Never mind that Qin and Asger had seen her the day before, taking a break from her work in a local laboratory to order espresso from one of the station’s coffee stands. Just because that had been true yesterday didn’t mean Bonita knew where she was now.
“Would you tell me if you had seen her?” Bjarke asked.
No. “I don’t know. Would you offer something in exchange for the information?”
“A foot rub?”
A little tingle went through her at the idea. It had been a long time since anything besides the sonic foot massager in the sauna had rubbed her feet.
“Tempting. I’d consider it. How far away are you?” Bonita was certain Asger and Kim would both like to know.
“Close. Only a few hours from the station. But I thought I should warn you, as I intend to warn the palace itself, that the insidious mercenary Rache is after me.”
“After you? Does that mean that he’s flying behind you in the same direction or that he’s trying to get you?”
“Both. I was given a shuttle to fly to Stardust Palace to retrieve Sato, since you so rudely refused to collect her for me. A freighter that launched shortly after I did was sent to purchase fuel and supplies from the station. Rache and his big warship came out of nowhere and attacked. The freighter had no chance. I was tempted to turn and help, but the captain ordered me to escape while he bought time for me, and there is unfortunately little this shuttle could do against a warship, regardless. The eight-man crew of the freighter was destroyed.”
Bonita leaned back in her seat. She hadn’t had as many encounters with Rache as Kim and Casmir, but after that awkward dinner in Zamek City, she had stopped thinking of him as an enemy. It wasn’t as if she would consider him an ally, but she hadn’t been considering him a threat, at least not to her, a non-Kingdom subject. It was, however, chilling to think that he’d killed eight men for no reason. Or had there been a reason?
“Why did he attack the freighter?” Bonita wondered.
“Because we are from the Kingdom, and the bastard hates the Kingdom,” Bjarke growled.
“Hm.”
“I wanted to warn you to be careful if you’re leaving the station any time soon,” Bjarke added. “Especially if you get hired to take a cargo to the Kingdom ships. He may target you to keep them from getting supplies.” He raised his eyebrows. “Are you leaving soon? Or will you be there a little longer?”
“Are you inquiring because you want to take me to dinner?”
“Yes. Will Viggo be jealous?”
“No, he’ll only remind me of my failed marriages and bad luck with men.”
“But you’ll ignore him and have dinner with me, anyway, right?”
Bonita wondered if she could convince Bjarke to spend his visit with her and forget about hunting down Kim. “Of course. I always ignore him.”
“Really, Bonita,” Viggo murmured.
“Excellent news,” Bjarke said.
“Really.” Viggo played a haughty sniff—it sounded like someone inhaling their own nostrils hard enough to shoot them out the other end.
“I’ll give you a time after I’ve taken care of my business.”
His business? Capturing Kim?
“You should come see me first. What are you going to do? Tie her up in your shuttle while we go to dinner?”
Bjarke squinted at her. “I must suspect your motives, dear Laser. Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”
“I haven’t seen her, but look, you’re going to get yourself killed if you try to go after her alone. You know Casmir’s crusher is programmed to protect her as surely as it is him, right? And what’s with the kidnapping scheme, anyway? It’s obvious she doesn’t want to do whatever your prince wants. She left for a reason. If you drag her back over your shoulder like some primate…”
“I will take her back in flex-cuffs like a civilized law enforcer,” Bjarke said coolly. “Prince Jorg has ordered it, and as a knight of the Kingdom, I am bound to obey.”
“Your prince is succeeding in turning you into something even the Druckers didn’t manage. A villain.”
Bjarke cut the comm.
“I don’t think I’m getting a dinner date or a foot rub, Viggo,” Bonita said.
“Are you going to warn Kim that he’s almost here?”
“Yes. She probably needs time to make sure Zee is standing at her back when Bjarke shows up.”
“Do you think even Zee can defeat a trained knight?” Viggo asked.
“I don’t know.”
16
Qin was in the ship bay, monitoring the loading of provisions onto the Dragon, when Princess Nalini walked into view. She was a beautiful woman with alert brown eyes, flawless skin, and straight, silky black hair clipped back from her temples. Qin rubbed the furry back of her hand self-consciously.
