted to hide, and I helped them. To escape the Songbird project. They wanted to get away.”

  “Smart girls,” Ellen muttered. “But perhaps you’re the smartest of all?”

  “Not smart enough. I know where they’re hidden. Arakovic has figured that out, and now she’s coming for me.”

  “Or me,” Ellen muttered.

  “Or me.” Kael shook his head.

  “Or all of you!” Jenny was staring behind them. “Can we just get on the ship now? We’re losing our lead. They’re gaining.”

  “Fine,” Ellen snapped. “Get in the ship. But I need to consult with someone. Before it’s official. Adan, can you begin emergency liftoff with Fern’s help?”

  “I can help too—especially with the equipment on board,” Jenny added.

  “You have no idea how bad I want off this rock,” Adan said. “I can talk Fern through it if these painkillers don’t kick in any harder. Let’s go.”

  Ellen leaned against Kael as they made their way onto the ship, still supporting his arm over her shoulders as if she were helping. In reality, she suspected it was the other way around. Maybe they were holding each other up.

  They went straight past his cabin toward Bri’s, but just outside his hatch, a new mural of Zhia had transformed the corridor. She couldn’t remember approving this one, but Zhia had sure made use of the downtime. His step faltered alongside hers.

  “Wow,” he breathed.

  A sparkling sunrise rose from an ocean of color and light. Amid the deep sapphire and violet waves, lines of poetry danced, something vaguely familiar and eternally beautiful, even if Ellen couldn’t quite place it.

  Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

  Who is already sick and pale with grief,

  That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

  Be not her maid, since she is envious;

  Her vestal livery is but sick and green

  And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

  “Well, somebody kept busy,” Ellen muttered, unable to find the proper praise for it. Instead she lean-limped down the hall and pounded on Bri’s door. Luckily enough, the door slid open to reveal Isa. Who was frowning.

  “Why can’t I—” Isa stared from Ellen to Kael and back again.

  “Not now, no time to explain. Has she talked to you?”

  “How strange!” Isa showed no sign of even hearing Ellen’s words.

  “Isa! Has she said anything to you? Approached you? The telepath outside the ship.”

  Her eyes cleared, refocusing on Ellen. “The one who is now inside the ship? Just polite niceties, Commander.”

  “Can you handle her?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is she a danger to you? If I bring her on here and she harasses you, will you be able to tell me?”

  “Harasses me?”

  “Yes. I will kick her off if she hurts you. You deserve to be safe. She’s experienced and you’re… not.”

  “Why, that’s so nice. I could perhaps tell you. It’s possible that I couldn’t. But she won’t harass me. I’m certain.”

  “You can’t be certain.”

  “True certainty is impossible, but as Xi would say, I believe the probability is in my favor. She has offered to teach me.”

  “Presume much?” Ellen raised her eyebrows. Kentt was always one step ahead, it seemed. She raised her comm to her lips. “All right, she can stay. Dane, get the telepath to a cabin and strapped in.”

  Acknowledgments were muttered across the channel. Isa turned away with a nod, letting the door slip shut.

  “Where to now, hotshot?” Ellen muttered. “You need to go to sick bay? Your quarters?”

  “You know she’ll know about the capsule,” he said softly. “She’ll figure it out. What it is.”

  “What she is. I know.” She was nodding but not looking at him, pressing her lips together into a flat line.

  “What are you going to do? If she learns the Foundation’s secrets and it turns out we can’t trust her?”

  She met his eyes. “If I have to, I’ll kill her. But here’s hoping it doesn’t come to that.”

  She changed directions and headed toward her quarters. There were some… things she needed to say.

  Xi shut the door behind her, and Ellen released Kael to sit on the bunk, steadying herself on her feet.

  “You still don’t look so good,” she lied, making an excuse. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Commander, you’re—” Xi started.

  “Not now, Xi,” she barked, too hastily.

  He rubbed his forehead. “Can you dim the lights, Xi? My head is killing me.”

  “Also food is good,” Xi said, keeping it clipped.

  “I know.” Ellen snapped her fingers. “Be right back.”

  The lights had dimmed dutifully when she returned. She sat down beside him on her bunk, feeling for all the world like a child sharing a toy with a friend. The strangest feeling for this moment. But she held out the plate of cookies and the glass.

  “Now for an important question,” he said slowly.

  “Yeah?” She picked up her own cookie as he took his.

  “To dunk, or not to dunk?”

  She shook her head. “No, no, you have to keep them separate. Two complementary but separate tastes.”

  He snorted.

  “You?”

  “I’ve been known to dunk when the situation calls for it.”

  “This must be why we get along so poorly.”

  Although he was still smiling, a slight frown creased his brow at that comment. He chewed and said nothing.

  “I assume Jenny and Adan didn’t betray you and knock you out?”

  “It was our plan to try to steal the information. Well, they talked me into letting them help instead of just going up there and choking it out of him.”

  She snorted. “Trust me, they were right. That plan didn’t work at all. Androids, you see. Maybe it would have worked better for you. I didn’t try choking, though. Next time.” The memory of the creatures seething floated back, and she shuddered. Yeah, hopefully there was no next time.

