“I object to you labeling them as lugs, but I concur on the rest. I shall hope that nobody has biological weapons.”
Kim’s lips twisted dubiously, and Casmir wondered if she knew more than she was saying. Did she have more than a hunch? Some evidence?
Bonita started toward Casmir with Qin following her, but Qin paused and looked back. The two daughters, both beautiful women in their twenties, were sashaying up to Asger. He’d started a conversation with Tristan, who was taking a breather, but they zeroed in on him. One laid a hand on his chest. Qin gaped at this audacity.
“Are you another sexy knight?” the handsy daughter asked.
With the fighting paused, Casmir could hear the words, though he didn’t want to witness beautiful women flirting with Asger. Even though he had high hopes for the future coffee date he hadn’t yet asked Oku on, his ego took a battering whenever women passed him by to drape themselves over a friend.
The second daughter sidled up to Asger’s other side and slipped an arm around his waist.
“This isn’t boding well for my quick meeting,” Casmir observed.
He reminded himself that he didn’t need Asger for his plans. His main reason for including him in that message had been to find out where he would be so he could keep Rache out of his way. And vice versa.
“It’s not boding well for those women to avoid being eviscerated.” Kim pointed at Qin.
Qin had gone from gaping to silently fuming, and her claws were indeed extended, her fingers curled, as if ready to slash a few deep gouges in someone.
Casmir didn’t know if Asger saw her reaction, but he squirmed out of the women’s grip.
“My friend needs me.” Asger pointed at Casmir. “He’s sexy too, if you’re interested. And he’s a robotics genius.”
Casmir cringed, knowing from firsthand experience that this was not the kind of proclamation that sent women flocking to him. Not that he wanted the daughters to flock to him—they appeared more predatory than loving—but it was always hard being rejected. They looked at him, and he forced a polite smile. His left eye blinked a couple of times. Great, maybe he’d have a seizure next.
“He’s more our father’s type,” one woman said with a snicker.
“The geekier the better. His wives don’t mind.”
Shayban may or may not have heard the words, but he waved to shoo them out. “My break is over. And so is the show. Everyone who has employment here should get back to it.” He sent a moderately scathing look to the daughters, patted Nalini on the shoulder, and headed for the exit.
Qin retracted her claws as Asger walked past, and she fell in beside him. She’d smoothed the rage from her face. Casmir wondered if Asger knew he had an admirer—maybe he’d expected it after giving Qin that calendar. It was none of his business, but he hoped Asger didn’t hurt her feelings.
“You don’t think he’s with that cat… thing, do you?” one of the daughters whispered loudly.
Casmir had no trouble hearing it, so he was positive the words would reach Qin’s ears. She clenched her jaw and didn’t look back.
“If true, knights have bizarre tastes. First Nalini, now a freak.”
“And here I thought it was only in the Kingdom that people were ignorant and prejudiced enough to call people names,” Kim said, not bothering to lower her voice.
“Humanity has a long way to go to find enlightenment as a whole,” Casmir said.
Asger put an arm around Qin’s shoulders as they walked toward Casmir and Kim.
“Sorry,” Qin said quietly. “I didn’t mean to growl. I wouldn’t have shredded them to pieces.”
“Were you thinking about it?” Asger asked.
“Maybe a little, but I know we’re not… anything.”
“Nothing? Do I need to get you another calendar?”
Casmir looked away, feeling he was intruding on a private conversation.
The two daughters huffed, apparently realizing Asger wasn’t coming back to them, and walked out.
“It’s a good thing they weren’t the Shaybans I had to talk into helping me,” Casmir said.
“You do better with chubby white-haired men than hot women?” Bonita asked him.
“Do you really need to ask that?” Casmir raised his eyebrows.
“I guess not.”
