Except some go about it in a strange way.

  Then I shake my head, recognizing I blanked out on what Frohlt was saying.

  “Again, Professor. I’m struggling to focus. I apologize.” Behind the patch, my eye throbs.

  Frohlt clears his throat. I can tell Mitch and Aktip have already digested the doc’s information and I make a mental note to be more present. Mitch looks pale and Aktip is shaking.

  “Miss, that little project you assigned turned out to be a dead end—though I found something odd—anyway, it gave me an idea… I have new data from the Blood Empire’s mass gathering of vessels and Nebula.”

  Damn. Sounds like our would-be astrophysicist couldn’t hack into the hyperrelay or glean anything from the ident breaker. But more logs must have arrived from Constellation. I thank my lucky stars I’d slipped in a backdoor hack to relay them to Slingshot before the war committee locked me out. It will take some time before the Sector blocks all comms coming our way, though I’m bracing myself for the inevitable.

  “Yes? You’ve found something significant, or you wouldn’t have interrupted here.” I lift my brow. Mitch mutters something about how I never listen, but I wave him quiet.

  “Nebula is on the move, miss, as we know. You can’t usually follow a hyperjump to its terminal coordinates, as the wormholes are unstable. But using your suggestion about… ah… hyperspace entries and pathway tracking, I think we have a high-confidence prediction of its destination.”

  “Which is?”

  He looks at Aktip before turning back to face me. “Rykkamon.”

  Uneasy Allies

  Kozlov opens his mouth to speak, but I shut him down. “Wait. Mitch, do you know how those plasmaMine upgrades work?”

  My brother nods.

  “Good. Seems like a smart idea to test one right here. And provide a potent deterrent to anyone watching. Disengage from Kozlov’s ship and blow it up with one plasmaMine. Then follow the course we agreed.”

  We watch on the screen as Mitch launches one of the cylindrical weapons already loaded up in a missile tube. Now we’ll get a sense of what our beefed-up firepower can deliver.

  The weapon is so impressive, it’s almost an anticlimax. We track it on screen, and it comes to a sudden halt about half a kilometer from Kozlov’s craft. There’s a violent multicolored flash… and now Kozlov’s old ship no longer exists.

  “Plexi would have enjoyed that,” Mitch muses, before deploying the recovery mechanism.

  A guilty lump forms in my stomach, but I can’t brush it off, only ignore it.

  “Very impressive,” the stocky general says. “Rechargeable?”

  “Yes. We have 120 in total. We can fit ten at a time in the tubes, so they’re not useful for deploying in rapid fire. Handy for surrounding a fleet, or—”

  “Defending a planet?” Rita buts in. She’s in the gangway, staring at Kozlov. “What’s this piece of shit doing here? I thought we were done with the secrets, redjack?”

  Frohlt was right about Rita’s demeanor. “This time, I’m as in the dark as you are. But join us and I’m sure General Kozlov here will be happy to elucidate. I don’t have time to explain.” I’m not sure, but I may have heard Rita mutter something like “General Kozlov, my ass.” I ignore her.

  Catching Kozlov studying me, I turn to look at him. “Speak your thoughts.”

  He takes a breath, as if contemplating what to say. “The Blood Empire isn’t your enemy.”

  “They have a massive battlecruiser-sized ship heading for Rykkamon. Change my mind.”

  He clears his throat. “To be more precise, not all the Blood Empire is your enemy.” He furrows his brow. “Though Nebula’s movement is not what I expected.”

  “There’s a division in power?” I thought Oberon ran a tight command, but this intel—if true—is fascinating.

  Kozlov smiles. “Smart thinking. In my opinion, Oberon is misguided in his objective. He’s being manipulated by a faction he respects.”

  “What is his objective?”

  “Aha.” The general leans forward. “Now we get to the crux. Oberon wants a new home for the entire Blood Empire sector.”

  The color drains from my face. “He’s preparing to invade.”

  Kozlov gestures by lifting his hands up against the plasticuffs. Distracted, I wonder how he lost the finger. “Taking property by force is all he knows. So yes, I expect that is his preferred method.”