Assuming the princess was off to a ship of her own, Qin didn’t think of greeting her until she realized Nalini was heading straight toward her. She bit her lip. What was the protocol for addressing princesses? Qin hadn’t bowed or even spoken to her the other night. Since their meeting had started with Tristan answering the door in a towel, Qin had assumed that formalities weren’t in order.
She settled on a bow, almost clunking her head on a squat robot loader whirring up the ramp with a food crate, then wondered if a curtsy would have been more correct. In the fairy tales she’d read, girls always curtsied, but learning the motion hadn’t been a part of her combat training.
Nalini lifted a hand, two gold rings gleaming on her fingers, and stopped in front of her. “Hello, Qin, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, uhm, Your Highness.”
Qin was glad Nalini hadn’t given her fur and fangs a second look, neither now nor when they’d met. Now that she was largely away from the Kingdom and its influence, she shouldn’t encounter as many people who thought genetically engineered people were odd.
“You can call me Nalini. I’m looking for Tristan—he’s not answering the comm, and he has his chip off. I thought he might have come down here to visit Sir Asger.”
“They’re not here. I think Asger is guarding Kim.” Qin wished Asger were down here. She’d thought it would be nice if they could spend some time together, but he hadn’t been back to the ship often. She hoped it wasn’t because he was avoiding her. He had, however, specifically mentioned that he believed Kim might be in danger. From whom, he hadn’t mentioned.
“Oh, hm.” Nalini gazed around the bay, where six other ships of various sizes were docked, none of their crews in sight.
She smelled of jasmine flowers and a hint of the sandalwood incense that Qin had noticed burning throughout the palace side of the station. Scents that attracted men, she supposed, wondering if she should get some perfume. She’d always avoided it since scent was a way for enemies to track someone, especially enemies with enhanced olfactory senses such as she had.
“I’m a little concerned,” Nalini added, “since he made an enemy of Prince Jorg. I was relieved that all your Sir Asger wanted was his weapon back. I thought the Kingdom might send assassins.”
“He’s not my Sir Asger,” Qin admitted. “And I think the Kingdom is too busy to worry about single ex-knights right now.”
“No? I thought you and he exchanged a few warm smiles and looks.”
“We’re just friends. I’ve helped him with a few problems, and he’s helped me, or offered to, if I need it.”
“What would you need help with?” Nalini looked from her boots to the top of her head. “You seem very capable. And tall.” She smiled.
“I…” Qin wasn’t sure how much she wanted to tell a stranger about her problems. She opted for the short explanation. “I was purchased from a lab and raised by pirates who still think they own me. I have to watch out. They’ve caught up with me before and tried to take me back.”
“Ah. System Cerberus. Yes. Can you buy your freedom?”
“Maybe, but it would take a lot more money than I have.”
“You should get the total.
Then you’d have a goal to work toward. It seems unfair that a person should have to buy their own freedom, but if it’s the best option for a restful life, then it would be worth it.”
“I’m sure it would be, but I don’t make that much money, and I don’t want to leave Bonita.” Qin pointed her thumb toward the cargo hold. “She’s my captain and employer.”
Nalini tilted her head. “Do you have any money left over after paying for expenses?”
“I guess. My expenses are minimal. Bonita provides my food and of course my cabin. And she covers the cost of my armor maintenance and ammunition for my weapons.”
Nalini blinked. “Your weapons?”
Qin patted the Brockinger anti-tank gun slung over her shoulder. “When I escaped, I took this girl with me, and a couple of others, but Bonita said it was only fair that she provided funds to make sure I’m well-armed and armored. We’ve been running freight a lot lately, and some passengers—” Qin thought of Bjarke, “—but we also hunt bounties. I think Bonita wants to do more of it now that her knees are better.”
Nalini waved away these details. “My point was going to be that if you have some left over each month, you can put it into investments that will grow over time, until you have enough to pay off whoever thinks they own you.”
“I don’t have very much left each month. Not that kind of money.”
“Small amounts can grow into large amounts in time. Are you familiar with the concept of compound growth?”
