by Skyler Grant
"And who are you going to use that on? The Triumvirate? Am I to be bait in your next assassination?" Alanna asked, her voice shaky.
"Duchess," Tamara said, coming into the docking bay, smile a little strained. "My apologies. We weren't expecting you today. Our associates acted earlier than expected to rescue you."
"If it was a rescue," Kara said. "I still think she just picked the winning team. If she weren't a complete coward she'd have taken on the families a long time ago."
Tamara gave Kara a pained look. "We're trying to be nice here."
"Why? If she sold out to them, she'll sell out to us," Kara said.
Jinx ran in. She was wearing her Queen of Thieves ensemble although the arrangement was a bit awkward. She had dressed—or rather undressed—in a hurry. "I heard we got the duchess early? What happened?" She skidded to a stop. "Oh, there she is. Can we do this again with me being a little more impressive?"
"I was just abducted after the brutal and bloody murder of my captors. The alien has a nuclear bomb and is very excited about it, and one of the most wanted women in the galaxy runs in dressed like some sort of teenage wet dream. Really, I'd say you have ‘impressive’ by some definition well-covered," Alanna said peevishly.
Jinx turned to Kara. "We have a nuclear bomb? Why do we have a nuclear bomb?"
Mara said, following Alanna down the ramp, "Because my family thought it might be enough to kill Sand, and that means it is one of their better weapons. We can use it."
Tamara said, "Right. Enough of trying to make this situation something it isn't. Welcome to the Centauri Bliss. You are surrounded by the Imperium's most wanted, but despite the bomb we don't mean you any harm. I can show you to a room, if you need to freshen up."
"I'd rather figure out my status first. I've just come from being held captive on my own estate. I was not a willing party to whatever they were attempting, and I've no reason to think you are any better," Alanna said.
"I'll stash this somewhere safe," Kara said, her biceps bulging as she carried the massive warhead elsewhere.
"How pissed-off is your family going to be that we have that?" Quinn asked Mara.
"Consider that in their minds we already have massively more dangerous weapons aboard this ship. The bomb won't change anything. They may even be grateful for the small chance we'll blow ourselves up," Mara said.
"It is nice when somebody recognizes your true worth," Sand said.
Alanna wasn't looking especially reassured by the back and forth.
Jinx told her, "We're hoping we can make a deal. The very fact that you were held prisoner in your own estate shows how weak your position is. We can make it stronger."
"I'd go on about the absurd outfit once again, but it really is one of those cases of appearances being deceiving, isn't it?" Alanna asked. "Am I your prisoner?"
Everybody exchanged glances.
"We'd rather you weren't, but we're not willing to have you out there as our enemy," Jinx said after a long pause.
Alanna regarded her for a moment and nodded. "Good. The fact that you're not lying to me is encouraging. I'm not going anywhere until we have at least laid some groundwork. What do you want and what are you offering?"
"We want the families working for us and control of the markets of Arkstone. You've never been able to do that on your own, and several of the worlds supposedly under your control are already being raided by the clans," Tamara said.
"Because the Imperium didn't care to help, and then there was the civil war. The Triumvirate is promising a renewed strength to the navy and to bring order to the Rim," Alanna said.
"And that reassures you? Duchess, I know your reputation. You're smarter than that," Tamara said.
"You're right, it doesn't. But if my choice is between them and a bunch of thieves, assassins, and the worst scum of the galaxy, it is an easy choice. What do you even think you have to offer in return that I'd care about, besides threats to my life and freedom?" Alanna asked.
"That isn't enough?" Kara asked. "That is almost always enough. I mean, I have a really great record with that."
"Clan technology, more advanced than anything currently in use by the Imperium. The friendship of those who the Imperium considers among its greatest threats, and we have a sincere and vested interest in seeing this part of space flourish," Tamara said.
"For your own ends. I work with you, I'm no longer a duchess of the Imperium," Alanna said.