  “Still doesn’t explain Nebula and its trajectory.” Privately, I question why Kozlov isn’t privy to his master’s plans.

  “No. But hear me out. Blowing the whistle on my colleagues is not the only thing I’m here for.”

  I narrow my eyes. “There’s something worse than us being invaded?”

  “Not just worse. From what I understand, it’s potentially catastrophic for all of us.”

  I don’t get why a senior official doesn’t know everything about his leader’s strategies.

  Mitch must think the same. He interrupts. “What do you mean, ‘as far as you can understand’? Aren’t you supposed to know this shit?”

  Kozlov gives Mitch a wry look. “Oberon has surrounded himself with those loyal to the faction manipulating him. He cut some senior staff close to him from inner committees and communication channels. We suspect something is unfolding bigger than one man’s quest for dominance. As I said to you on Celos, the rumors suggest something growing out of balance in our sector. Oberon is panicked. I presume no one knows any detail because the penalty for disclosing anything outside his circle is immediate execution. Some of my own agents are no longer responding and are lost to us. Though not before I heard your name whispered. Someone in Oberon’s command thinks you are a liability. I don’t know why… yet. But it adds weight to all the evidence I’ve been collecting.”

  He sighs and pauses before continuing. “One reason for undergoing painful surgery and disappearing from Oberon’s surveillance is that I believe our entire portion of the galaxy is at risk, and we need allies. Not war.”

  “At risk? From what?”

  He gives me a baleful look. “That’s the trillion-credit question, isn’t it? But I believe your father has something to do with it. I’m hoping you’ll permit me to join your hunt. First, we need to get you in covert dialog with the Blood Empire factions aligned with my way of thinking—”

  “Wait.” I hold up my hand. “There is no ‘first, we need.’ There’s a world under threat from one of your ships. Tell me what you know of Nebula, because my second stop is Rykkamon.” On the inside, my mind reels. What does he mean, my father is involved? The enemy of my enemy isn’t necessarily my friend. I am so confused.

  But I dare not show it.

  Kozlov’s mouth drops, then he grins. “You are as ballsy as your rep suggests.” He shrugs. “Eventually, you’re going to want to do what I suggest. And I venture you’ll need my help for whatever we’re doing.”

  “Why?” I furrow my brow and flinch, not remembering in time that it ignites a spasm of pain.

  Aktip swivels toward me. “Ma’am, did you forget you are a wanted criminal?”

  Rita lets out a mock laugh.

  My shoulders sag. Sometimes remembering the truth is like a kick in the guts.

  After snipping the cuffs from Kozlov, I send him with Frohlt and Sugi to provide details of Oberon’s fleet. I make a mental note to take him aside with Mitch and grill him about Papa. And at some point, I have to acquaint him with Kreev.

  But preying on my mind is a non-human planet I refuse to let down.

  If they’ll allow me.

  I return to my cabin, pull out the hyperrelay and weigh up the plan forming in my brain. Whoever set me up is in deep. Exposing someone who has been a sleeper for years may prove impossible.

  But if I can force their hand and tip the scales… it could also save Rykkamon. I dismiss my doubts with a shake of my head.

  The hyperrelay chirps as I flip it open. Holding my datapad next to it, I transmit Kozlov’s coded DNA scan. Along with a quietly spoken cryptic message. One that I hope will oust a key player without them knowing, depending on who Garnek confides in. At least Kozlov’s involvement and DNA confirmation fits in with the sleight of hand I intend to play. I absently tap my cabin’s desk as I realize my actions could backfire… but there’s no going back now. I have to have everything 100% lined up.

  Which brings me to the part of my plan that’s still fuzzy. How the heck am I going to orchestrate this with only one ship?

  Of course. The time I spent convincing Rita of my innocence should have made my next step obvious. I’m struck by the irony. And my first smile in days.

  Fassbender.

  And SIMs.

  I slap the desktop, spin around, and leave my chair for the helmroom.

  A Lack Of Trust

  Slingshot ’s main holo shows the side view of another ship’s dock sliding into view, until the vessel’s exterior occupies the entire screen.

  A soft clunk issues and the ship settles.

