Deuces Wild Boxed Set: Books 1-4: Beyond the Frontiers, Rampage, Labyrinth, Birthright

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  Nickie nodded. “I know, right? I couldn’t believe it either. I’m sure Meredith had something to do with it, but she's not her usual chatty self today. I suppose there’s a first time for everything.”

  Grim dismissed her grumbling. “Are you going to tell me what the message said?”

  Nickie laughed. “That’s the best bit! The sender is some royal asshole who wants me to rescue their son. Apparently Prince Precious has gotten himself lost on some idiotic fucking quest and they want me to find him and bring him home.”

  Grim was silent for a moment. “Shouldn’t we look into it?”

  Nickie snorted. “Nope. Why would you even suggest it? Let the Federation deal with their own shit. It’s not my problem.”

  Grim’s concern was evident. “But if the kid is in trouble… And I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but if his family is contacting you to ask for help, they must be pretty short on hope.”

  Nickie glared across the table at Grim. “How else am I supposed to take it?”

  Grim met her stare with a searching look. “Take it that no one else can help, Nickie. I know it isn’t a ship full of the Skaines you want, or in fact any Skaine, but there is a life in danger. A life that might be in your power to save.”

  Nickie looked away. “You can save your guilt trip. If I wanted to deal with that shit, I could have stayed home.” She pushed her tray away and stood up abruptly. “You know what, I’ve got better things to do than listen to this.” She stalked out of the mess hall and headed to the dome, where the efforts to create a sustainable agricultural biome to offset the inhospitable climate of the colony were coming to a head.

  Meredith broke her silence at last. You know that Grim is right.

  If that’s all you’re going to say, then you can just go back to ignoring me until I need you to operate the equipment.

  Nickie—

  Same as I told Grim, save it. We have work to do, work for people who haven’t gotten themselves into a shitty situation because they got lost on fucking vacation. She all but stormed over to the site near the dome.

  Adelaide waved Nickie over when she saw her approaching. “You’re here!” She took a tablet out of her pocket and came to meet Nickie halfway. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it today after all.”

  Nickie bit back her snarky reply. It wasn’t Adelaide’s fault she was in a pissy mood, and she didn’t want to make the younger woman cry. “I’m here, and ready to go. What do you need me to do?”

  Adelaide looked at her. “The heavy equipment is in that storage shed over there, and the excavator is right at the back. Have you operated this kind of machinery before?” Nickie murmured noncommittally, and Adelaide took that as an affirmative. “Just do your best and Meredith can work the rest out, right?”

  Nickie shrugged. “Probably. Where do you need me to dig?”

  Adelaide pointed to a marked quadrant in the larger rubble-strewn area. “That’s all got to be cleared, then we can begin to gauge the extent of the damage to the pipes beneath and choose our next steps.”

  Nickie nodded. “Fair enough.” She made her way to the shed, which she would have described as more of a warehouse, and wandered through the bays until she found the excavator she was looking for.

  She climbed into the cab and jiggled the controls. “Meredith, switch this thing on. Time to get to work.”

  Chapter 5

  Nickie

  The morning crawled by. Nickie got to grips with the excavator fairly easily and had cleared the rubble by the time Grim, Melissa, and Keen arrived with lunch sent from the meal hall. She didn’t talk to Grim, but then he managed to communicate just fine with a series of increasingly worried glances until she snapped and took her food back to the Granddaughter.

  She found herself making the turn to her training room, the empty cargo hold she’d claimed. She made the repairs to her punching bag between hurried mouthfuls of food, then re-hung the bag from the girder. When she was done, she stripped down to her tank top and shorts and wrapped her hands.

  “Why do I even bother with this?” she muttered as she tore the roll loose from her knuckles and tossed it to the side. “It’s not like they won’t heal.”

  Why do you do it, then? Meredith piped up.

  Nickie took a stance and began her warm-up, moving slowly and striking precisely. I don’t know. She stepped up her pace a little. It’s just how I was taught, I guess. That’s why it’s called training. She pummeled the bag in silence for a while, losing herself in thought while her body worked through the sets she knew with every fiber of muscle. Grim and Meredith were right. She couldn’t ignore a request for help, no matter what the source.