"You're not much of a duchess now, if we're being honest, and likely to be even less of one if the Triumvirate claims this space."
Alara raised a hand. "Enough. You've piqued my interest, and I'm not going to force you to make me a prisoner. A bath and a stiff drink or eight, and the chance to recover would be welcome before we discuss this further."
That was good. They had other matters to look into. Quinn wanted to know how much of a presence Mara's family had here, and just what the clans were doing on Arkstone.
28
Quinn was learning just how complicated being one of the most wanted men in the galaxy could make your life. Being wanted was nothing new, and given the often sporadic contacts between worlds and the high cost of sending messages, even if you were wanted in one system it would rarely be well-known elsewhere. Plus, there were always those committing new crimes and slowly bringing down the heat level for whatever you'd done.
Twice now he'd tried to land on Arkstone, and twice had Mara call him back to the ship before he even got back to the ground. Her scanning routines picked up mercenaries headed to intercept his shuttle.
This wasn't even the Core, but the bounty offered by the Imperium was such that even the families were interested.
Quinn consoled himself by drinking. The cargo hold was about the only place in the ship where one could sometimes find a bit of privacy. Not even that at the moment, as Vess was there. The shape-shifter wasn't wearing anything, the scales that adorned much of her flesh visible.
"I don't know what I walked into, but I can leave if you want to keep on doing it alone," Quinn said.
"Not necessary, I assure you," Kalisa said, stepping out from behind a pile of crates. At least she was dressed, or as dressed as Kalisa ever was, which wasn't saying all that much. She carried a tablet under one arm.
Vess said, "I was just stretching my wings. This is the room on the ship big enough for my other form." She rippled, part of her flesh reshaping into clothes. They still had scales, but at least provided the illusion of modesty.
"Is it hard for you? On the ship?" Quinn asked.
"I start to feel cramped if I don't shift at least once a day. This lets me do that, but no flying. I miss flying," Vess said, sounding genuinely sad as she moved towards Quinn, grabbing the bottle from his hands and taking a sniff before downing some.
Kalisa said, "I was hoping I could help. That a magical suppressor might do something. It won't though, at least not an exterior one, since everything that is happening is innate to her essence."
"Want to learn flying the ship? I know it isn't quite the same, but I like it," Quinn said.
Vess shrugged. "Not the same. Will still try. You're a good flyer, husband, it is part of why I married you. If it is good for finding a mate, maybe it would help."
"What has you getting drunk in the afternoon?" Kalisa asked, snagging the bottle from Vess and taking a swig. If Quinn had known there was going to be a crowd he'd have brought more.
"Feeling like a prisoner on my own ship. Which, I know, whining to the wrong crowd," Quinn said.
Vess felt like a prisoner on the ship since she couldn't fly, and Kalisa literally was one. No inhibitor was strong enough to suppress her Chaosian infection, so at most stops she had to stay aboard.
"Is this because they hunt you? Stupid most-wanted list. Tourmaline and Vess should have been on top. Must try harder," Vess said, after she took the bottle back.
Kalisa said, almost wistful, "During the first war we had to stay constantly on the move. Stay in a system too lo
ng and the Emperor would send a fleet. It got to where I started building traps. I'd lure them to hunt me and unleash my creations."
"Well, at least we aren't there yet," Quinn said.
Kalisa looked wry. "Only because they lack a fleet large enough. I don't know if you fully realize just how big an anthill you kicked over. Just what it is that you've unleashed."
Quinn knew that Kalisa wasn't just smart, her long life gave far more perspective.
"So tell me," Quinn said.
Kalisa took the bottle back from Vess only to pass it over to Quinn, "Drink first. You sure you want to hear it?"
"I'm the captain of this ship. I know that doesn't seem as important as it used to, as what we control grows, but it is still our home. I'm still responsible for the safety of everyone. I should know," Quinn said.