  Mitch eyes me nervously. “You sure you want to do this?”

  I shrug. “We need two ships. This one is available.” Turning to Kreev, I give the hulking SIM instructions, which it merely affirms. Expecting a conversation from a SIM is futile. Despite my history with them, I still find it disturbing.

  Kreev leads the way into the craft, followed by Mitch, Rita, then me.

  Not knowing what other tricks Fassbender has up his sleeve, we’re all armed to the teeth. Sugi and Brix have said they were never privy to the ugly man’s plans, and merely confirm they wouldn’t trust him further than they could throw him. Which, in zero grav, could be a long way. But I get what they mean.

  Rita glances over her shoulder. “Can’t I just drop him dead on the spot?”

  “Not if we want to give our plan the best chance of success.” Privately, I think the odds are well against us, fearing that as soon as we enter Sector territory, some random DNA check will find a microscopic cell from my body floating around somewhere and that will be curtains. For us all. My shoulders feel heavy with the added responsibility, and my chest stops as if I’ve forgotten to breathe.

  “Fassbender got you worried?” Rita observes as we make our way to the cabin where I’d left SIM Three guarding him.

  “Uh-uh,” I say, “This game is way bigger than Fassbender. Remember what we’re going to do with him. By the time it’s over, he’ll be wishing you’d killed him right here.”

  She grins, flinches as her scarred cheek stretches, then scowls at the forced memory of Lauren’s death. “As long as the bastard gets what’s coming.”

  “Guarantee that,” Mitch mutters up in front.

  He comes to a sudden halt in front of the cabin’s hatch, then looks wide-eyed at us as we pull up. He points inside through an open door. “But first we’ll have to find him.”

  Kreev is already inside brandishing a plasmarifle, but the room is empty.

  A huge SIM lies motionless on the floor.

  “How...?” I’m speechless.

  Before anyone can comment, a blinding blast of plasma sends everyone flying to the deck. I avoid smashing my damaged cheek on the floor panels, though I’m thankful once again for the artificial grav that stops us from floating in the passageway as targets to pick off one-by-one.

  “Sis? You okay?” Mitch calls over.

  “Yeah. Just more bruises. Sitrep?”

  “No one hit, though god knows how.” He crawls through some smoke over to me. “How the hell did that a-hole escape a SIM?”

  “With this.” A cloaked figure strides through the clearing air, pointing a plasmagun at my face, the other hand holding a tiny device.

  Frozen to the floor, I shake my head. “Looks like I’m not the only one with access to illegal EMPs. Where did you get that?” I can’t imagine where he’d hidden it, but the visuals aren’t good.

  He throws it to one side. “Only had the one, Jackson. My lucky day, these SIMs don’t have the latest shielding. I stole it from a Jovian who… didn’t need it anymore.”

  Jovians have EMPs? Then I catch myself. We need to disable Fassbender before he either kills us all—or worse, takes me captive again. Hopefully, he’s ignorant of my wanted status, but he’ll know I’m valuable, maybe more so if his tiny brain can work out why the heck I’d come back and risk attracting attention by repossessing his ship. I’m guessing that’s why he never intended to hit anyone with his plasma shot, in case he accidentally took me out.

  Kreev inches forward.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Fassbender says, looking at me with a sneer. “Tell it to stand down and cede control to me.”

  Kreev is poised with all of its systems tensed, ready on my prearranged signal to kill.

  But I don’t want Fassbender dead. He’s worth a gazillion credits to me alive, though I’ll never let him know that.

  Thankfully, I’ve been a sneaky pirate for most of my life. It’s not the first time Fassbender and I have butted heads, so I knew I’d need a Plan B. Or C.

  “Kreev. Surrender to Fassbender.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “What? No!” Rita yells. She tries to get up, but I kick her down. Hard. The look she shoots me could burn through plasticrete.

  My SIM lowers its weapon, reverses it so the barrel points at its midsection and walks toward Fassbender.

  Mitch groans. “Jeez. I told you this was a stupid idea.”