  “Did he… How long were you…”

  “I’m fine. But later. Let’s talk about that later. Not now.”

  He shrugged. “Okay.”

  She stilled. Set the milk and the plate down beside the bed. Stared at the floor. “We had a few conversations we didn’t get to finish.”

  “Hmm.” Pretending his mouth was full. Good stalling tactic, that. She should be taking notes.

  “I was never interested in Ostrov,” she blurted. “Ever. Not once.”

  He waved it off. “Hey, it turned out you were right. He did have information, and it was a biggie. Sorry we didn’t get it.”

  “I can’t believe you were going to go behind my back and try to get it.” She laughed, shaking her head.

  “I can literally say the same thing to you. And I am saying it. What the hell. We’re lucky we got out of there alive.”

  “That’s true. Some team we are.” She could have bought it, and he’d have never understood the truth.

  “So… unfinished conversations. What was it you were saying? It was something like ‘even with you’?” He smiled crookedly, waiting for her answer.

  She groaned. That hadn’t been her finest moment. Indignation had been real helpful at clearing this up. “I guess I was just offended you thought I could be interested in him.”

  He shrugged. “Why not? He’s smart, apparently well-to-do, handsome. Doesn’t have any
murder convictions, tattoos, or six-centimeter scars.”

  “You have a six-centimeter scar?” And now she was thinking about seeing it. And where it might be. Focus, Ellen, focus.

  “I’m just saying, seems like a catch.”

  “Except that he’s an asshole. Uh, was. Was an asshole. Before I, you know, blew his brains out.”

  He swallowed. “Good point.”

  She forced herself to take a deep breath. She didn’t want to talk about Ostrov. He was beside the point. And very, very dead.

  “Look, I’ve struggled with this,” she said slowly. He raised his eyebrows at the word “this.” “But we have had way too many brushes with death lately, and it’s reminded me repeatedly of what I already knew. We can all bite it anytime. I could choke on this fragging cookie.” She narrowed her eyes at the one in her hand.

  “Please don’t.”

  “My point is—” She faltered, biting her lip instead. No sound would come out.

  He tilted his head, frowning, eyes trained on her lips. This window was going to close. He was going to march on out and get back to being a damned hero without even knowing it and leave her here again, alone and helpless, and pathetic at communicating herself.

  “What I’m trying to say is…” She met his gaze. But words fled. Such earnestness in that deep-coffee brown, such honesty. And acceptance.

  The hell with words.

  She grabbed his face with both hands and pressed her lips against his. Before she could change her mind, damn it.

  He froze, inhaling sharply.

  And then he grabbed her, pulling her closer, their armor knocking against each other roughly. Why hadn’t she thought to take it off? What would the crew say if they lined up matching scratches on the front of their chests?

  Did she even give a shit at this point?

  She forgot all thought of the crew as he raised a hand and ran it over her hair. Gauntlet or no, the sweetness of the gesture made her ache. She opened her mouth, kissing him harder, inviting him in, and he obliged readily.

  Relief swept her.

  It hadn’t taken her too long. He still wanted her. He hadn’t moved on. Damage had been done, but maybe it was recoverable, and in this moment, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the two of them.

  He broke away suddenly, and her heart lurched. Or maybe not. His hands hadn’t strayed from her waist, though. He stared down as if she’d gone insane. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did Ostrov give you anything? Xi, did he give her anything?”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” she snapped, frowning. “What, I have to be on something to want to—you know?” Very mature, Ellen. Jesus.

  “Her vitals appear to be normal, considering the circumstances,” Xi said.

  “Considering the circumstances?” he asked.

  “Her pulse and blood pressure levels are frequently elevated in your presence,” Xi said mildly.

  “Xi! Cut it out!” Ellen felt her cheeks growing hot. Though Xi was probably helping her case right now.

  He was grinning. “Frequently? Really? Xi, why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I hypothesize—”

  “Look, I was scared, okay?” Ellen cut in. “I still am. I don’t know what I’m doing. And I don’t like not knowing what I’m doing. Butt out, Xi. It’s my job to say this, even if I’m shitty at it.”

  He turned his eyes back to her, more sober now.

  “Remember the whole pretending you’re not listening routine, Xi?” Ellen added. “This is the time.”

  Xi didn’t respond, ironically enough.

  “You do distract me.” Her words came out in a rush. “But it doesn’t matter if I’m with you or not. If I kiss you or not. Pushing you away distracts me just as much as pulling you close. And it hurts. It hurts so much more.” She turned away as she spoke, still sitting beside him but staring out into the stars, the marble of Capital receding in the distance. She pretended her hair urgently needed pushed out of her face.

  “How long?” he said abruptly.

  “What?”

  “I want to make sure this isn’t some kind of weird fluke or side effect of something he did to you. So tell me. How long have you… wanted me?”

  “I never said I didn’t want you, Kael.” She rounded on him, eyes flashing, poking his armored chest.