"Then I'll take it one at a time. Jinx is the most powerful Order mage alive and everyone knows she is the true heiress of the Emperor. The people of your Imperium time and time again saw her outwit or outpower those who would call themselves her better, including the Triumvirate. They will hunt her until the day she dies—or they do. They have no choice."
Quinn took a swig from the bottle. It made sense, and if it were true he didn't see how this all ended.
"But Sand is higher? They must want to kill her more?" Vess asked.
"The former Empress who committed mass-murder on Imperius and may be the greatest threat to human life in the galaxy? They could hardly not put her first. Still, I suspect if it came down to a choice they'd kill Jinx," Kalisa said.
"And number three for you," Quinn said.
Kalisa shrugged. "I'm the most powerful Unshackled they've encountered. I am the face they can now put on the doom rushing towards them. I'll go down the list as they meet the others, I think. They should fear me, but there are others they should fear more."
"Is this all leading into telling me we should be playing nice with the clans again?" Quinn asked.
"Do I need to? We are the Clan of Thieves. Right now, Tamara and Jinx are working on that duchess and what they are really trying to do is to get her to betray the Imperium. The family is already on my side," Kalisa said.
29
It was a boisterous dinner that night. Quinn wasn't the only one having trouble getting off the ship and everybody was going a little stir crazy. Melody had tried new cooking recipes from a race called the Shinki, which were supposed to be popular on some human worlds. There were lots of meat, glazed to be very sweet and often on fire. Kara was having a lot of fun with it. Everyone else was going a little hungry as they tried to figure out how to put the flames out.
"So I'd start with asking if everyone has been having fun, but from what I hear so far this isn't that kind of trip. Instead I'd like to give a status update," Tamara said, carefully placing an empty plate on top of her burning meat. It was a valiant effort to suffocate the flames, but it didn't quite work.
"How go the negotiations?" Quinn asked.
"Given Duchess Alanna is fairly sure we'll kill her if she doesn't agree, they've flowed rather smoothly."
"I told you. You can't go wrong with life-threatening. People always say it won't work on them, but then they do exactly what you want," Kara said, taking a piece of still-fiery meat and popping it in her mouth to the sound of hissing.
Vess was having similar success with dinner, the flames didn't bother her.
"What does smoothly mean?" Jinx asked Tamara.
"In this case, it means we're getting what we want. Alanna will be a duchess no more, but instead the head of a clan called Ivory Swan, her house sigil. That clan will be under the banner of the Clan of Thieves."
"Everything we're doing here is just bringing us closer to the clans. Is that really what we want to do?" Quinn asked.
"They have been a little bit torturery the times we've met them," Dela said.
"The Imperium is our enemy. I didn't want it that way, and I hope it doesn't stay that way, but it is the hand we're holding. We can't pretend it doesn't exist," Jinx said.
That was his fault, Quinn knew. Because they'd saved Sand, because he had to save Kat. If they'd just gone through with their plan to kill her they'd be heroes of the Imperium right about now instead of its most-wanted. Jinx might not be blaming him, but Quinn knew where that blame belonged.
"How do you even see that working? I'm not any kind of gung-ho Imperium girl, but it is home, you know?" Dela asked.
"I've spoken with both Tamara and Kalisa a lot on that very subject. The clans are far looser in authority than the Imperium. Each clan passes their own laws, rules as they see fit in the territory they control, although they may owe allegiance to another clan," Jinx said.
"Which is what you are trying to do? Kalisa's clan and now Alanna's will be under the Clan of Thieves?" Quinn asked.
"Exactly. There are certain matters of honor with the clans that one is expected to honor. Even clans at war with each other have a right to refuel and resupply in some instances. We will honor those. Mostly we'll be governing ourselves like the Imperium, although with the absence of nobility," Jinx said.
"It all sounds complicated and honestly, it is. But at this point this is our long game. We can build something as part of the clans," Tamara said.
It seemed that everybody was on board. Quinn wished he didn't have so many doubts. Still, this was one of those cases where he had to trust his wives—who really were far more informed than he was on this subject.