  And she couldn’t ignore the source, no matter how urgent the request.

  Even if it was the most ridiculous fucking situation she’d ever heard of.

  Mere?

  Yes, Nickie?

  I don’t know what to do about the lost prince, and I don’t like it.

  How so?

  It’s just so fucking complicated! And I hate complicated. Nickie gathered her thoughts while she moved through a tricky combo. I want to go rescue the dumbass, I really do. Even dumbasses deserve to live. But…the Federation is involved, which of course means my family will have their noses in there somewhere. Why now? Why reject me all this time and then, out of the blue, reveal that they know where I am?

  It is almost time for you to return, Nickie. Two years will pass before you know it, and then you can go home again. Don’t you want that?

  Nickie wiped the sweat out of her eyes and went at the bag even faster. Her hands were a blur, and her tank top stuck to her as the sweat ran freely down her back. What if I don’t want to go back? What if I’ve built a new life out here by then? This could be my home, Meredith. It’s not so bad, and at least if I decide to care about someone out here, there’s nobody who can send them away from me. Why should I go back just so they can take it all away again?

  Do you still feel that way?

  Nickie grabbed her towel and wiped her face. How can I feel anything else? I hate him, and I hate the Federation. If it weren’t for them, my Aunt Tabitha would be here with me now. I know it.

  Meredith was silent for a moment. I cannot agree. I know your family loves you, and that they want what’s best for you. Even if it doesn’t seem that way right now.

  Families don’t abandon members just because they don’t like their attitude, and I don’t fucking care if you agree. It still doesn’t solve my dilemma.

  Only you can make that choice, Nickie.

  So helpful, Meredith.

  Rebus Quadrant, Themis Colony, Agricultural Dome

  Grim walked along the half-planted rows looking for Durq. The little Skaine had not appeared at lunchtime, and Grim had not been able to locate him at their living quarters. He hadn’t been aboard the ship when Grim checked there either.

  He had heard Nickie grunting and growling. She hadn’t noticed him when he’d popped his head into the cargo hold she’d commandeered. Clearly, she had been too wrapped up in taking her frustration out on the punching bag.

  Grim spotted Durq kneeling between two trellises with his hands buried in the earth and made his way over. “Hey, Durq.”

  Durq jumped clear off the ground at the sudden sound. “Oh, it’s just you, Grim. You scared me.”

  “Sorry, my mind is on Nickie.”

  Durq stood and took off his work gloves. “Is she okay? I’ve stayed out of her way since she got that message. I know she won’t hurt me, but she’s terrifying when she’s emotional.”

  Grim shrugged. “She’s…working through things, I think. All we can do is be there for her while she’s vulnerable.”

  Durq’s eyes widened. “Don’t let her hear you call her vulnerable. I don’t think you’d survive her efforts to prove otherwise.” His stomach growled loudly, and he looked hopefully at the container Grim held.

  Grim gave it to Durq. “Here, I brought you something to eat. Y
ou missed the meal.”

  Durq accepted gratefully. “Thanks. So do all Yollins do that human shrugging thing now?”

  Grim chuckled. “Probably? It’s the most useful gesture. How’s the planting coming?”

  Durq bobbed excitedly. “Really well. As soon as the water restrictions are lifted food production is going to go through the roof.” He looked at the overhead sprinklers. “Especially now that construction on the other biomes is nearing completion.”

  Just then the power cut out and the emergency lighting came on. Grim looked at Durq, expecting the little Skaine to need reassurance.

  “It’s the third time the power has gone out in as many days. I’m not scared.” Durq lifted a shoulder. “Oh, it is useful. Would you look at that.”

  Grim snickered at the surprised look on Durq’s features. “Humans—they surprise you every time.”

  Adelaide swept into the dome like a tiny hurricane holding a toolbox. “Hey, Grim! I hoped that was you I heard. Come with me. I need your back.”