Casmir drew the group back into a corner where they could talk quietly. He thought about switching to chip-to-chip communications, but he doubted Stardust Palace security would care about their Kingdom politics even if they overheard them on some monitoring camera. They might care if the Kingdom politics made a mess on their station, but Casmir hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
“Bonita,” he said, “I don’t know how much you’ve caught of our various schemes, but I thank you for warning Kim and me that Bjarke is coming.”
This time, Asger’s jaw tightened. Casmir was sad that the mere mention of his father angered him.
“Do you want me to fly you out of the station before he arrives?” Bonita asked Kim. “I don’t think we have much time, but I just got a job offer, so I’m open to leaving soon.”
“Was it from Scholar Natasha Sunflyer?” Kim looked at Asger as she spoke.
“Yes,” Bonita said. “I was going to ask if you know her.”
Asger cleared his throat. “We may have mentioned that you’re a bounty hunter and might take her assignment.”
“You mentioned that,” Kim said. “After touching her mushrooms.”
“That sounds kinky,” Bonita said.
Asger lifted his hands, either embarrassed or apologetic.
“It’s fine. You’re not supposed to feel bad about referring people to me.” Bonita extended a hand. “If I’d known you would be willing, I would have given you a stack of business cards.”
“What she’s asking could get you killed,” Asger said.
Bonita looked at him as if he were slow. “As opposed to all the assignments I’ve taken hunting down murderers, rapists, and deadbeats who don’t make payments on their spaceships?”
Asger gazed at her, as if he hadn’t previously considered that her profession was deadly.
“Which category is most dangerous?” Casmir asked curiously.
“The deadbeats are least predictable.”
“How do knights who go undercover as pirates fare?” Casmir asked.
“He went from unpredictable to insufferably predictable when he revealed himself.” Bonita squinted at him. “Why do you ask?”
“I was hoping you’d be willing to meet him when his shuttle arrives and help him find Kim.”
Bonita’s squint narrowed. “Help him find Kim or help him not find Kim?”
“Which would you and your honor find least unappealing?” Casmir asked.
“What honor? I just reminded everyone that I’m a bounty hunter. I do what it takes to pay the bills.”
“If that were true, you and Qin wouldn’t have refused Rache’s money and come back for me on that refinery.” Casmir smiled to let them know he still appreciated that. He was fairly sure Bonita hadn’t even liked him at that point. Casmir wasn’t positive that had changed, but he believed Viggo would come for him now if he got himself in trouble, and Bonita might have to ride along.
Qin beamed at the acknowledgment.
Bonita wrinkled her nose as if her nostril itched. “I wouldn’t want him—and through him, your prince—to get Kim, but I’m not tickled at the thought of manipulating and lying to him either.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” Asger smiled sourly.
“I suppose that’s an option too,” Casmir said, “but I’d hate for my plan to result in further estrangement between you and your father.”
Asger grunted. “What plan do you have? Hiding Kim away somewhere while Bonita leads my father around by the nose?”
“His nose isn’t what I would use for a handle,” Bonita murmured.
Asger’s brow wrinkled. “I really hope I misinterpreted that.”
Bonita’s grin was a t
ouch wicked.
“Kim and I will actually be leaving the station,” Casmir said. “We just need someone to buy us time so Bjarke doesn’t find us first.”
“Leaving the station?” Asger stared at him. “You haven’t built all your crushers. Where will you go?”
Before Casmir could answer, Zee decided to join the conversation.
“Casmir Dabrowski will fulfill his promise to Sultan Shayban by taking the crushers to infiltrate Dubashi’s base and capture him. I will have many days of travel during which I can assess which of these new crushers will be a suitable mate.”
“Infiltrate his base?” Asger demanded as Casmir tried to hide his face behind his hand.
“That was a secret, Zee,” Casmir muttered.
“You did not state that. I am excited to possibly find a suitable mate. I wished to share my plans.”
Kim shook her head and mouthed, “Bug.”
Casmir didn’t agree, but he made a note to start explicitly telling Zee when something was a secret.
Asger gripped his shoulder. “You weren’t going to tell me? You were just going to leave me here alone with my angry father?”