Qin shook her head.
“Hm, I can send you some of my lectures and some basics on the markets. If you believe the Kingdom will come out ahead in this war, this wouldn’t be a bad time to pick up some of their stocks that are taking a hit right now. Though, as you might guess, I’m a bigger proponent of real-estate investing, since you acquire both property that increases in value over time and rental income that can, in the right markets, cover the mortgage and all the carrying costs in the meantime. It takes more money to get started, but you can invest in one until you’ve acquired enough for the other.”
“I… hadn’t thought of investing. I’m not very… mathy.” Qin waved, uncertain of the proper term. “My academic education ended at twelve when I became a full-time combat specialist. I mostly read, er, romances. And fairy tales.”
“It’s never too late to develop an interest and learn. I’ll send you my lectures. Tristan assures me they’re not that dry.” Nalini winked. “There are slides with cartoon characters.”
“I’d like that.” Qin heard Bonita’s footsteps in the ship’s cargo hold and faced the hatch before she appeared.
“We have a problem,” Bonita announced, then frowned at Nalini. “Who are you?”
“Princess Nalini.”
Bonita didn’t bow or curtsy. She only said, “Huh,” and faced Qin again. “Toes is on the way.”
“Toes?” Nalini mouthed.
“He’s coming to get Kim.” Bonita ignored Nalini.
Qin wished she wouldn’t. Nalini was telling her how to make money. Qin wanted to make her a new friend. But she could see why Bjarke was a larger concern.
“The Kingdom sent him?” Qin asked.
“That asshole prince,” Bonita said. “I don’t even know him, and I’m sure he’s an asshole.”
“He is,” Nalini said shortly.
“I’ve warned Kim and Casmir,” Bonita said. “Kim, oddly, didn’t seem that concerned. I thought she might want to hop on our freighter and get smuggled out of here. But she mentioned that she’d be leaving soon, like she already has something lined up.” Bonita frowned. Offended that they might get a ride with someone else? “I haven’t heard back from Casmir. He’s probably engrossed in making little Zees.”
“I believe they’ll be the same size as the existing one,” Qin said.
She caught a familiar scent and rose on her toes, gazing across the bay toward one of the entrances.
“You know what I mean,” Bonita said. “Carbon copies. I wonder if they’ll all have his personality, such as it is.”
Asger entered the bay, and Qin waved at him. She’d painted her claws pink with blue raindrops that morning and caught herself extending them, hoping he would notice them. And think they were pretty.
He lifted a hand in return, but his face was grim. If he noticed the claw paint, he didn’t show it as he joined them at the base of the ramp.
“I heard from my father again,” he said without preamble, bowing to Nalini and nodding to Bonita. “He’s almost here.”
“We know,” Bonita said.
“How?” Asger asked. “I’ve known he was coming, but not when. I thought it would take him longer to get here.”
“He told me.”
“Did he also tell you to stay out of his way while he’s kidnapping Kim for Prince Jorg? And to be prepared to leave with him without making any trouble? He treats me like I’m a wayward child instead of a full-fledged knight.” Asger must have been angry, because he didn’t seem to think anything of admitting this in front of a near-stranger.
“You are wayward,” Bonita said. “Has he seen your calendars?”
Asger’s face flushed red.
Qin waved and shook her head at Bonita, hoping she wouldn’t continue with the joke. A joke that was, Qin knew from her conversations with both Bjarke and Asger, too close to the truth.
“Are you going to leave with him?” Qin asked. “And, uhm, stay out of his way as he tries to get Kim?”
Asger pushed a hand through his blond-brown locks hard enough to dislodge several strands. “I don’t know. I need…” He looked at Qin, but then glanced at Bonita and Nalini, as if he’d decided he didn’t want to discuss this in front of them after all.
Qin lifted a finger, about to offer to talk about it in private with him, if he wished, but a message from Casmir came in on her chip, and she paused.
Bonita, Qin, Asger, and Kim, could you please come to the manufacturing facility? I can’t leave at the moment, but we need to have a quick meeting. I’ve ordered snacks. And I also have entertainment.