  Grim and Durq exchanged puzzled glances.

  Adelaide waved impatiently. “Come on!” She turned on her heel and marched out.

  Grim shrugged at Durq and turned to follow her.

  “When you said you needed my back, I didn’t think you meant like this.” Grim squirmed uncomfortably as Adelaide’s heel dug into his shoulder. He braced his back against the wall and did his best to keep still.

  Her voice echoed slightly in the wall cavity. “Well, I couldn’t reach, and I didn’t have time to go and find a ladder.” She dropped her wrench into his outstretched hand. “These systems don’t fix themselves, you know. Pass me the soldering kit.”

  Grim did as he was told, and after a few more minutes of Adelaide dancing a jig on his shoulders, she passed her tools to him and climbed down from the access panel.

  “All done,” she told him brightly.

  Grim massaged his shoulders. “You’ve really come to grips with all this. It hasn’t been easy, but you and the others have pulled off a miracle in the last few weeks.”

  Adelaide blushed. “I don’t know about that. I always liked fixing things, and there’s no shortage of those around here. Besides, it’s a lot easier now we’re not so focused on outside threats. You and Nickie have made such a difference here.” She smiled at Grim and gathered her toolkit. “Come on, there are three more of these, and you make better conversation than any ladder I ever stood on.”

  Grim chuckled and trailed behind Adelaide from one junction box to another around the colony. All in all, Grim had a pleasant time of it, being used to reach the high places notwithstanding. Adelaide was as sharp as a box of knives and twice as witty, which made for fun all around.

  The end of the workday was approaching, but Adelaide showed no sign of stopping. Grim stood off to the side, shining a flashlight for her to work by. Raynard wandered into the storage area they were working in and stood watching in silence with his arms folded.

  Grim spotted Raynard and waved him over. Adelaide was bent at the waist inside the junction box and was mostly oblivious to her surroundings. Her foot lifted as she reached farther inside, and a shower of sparks arced out on either side of her.

  “What’s she doing?” Raynard asked Grim.

  “Hell if I know,” Grim replied. “Something to get the power back on.” He held the flashlight out to Raynard. “Can you take over? I need to get to the mess hall. Dinner won’t cook itself.”

  Raynard nodded. “Sure.”

  Adelaide popped her head out. She smiled sweetly at Raynard and tilted her head at Grim. “Are you going, Grim? Save us some dinner, yeah? We might be a while.”

  Raynard visibly deflated.

  Grim chuckled. “I’ll have something sent over for you both if you’re not back by the end of the first sitting.” He waved and left.

  Raynard peered into the junction box and wrinkled his nose. “How long do you think this is going to take?”

  Adelaide shrugged and bent back over to continue working. “Perhaps a couple hours. Maybe a little more. Why?”

  Raynard’s eyes were distant. “I have some council business to attend to this evening.”

  Adelaide looked up. “But we had plans. Did you forget?”

  Raynard shook his head. “I didn’t, but this has to come first. Maybe we can catch up after that?”

  Adelaide held out her hand for the flashlight. “Then go, see to your business. I’ll see you later if there’s time.”

  He kissed her cheek distractedly and left. Adelaide watched him go, wondering if she shouldn’t feel a bit more put out by Raynard’s apparent coolness toward her. She was a little disappointed, but that was all.

  Rebus Quadrant, Themis Colony, Control Room

  Keen twitched at the squeaking sound his chair made when he rolled from one side of the room to the other to switch his attention from the colony security feeds to the data coming in from the long-range sensors. The noise cut the silence like nails down a chalkboard, momentarily shattering Keen’s peace and quiet.

  The sensor data showed nothing out of the ordinary. He should enjoy the time freed up by Raynard’s recent push to be someone the colony could rely on to get things done. Some would have felt slighted, but not Keen.

  He was grateful the younger man had the energy, the kind of energy Keen had felt wane in himself over the last weeks. He’d begun to see things differently since the Skaines attacked the colony. His drive to keep everyone alive and get them free had gotten him through the hardest times, but losing people he knew and cared about, people he was responsible for… It had altered him irrevocably.