“How can he be angry? I’m doing what I had to promise to do in order to, as Zee said, fulfill my promise to the sultan. He wants Dubashi. I’m going to get him. That’s what he wanted in exchange for all this.” Casmir waved to include the crushers, the materials, and the manufacturing equipment. “For the crushers Jorg ordered me to make.”
Asger released him. “I get that. But why didn’t you ask me to come? You can’t go alone.”
“I’ll be with Kim and Zee and all the crushers.” No need to mention Rache’s role as taxi.
Asger scowled. “I’m coming.”
“That’s a bad idea,” Kim said and mouthed, “Rache,” to Casmir.
“I know,” he mouthed back.
“You’re going to need real help if you’re trying to get to Dubashi,” Asger said.
“I am real help.” Zee lifted his chin. “I am programmed to protect Kim Sato and Casmir Dabrowski.”
Asger ignored him. “Do you have any idea how heavily guarded his base will be?”
“No,” Casmir said, “but I’m hoping to find the blueprints on the way. And that they will reveal a big glowing self-destruct button. Does that ever happen outside of comic books?”
“No,” everyone said together.
“Darn.”
“Are any more crushers going to be ready before we have to go?” Kim asked.
“I don’t think so, but I’m automating the process so the run will self-complete.” Casmir hoped he had time for that. “Then I’ll have to come back and pick them up after… our valiant and successful kidnapping of Prince Dubashi, which will result in the eradication of the threat to the Kingdom.”
“Feeling optimistic today?” Kim asked.
“Why wouldn’t I be? I haven’t thrown up, had a seizure, or even sneezed at those potted date-palm trees over there, which is a marvel since they’re dusting the floor with their odious yellow pollen. You say I also have that potion to thank for my snot-free nose?”
“Ew,” Bonita said.
Kim nodded. “It likely had a regulatory effect on your immune system in general. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts and unnecessarily produces antibodies to what it perceives as foreign invaders.”
“Any chance it’s permanent?” Casmir asked.
“Probably not. You better start saving up your money for another dose. As soon as someone starts paying you again.”
Casmir thought of Sultan Shayban’s offer of employment. If he truly paid four times more than Casmir made back at the university, he might be able to afford boosters such as Rache apparently paid for from his petty cash stash.
“Casmir,” Asger said sturdily, his continuing scowl making it clear he didn’t appreciate the change in topic. “I’m going with you.”
“Don’t you have orders to go back to Prince Jorg’s fleet with your father?” Casmir asked.
Asger’s scowl turned mulish.
“We don’t have much time.” Bonita waved at her chip. “Viggo just informed me that Bjarke’s shuttle is approaching the outer asteroid.”
And where was Rache’s ship? Casmir looked at Kim, but she only shrugged.
“Thank you, Laser,” Casmir said. “If you’re willing, I need one of you two to go down to the bay and lead him up to the mushroom lab where Kim was last seen working. Because it’s obvious that she’ll want to go back there as soon as this meeting breaks up. Right, Kim?” Casmir raised his eyebrows.
“Where else would I go?” Kim replied in an unconvincing deadpan voice.
She was an even worse liar than he was.
But Casmir took it in stride, smiling at them.
“Where will she really go?” Asger asked.
“Better that you don’t know.”
“I’m going with you, Casmir.”
Casmir shook his head. As much as he would like Asger’s help in this endeavor, it would be better for his career if he stayed here and joined his father. It would be better for his life if he avoided Rache.
“You going to do the lying?” Bonita asked Asger.
“I could punch him in the nose, knock him out, and leave him tied up in a closet,” Asger said.
“Do you think you could?” Qin asked curiously. “He’s had the same training you’ve had, hasn’t he?”
“He’s old,” Asger said shortly, as if an outcome in his favor were a foregone conclusion.
“And has those extra toes he has to balance on,” Bonita said.
Asger stared at her. “What?”
“Never mind.”