"How does her cooperation get us Arkstone?" Quinn asked.
"It doesn't at once. We're going to have to bring in Kalisa's engineers and refurbish her ships, her defenses. Once we do that, instead of having a long-running standoff with the families she'll be in a stronger position," Tamara said.
"Then we blow stuff up until they say yes? Or we just threaten to?" Kara asked.
"Then we open ourselves to new membership. If a family wants to try holding onto what they have with inferior guns and ships, let them. I don't think they will."
Quinn thought she was being a little hopeful. He knew criminals better than she did, and he knew what it was like when a major new player started pushing into a territory. Yes, some people would sign on, but a lot would rather go down guns blazing than bow to any sort of master.
Silver spoke for the first time. "It won't be as clean as you're saying. I don't know anything about your red team, blue team idiocy, and I don't care, but I know crime. You can own those streets, but you're going to pay for them with blood."
Quinn studied her. Silver, the Rena from their universe, looked haggard and exhausted. Perhaps she did actually have something to offer in this room.
"If they force a fight they'll have one. We'll try the velvet glove, but we're not afraid to go loud," Jinx said.
There had been a time when that approach would have made her uncomfortable, but now Jinx didn't even hesitate when she talked about killing. Quinn was a little proud of her, and a little horrified at what they'd done to her.
"What about you and Rena? Any decision yet?" Quinn asked Silver.
The two Renas exchanged looks.
"When you found me I was trying to figure out how to pull back from getting too big. Way I see it, you are all just a lot of big, giant targets for me to hide behind while I do what I do best," Silver said.
"Did you know the Triumvirate has revoked legal rights for all non-human species and declared it isn't slavery to own them?" Rena said. "My Emperor wouldn't have done that. I'm in, we're in, on the condition we make things better."
"Idiot," Silver said as she glanced at her twin, but the look seemed a little fond.
30
Quinn took deep breaths. The air smelled far richer than it usually did on a space station, but then they usually weren't this crowded.
Once Alanna had agreed to their terms they had nothing more to hold them on Arkstone, but a message that Nova wanted to speak had pulled them deep into clan space. Nova was an old friend of Tourmaline's and the last time t
hey'd met had promised to kill her in the future. Needless to say all of those going to meet her were very well armed.
Kara was carrying a small armory, her armor with fresh enchantments from Jinx. Tourmaline had knives, a sword, and a shotgun. Kalisa had her usual knives at her waist while Sand was just herself. Their heaviest hitters apart from Jinx—they'd thought it best not to bring her aboard the station filled with Chaosians.
This station existed in a system that otherwise contained only asteroids, yet was far from a simple mining concern. There were over two hundred ships here and Quinn had needed to aggressively fight for a landing dock against three others trying to claim the same one.
It looked to be some sort of trade hub.
"What is this place?" Quinn asked.
"Called Three Corners station. Clans Uyala, Voidbear, and Flamefist all have territory nearby. All big, all war a lot, all needed a safe place to meet and do business," Tourmaline said. "It sort of grew from there. We're technically under a peace banner here, but don't expect that to hold back Nova if this is a trap."
Peace banner or no it didn't stop the crowds from being well-armed too. Far from standing out, the excessive degree of their weaponry made them blend in all the more.
Nova had insisted on speaking in person, not a great sign. The address provided brought them to some of the higher-end temporary lodging on the station. After they buzzed at the door Nova let them in. She looked identical to the last time Quinn had seen her, flaming red hair mixed with chalk-white skin and a skintight, armored black bodysuit.
"About time you got here. You have a runic sphere, what took you so long?" Nova asked.
"The last time we met, you told me you were going to hunt me until I killed you. Maybe I wasn't that eager to watch you die," Tourmaline said, with a look around the room. The place must have been expensive. It had one of the rare views of the station exterior.
"If I wanted to trap you I wouldn't have sent a message," Nova said.
"Or that is exactly what you'd want me to think. You see where this goes?" Tourmaline asked.