  Satisfied with the readouts, he scooted back to the center and picked up his tablet. He cursed softly when he saw the clock and realized that the mess hall would be closed now. He rummaged around in the desk in the vain hope of discovering a stray protein bar but was out of luck. He grabbed his tablet instead and opened the e-reader to where he’d left off in his book.

  More than a few asked why he stuck by his e-reader when immersive holo-entertainments were easily accessible. Although there were certain…upsides to having the scenes played directly into his mind, Keen preferred to use his imagination and make his own interpretation of the world he was stepping into.

  There was no escape for him tonight, though. He read without reading, the words just sliding off his brain. His thoughts were too loud for him to enjoy the adventures of the feisty heroine he usually enjoyed so much. It seemed flat, almost contrived. He closed the screen and put the tablet down. He just couldn’t lose himself in the story tonight.

  There was a soft knock at the door, and Adelaide came in with a covered tray. “Hey, Grim said you missed dinner, so I brought you some leftovers.”

  Keen smiled. Adelaide was becoming like a daughter to him; she certainly played the part. “Thank you, Addie.” He took note of her slightly strained expression. “What’s up?”

  Adelaide sighed. “It’s nothing much, just… I don’t even know how to begin to explain.”

  Keen furrowed his bushy eyebrows. “A little bit of everything? You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

  Adelaide laughed. “Pots and kettles. You’ve been hiding in here an awful lot recently.”

  Keen chuckled. “I’ll have you know I’ve been taking it easy.” He waved his tablet at her for emphasis. “Raynard has done a great job of stepping up, and it’s left me time for other things. I thought I’d spend it making a difference, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot an old man like me can offer.”

  Adelaide slapped his shoulder lightly. “Don’t you dare say that! You make a hell of a difference, Keen. You held this place together during the worst time we’ve ever been through. We wouldn’t even be alive if it wasn’t for you. Give yourself a little credit, and admit that you’re having trouble adjusting now that we’re not fighting just to stay alive.” She folded her arms and tapped her foot.

  Keen sat back and considered Adelaide’s a
ssessment. “Maybe,” he admitted eventually. “Maybe I miss the urgency, if not the danger to everyone’s lives. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we can rebuild and move on. But…I don’t know. I’m missing something.” He shrugged. “It’s starting to feel small here, I guess.”

  Adelaide clapped and pointed at Keen. “Yes! Exactly that. The colony is running almost without issues, and every day there’s less for me to do. That’s why I was able to get the water issue solved so quickly.”

  Keen looked up from his food. “Oh, yeah? It’s complete?”

  Adelaide nodded. “We finished late this afternoon. Nickie and Meredith saved us a bunch of time.”

  “So what’s next?”

  Adelaide shrugged. “I don’t know. The defenses are built, and the agricultural biomes are pretty much complete. Now that the water is running, I haven’t got anything major to test myself against. I want to keep pushing myself, but I can’t see how to do that. It’s hard to admit, but I think we both have itchy feet.”

  Keen grinned. “Something like that. I can’t deny a desire to get out there again. Open space has a siren song all her own, Addie, and she’s singing louder to me with each passing day.”

  Adelaide’s eyes shone. “There’s adventure out there. It’s just waiting to be discovered. I can’t deny that I want to chase it, too. We nearly died! I had no hope, Keen. None at all. Then Nickie came along and saved us.”

  Keen sighed. “That kind of event changes your perspective on things and makes you want to use the time you might not have had to its full potential.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it a lot since then,” she confessed. “You want to make a difference? Well, so do I. I have more to give than this. I want a change.”

  Keen hadn’t expected such an outburst from the normally collected young woman. “How has Raynard taken this? Have you two talked about it?”

  Adelaide shook her head. “No, he’s buried in his work, and honestly, we’re not really talking much about anything at the moment. I can’t see him being too happy, though. He’s so focused on the day-to-day of the colony that there isn’t time for us now, or at least it seems that way.”