“Just buy us a couple of hours. And then we’ll be gone.” Casmir hoped he was right.
“I can’t believe you want to leave me here,” Asger said. “And won’t tell me how you’re getting to that base.”
“The less you know the better.”
“Are you trying to get me in trouble again?”
“You just volunteered to punch your father and superior knight. I don’t think I’m the one getting you into all this trouble.”
“That may be true,” Asger admitted in sad acknowledgment.
Casmir patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll find a way to help and show them how worthwhile you are. Starting now. But might I suggest simply luring your father out of the ship bay rather than punching him? Show him the nice mushrooms you were poking earlier.”
Asger snorted, but he waved at Bonita and Qin to follow him out.
“If you do decide to punch him and knock him out,” Qin said as they headed away, “I can hold his arms behind his back for you.”
“You’d do that?” Asger asked.
“To help you, yes.”
“I’m pretending I’m not hearing any of this,” Bonita grumbled, walking away with them.
“You’re a good woman, Qin.” Asger draped an arm around her shoulders. This time, Shayban’s daughters weren’t there to witness it and make snide comments.
“I didn’t tell Rache he’d also be kidnapping you and however many of these crushers you’re bringing,” Kim said when she and Casmir were alone.
“All of them. We’ll be a delightful surprise.”
“You use that word frequently. I don’t think it means what you think it means.”
“My vocabulary is sublime. You cannot question it. I know at least fifty words appropriate for describing comic book villains. Are you all packed? Rache could be right behind Bjarke. We better head down to the shuttle bay so we can meet him there while Bjarke is being led around the station.”
“I’m ready. Are you?” Kim eyed the crushers.
“Yes. They travel light. I just have to let the sultan know that operations will continue without me for a few weeks. I wouldn’t have minded having more crushers to take along, but this timing might actually work better to make him more comfortable about this. He’ll believe I intend to get the prince and return if I�
�m leaving the majority of the force behind to come back for later.”
“Yes, his comfort is what’s most important here.”
“He’s the one who lent me this space and millions of crowns—dollars—in raw materials.”
Casmir waved for the crushers to queue up behind him, not surprised when Zee pushed one aside to take the place right behind him.
Kim shook her head slowly and with obvious concern. Casmir reassured himself that this would work and that it would help his people back at home.
They just had to get past Bjarke and off the station first.
18
The Stellar Dragon was fully supplied and ready to take off. Bonita had officially accepted Scholar Natasha Sunflyer’s assignment, and the woman had even paid her a deposit up front. That wasn’t common in the business. Bonita was determined that she would find Natasha’s father—or at least learn without a question of a doubt what had happened to him.
Since Asger had volunteered to steer Bjarke away from Kim, there was no reason for Bonita to linger on the station, but she found herself tidying up and making excuses to check on things in the ship. A part of her wanted to leave and avoid seeing him, but a slightly larger part of her wanted to see him, even if he’d turned into an uptight knight obsessed with his mission. She still liked his flirting.
Besides, Qin didn’t appear to be in a hurry to leave. Rather, she had positioned herself to watch Bjarke’s arrival. She was cleaning her Brockinger at the base of the Dragon’s cargo ramp while Asger paced back and forth in front of her. They weren’t speaking, but Bonita sensed that Qin was there to lend moral support.
Bjarke’s shuttle docked at one of the airlocks rather than asking for permission to fly into the bay, which would have forced the station to clear it while it was depressurized. After a few minutes, Asger halted his pacing, going even more rigid than his combat armor. Bonita didn’t have to follow his gaze to know that Bjarke had walked off his shuttle.
Qin was also looking in that direction. She’d probably caught his scent before Asger had caught sight of him.
Bjarke gazed at Asger, took in Qin and Bonita—she was standing in the hatchway, leaning against the jamb as Viggo’s vacuums went over the recently loaded supply crates—and then looked toward the other ships in the bay, as well as the visible exits.
Planet Killer (Star Kingdom Book 6) Page 24