  “Yes, you did. You said—”

  “I said I was afraid. That’s different.”

  He frowned for a long moment before understanding swept across his face. “Are you kidding?” He shook his head.

  “I wouldn’t kid about this. You know that.”

  “So when? When did it start?” he whispered, still gently persistent. He leaned closer now and closed his eyes, his forehead drifting to touch hers. “If this is some damn chem, or tomorrow you tell me to forget all this again, I swear I’ll—”

  “Fine, fine. Force it out of me. I guess it was… all along. So long I lost track of it, really. You walked onto my damn ship and were already under my skin. I thought I was nuts thinking a Theroki was eying me up until I made sense of those scans.”

  “Wow—you noticed. I was trying to hide it.”

  “I know. You had… less practice then than you do now, probably.”

  He laughed softly.

  “And you did have a chemical excuse at the time.” She leaned closer herself, knocking her shoulder against his.

  “Why now, Ellen?” he persisted. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “What?” Damn, he was worried. The damage was worse than she’d thought. “I’ve been trying to tell you since Simmons gave you his job offer, but… God, I’ve failed so many times. I’m not always good with words—well, words about my feelings anyway.”

  She pulled away slightly, so he would open his eyes, see her sincerity. He watched her, but the look was guarded.

  “You were right,” she said softly. “I’m brave and bold when it comes to helping people. I’ll run into bullet fire, bomb a generator, raid a lab to help someone else, keep them safe. I fight for justice all the damn time. But when it comes to what I want, I haven’t fought. I’ve been a coward. Am a coward.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re not being a coward now.”

  “So I reached out once or twice and got burned, but so what? That was no excuse to stop reaching, but I let it be. I let my fear rule me, and I used my past as a shield, so I didn’t have to face it. My responsibilities, too. But all along, it was really just fear.”

  “Not just that. Fear and responsibility.” His brow creased with sadness for her, and something deeper, and his mouth captured hers, initiating for the first time, probing into her with a sweet gentleness that made her body flood with fresh heat.

  She broke away, suddenly more sure of herself. “I’m sorry I let that come between us. It was stupid. Stupid, stupid.”

  “No, it wasn’t. But we’re all fools in love,” he murmured. He ran his hand along her jaw and kissed her again in reply, harder this time. Hungrier. Pressing her, leaning her back onto the bunk.

  Good lord. Perhaps she had found the right words after all.

  “Commander, I realize this is a very bad time but—” Xi cut in.

  They froze. She groaned in unison with Kael.

  “I do apologize, but I have an urgent comm from Doug.”

  Ellen pinched the bridge of her nose, head shaking. “Fine. Bring it up.”

  Kael ran his hand through his hair and wondered if they looked like they’d been doing more than having a chat. When Doug’s face flickered to life over the holodesk, he didn’t seem especially surprised that they were both already in her cabin.

  Was it terrible to hope they could keep this short?

  On the screen, Doug glanced over his shoulder, then back at them. The image flickered a little. That was odd. Calls from Doug always seemed crystal clear. “Boy, have I got some news for you two. But especially Kael. You’re not going to believe this.” His usual wild shirt was black with a comet p
attern that only moderately hurt Kael’s eyes.

  “What is it?” he managed to say.

  “I was crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s on your file. And it turns out that after you were shipped off, the coroner didn’t stop objecting to your conviction. Or looking into it.”

  Kael frowned. “Really?” Of all the things he’d thought Doug might say, that hadn’t been one of them.

  “His objection was part of what made me feel sure you hadn’t done it. But it turns out he went further than that, but the findings were never released.”

  “How’d you get them if they were never released?” asked Ellen.

  He shrugged casually as the image flickered again. “Hacked into his private files. Anyway, he eventually proved that the body of the girl you were accused of murdering didn’t belong to Asha at all.”

  Kael’s eyes widened. “What? Wait—what does that mean?”

  “It was cleverly doctored to appear so. High-tech, too. Fingerprints covered over. But when the coroner started to make a stink about it, he discovered that the girl had no living relatives, you were long gone, and he was getting death threats. So Dr. Abed eventually dropped the matter. He had to admit he was too late.”

  Kael’s head was suddenly spinning again. Someone had actually cared about what had happened? To him, or any of it? “I think I need to lie down.”

  “It doesn’t stop there, though. I found her.”

  He looked up from where his eyes had drifted to the floor, his body a block of ice. Ellen’s thigh was warm against his, but he thought he could feel her jolt.

  “I found Asha. She’s alive.”

  He cursed as a picture of her appeared on the vid screen. Older, a woman now, but it was her for sure. “What about—”

  “The baby? No birth record. No medical record of delivery or miscarriage or stillbirth. No death record or adoption papers either. Asha’s current medical records don’t even mention the pregnancy. It’s like the kid vanished from her womb.”

  Kael scowled. “Or was erased.”

  “What does that even mean?” Ellen grunted in disgust. “Babies can’t just disappear.”

  Doug nodded. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m not done looking yet. But if it were anything simple—there’d be a record. Something is up here.”