  “Don’t worry. I have plenty of stupider ones left.” I grin up at Fassbender, who looks at me, perplexed. Then his eyes widen as the approaching SIM snatches Fassbender’s plasmarifle and crushes it with one hand while using the other to pinch Fassbender’s neck to the point of loss of consciousness.

  I stand up and dust myself off, swaying as the dizziness returns, then look at the comatose assassin, only standing because of Kreev’s grip. “Can’t even trust a SIM these days, can you, Fassbender?”

  I jerk my head at Rita. “Wanna escort Kreev and the prisoner to our brig and this time make sure he’s uncomfortably secured?”

  Rita snorts. “My pleasure.”

  Mitch gets to his feet and gives me a dirty look. “You suspected this all along and you didn’t tell us?”

  I lift one shoulder. “I wasn’t sure. But I’ve had enough of surprises.” I start walking to the ship’s helmroom, then turn back to a dumbfounded Mitch. “You coming? We’ve got a planet to save.”

  And an angry crew. But I don’t add that.

  Bald Moves

  Fassbender’s ship, which I figure is now legitimately mine, is still on its programmed orbit as I left it. No doubt Fassbender couldn’t break past the security I’d set, or he wouldn’t be here now. Or if he was, we’d be toast. Small mercies.

  As Mitch and I input new flight plans, I muse over my actions, along with how I should play my return to the uninhabited mining planet. Plan B worked, but it lived up to the cliché of not surviving engagement with the enemy. I’d expected tricks from Fassbender, but I didn’t expect to be down one SIM.

  And this time I’m not second guessing. I had Sugi come over and show me through the ship’s backend systems. Just to make sure Fassbender hadn’t left any nasty surprises. It looks like we’re in the clear and I sigh with relief.

  “Ready?” I check with Mitch, who nods with a taciturn expression. He’s said little since Fassbender almost incinerated us. I guess that’ll do it to a guy.

  He follows me in silence as the three of us walk across the docking bridge. We meet Kozlov, Aktip, Rita, and the others in Slingshot’s mess.

  “That was a close call. But the stakes are only getting higher. Is Fassbender secured?”

  Rita quirks her lips. “Strip-searched, sedated and bound up so tight he can barely break wind.”

  “Good. And I see you’ve met Kreev.” I look at Kozlov. “I’d planned a more informal introduction, but we’re fresh out of finger food. Suffice to say Kreev will only follow my command. So I’d stay out of its way if I were you.”

  Kozlov says nothing, just smiles. Maybe his ascendancy to Oberon’s command has made him roll with the punches.

  I nod. “Kreev, you, I, Frohlt and Rita will take Fassbender down to the surface. The others will land in Slingshot next to us and await orders.”

  Kozlov raises an eyebrow.

  “The rest of my crew. I… ah, abandoned them there when I gave myself up to Fassbender.”

  “Fair enough. But why are you taking Fassbender with you?”

  My face reddens. “I need to be… transparent. There might be some trust issues.”

  He observes me for a while. “I await your instructions, Captain.”

  I dip my head, then look round at everyone. “Here’s what has to happen. Anyone gets caught, my orders are to disavow me, but be very specific about the threat from Oberon and Nebula. And get General Kozlov to Matlock, Xavier or Garnek without anyone else knowing. Clear?”

  I hear murmurs of affirmation and Aktip’s renewed declaration of her lifelong debt. Not for the first time, I wonder why anyone would swear allegiance to me.

  Especially given what I’m about to do…

  I watch as Frohlt shaves Fassbender’s skull with enthusiastic glee. It was Mitch’s suggestion. Maybe he was fearful the wily assassin had hidden some nasty surprise in his hair. I wouldn’t put it past him. But I think Mitch’s idea suits my purposes perfectly. Then, as the doc removes the last of Fassbender’s remaining stubble, leaving him looking uglier than ever, another thought occurs to me. I sit down in the chair beside the still unconscious Fassbender.

  “Frohlt. Do the same to me.” I remove my eye patch, tap my head and sit back.

  “You sure, miss?” The creature clears his throat. “Hair as long as this”—he points to my long red braids—“is going to take a while to—”

  I wave his objections away and motion for him to start. “Don’t have time to explain.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29