What kind of entertainment can there be in a manufacturing facility? Bonita responded to the group message. Watching robots stamp out cogs isn’t riveting.
I disagree with that, but I meant the unarmed combat show. Tristan has returned for the third day in a row to test his mettle against Zee.
“Oh,” Qin said. “Nalini, I know where your ex-knight is.”
Nalini raised her eyebrows.
“Fighting a crusher in your manufacturing facility,” Qin said.
Nalini’s brows climbed higher. “Again?”
“I didn’t realize combat with Zee was that engaging,” Asger murmured. Then he messaged, We’re on our way, Casmir.
We won’t have much time before Bjarke gets here, Bonita added.
That’s why I called for a quick meeting, Casmir replied.
Are you sure you want Kim out in the open?
Oh, she’ll be well protected.
“What does that mean?” Asger’s face creased into a worried expression. Worried for Kim? Or worried for his father? Or both?
“Maybe that some of his crushers have come off the assembly line?” Qin suggested.
“I don’t know if I want to see this or don’t want to see this,” Bonita murmured, but she headed down the ramp.
Qin let her go ahead with Nalini, then walked beside Asger, who waited for her before starting off.
“Are you all right?” she whispered.
“Just disgruntled that it looks like I’m going to have to pick sides. And the side I’m more inclined to pick could seal the coffin on my already dying career in the knighthood.” He spotted her painted claws and pointed. “Those are nice.”
“Thank you.” Qin beamed a smile at him, tickled that he’d noticed.
Maybe she responded more enthusiastically than he expected, for he missed a step. Or maybe she’d flashed her fangs at him, and he’d found it alarming? She reined in her lips to form a tighter, non-toothy
smile.
A mix of emotions crossed his face, and she struggled to read them. It was as if he was wrestling with something. His hand twitched toward hers but only made it halfway before dropping back to his side.
Had he almost taken her hand? She pretended not to notice the failure to go all the way. At least he wasn’t fleeing in the other direction.
Qin waved her fingers and added, “I’m glad you like them.”
“I do. And you’re welcome.”
“Maybe Casmir will have some clever idea to help you avoid having to pick a side.”
“Casmir’s ideas are what have gotten me in trouble in the first place.”
Was that true? Qin didn’t know what all had happened with them in System Hydra. “Then why are you still talking to him?”
Asger sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Because I like him. And I think he cares more about doing the right thing than my superiors do.”
Oku followed her father into the Citadel’s command center. It had been two days since she’d arrived, but she hadn’t slept much since then. She’d been making sure Casmir’s and Kim’s family and friends were settled in and being treated well, and then there had been the bombings. The city had undergone three more attacks.
She didn’t think anyone had slept during the one the previous night. The Citadel might be bomb-proof, but it wasn’t soundproof. Chasca had spent hours in the closet of their small bedroom. Every time Oku had dozed off, she’d woken minutes later with a start, either to bombing or whimpering about the bombing. That morning, Oku had applied more makeup than usual in an attempt to mask her weariness. At least her skin was dark enough that the bags under her eyes weren’t that noticeable. Even so, she felt like something Chasca had dragged out from under a bush rather than a radiant princess to be dangled as a prize to a potential suitor.
“Sire?” an older man asked from a set of desks and news displays in the command center.
Oku recognized him as Senator Boehm, one of her father’s distant cousins and a retired knight.
“Yes?” Her father stopped.
“The Fleet admirals report that they’ve driven off the bombers from Odin, our orbital stations, and the lunar base. Enemy ships are still harrying the habitats. Most of them are state-of-the-art with slydar hulls that are difficult to detect. Further, many of the ships we successfully knocked down were automated. We’d wondered why this hodgepodge invasion force full of mercenaries would be willing to make what turned out to be kamikaze runs, but it’s because there weren’t human pilots or crews. We’ve knocked down dozens, if not hundreds, of ships by scanning the energy signatures of their weapons fire to estimate their locations. Even if there’s no loss of life on their side, Prince Dubashi and his allies must be spending a fortune on this.”
Planet Killer (Star Kingdom Book 6) Page 22
