The Colossus Collection : A Space Opera Adventure (Books 1-7 + Bonus Material)

by Nicole Grotepas

  “You alright, Drake?” Darius’s voice came in on hers as she headed to the dining room exit. “This is a private channel. I switched you to it with my control panel back here in the Bird’s Next.”

  Holly glanced over her shoulder as she exited to see if any of them followed her. They all remained in an animated conversation, perhaps discussing the roots of “hit the hay.” “Thanks Darius. I’m good. But you know me—I hate these trips between moons.”

  “But that’s all it is?” Darius asked.

  “It is. How’s the club? Holding it down? Have you found out anything about what it is specifically that Xadrian is having us go after?”

  “Nah, my contacts have nothing to offer. I still have a few feelers out, but I’m not expecting to get word back before you arrive and discover it on your own.”

  “I was afraid of that,” Holly said, heading through the passageway, her footfalls muffled over the red velvet rug. “Keep in touch, Darius. And if you don’t mind, could you help keep Charly’s spirits up? She’s getting sick of not being able to come along on these gigs. I’m almost to my room and I plan to have a nap.”

  “Sure thing, Drake. I’ll be in touch if I hear anything.”

  The brass handles of the doors into the individual berths reflected the overhead lighting. The warped image of herself flashed across them as well, as she traipsed down the passageway. Once on a zeppelin trip, Holly’s room had been broken into. These days she was still careful because of that. As she came to her, room, she inserted her key, then opened the door and waited, out of the pathway of someone if they were in the room and charged at her. Nothing happened.

  Holly glanced up and down the narrow passageway. It seemed to go on forever. Far away, someone began heading toward her. Holly paused, observing them to get a read on their intent. Were they coming for her? As they got closer, she determined that that it was a woman, was likely her mother’s age, and therefore an unlikely threat.

  Holly peeked around the doorway into her cabin. The narrow door was heavy and swung a little on its hinges, creaking slightly. Her room was empty. She’d left the lights on so that she wasn’t returning to a dark room. She got inside and checked the bathroom as well, feeling her concealed knives up her sleeves. Likewise the handle of her aether whip was stowed beneath her jacket in her waistband. But caution was important. She wouldn’t be able to fend off an attacker if she wasn’t careful.

  Holly shut the door to her cabin and sighed. She removed her jacket and closed the curtain over the window. She’d had enough of staring into the black of space. It was beautiful, but she kept seeing the flashing alarm lights of the Olavia Apollo, when the behemoth had them.

  Odeon hadn’t argued with her on this journey about singing to her, to calm her. He hadn’t even mentioned it. Perhaps he sensed that she was through with that. Perhaps these days he saw her as a lost cause—she was never going to get better and get past needing help with space flight.

  She chuckled. Give me a break, Holly Drake. How long will you continue this pity party?

  Sometimes her self was too honest with her.

  But it was true. She needed to get over herself. She laid down on top of her bed and closed her eyes. The guys had been having a good time when she left them. That was good. Maybe Shiro was finally warming up to Iain. Maybe they’d get past whatever issues they had.

  As she laid on the bed and closed her eyes, she considered what would happen once they got to the warehouse. Her team worked well together and they were all experienced fighters, but every time they faced a battle, she worried that something terrible would happen to one of them, and there’d be nothing she could do. She would be forced to watch one of her crew be wounded, and possibly be incapable of helping them or stopping them from dying. Iain was an asset because of his experience with field medicine. She needed to remember to use that to her advantage. They could do with getting him a kit that was always ready to help. Maybe a backpack? She set a mental goal to do that at the very least before their next job which he joined them on.

  A knock at her door pulled Holly out of the floating sensation of lucid dreaming, and she jumped in her bed, nearly falling out.

  Her heart pounded in her ears.

  The knock came again.

  “Holly? It’s me. You awake?”

  She jumped out of her bed, unlocked the cabin door, and threw her arms around Iain Grant. He fell into her, wrapping his fingers around her biceps and she pulled him into her room. She locked the door behind him and kissed him. His hands encircled her waist.

  “Wait, what’s this?” he asked. He pulled the handle of her aether whip out of her waistband, interrupting their kiss to inspect it. “The lady travels with a weapon. Very smart.” He dropped it to the plush rug covering the floor of her cabin.

  She laughed kissing him on the neck, feeling certain that if she lost herself in his arms, the zeppelin ride wouldn’t be so difficult.

  19

  The jobs that Holly had never expected back as a little girl when she imagined doing something amazing were the drab reconnaissance missions—waiting outside a target location to gather intel before moving in to save the day.

  “You got into the house alright, Drake?” Darius asked over the comms. “I made sure it was posh as hell. There’s a pool overlooking the bay, right?”

  “That there is, Darius, lad. If only someone had told me, I would have come prepared. As it is, I can’t very well go for a dip in my trousers.”

  “Why not? Or just go naked. What’s wrong with that?” Darius asked.

  “The lads and lasses aren’t used to seeing the quality of goods I carry. It would embarrass them.”

  “You mean you’d be embarrassed?” Darius teased.

  “Lasses? There’s only one lass, Shiro, and she thanks you for your discretion.” Holly laughed, putting a pair of brass and steel binoculars up to her eyes and scanning the view out to the warehouse. “Thanks for booking the joint, Darius and especially for not putting us in a dive with rats for companions. You got us a perfect location. We can see everything of a side entrance and the main entrance to the warehouse from here. Except for the massive fronds on a palm, that is. I think this will do very well.”

  “Sounds like hell, guys,” Charly broke in. “Darius, on the next job, when I’m not with them, please do put them in a run down trash heap. I can’t stand the anxiety of missing out on the fun.”

  “Hey Charly,” Holly said, smiling. She was in an amazing mood, despite the tension about scoping the warehouse and knowing they were probably going to have to go in. The ride in the space elevator hadn’t been particularly fun with Shiro sulking over having caught Iain and Holly leaving her cabin together when they docked at the space platform. But eventually his sour, irate looks tapered off and he’d recovered enough to discuss the work they were doing. That brought the day current to the moment and his joke about how well-endowed he was.

  At least he was no longer scowling at Holly and Iain. Odeon had noticed the tension on the space elevator. After that he’d carefully studied and considered Iain with his thoughtful, rainbow-hued eyes, focusing on the former marine commander, as though he’d put Shiro’s bad mood and Holly’s good mood together and interpreted it accurately.

  “Maybe we should start taking turns?” Holly proposed. “One of us stays behind to be your host, and you get to go on the fun gig. Although I have to say, this shit isn’t that fun. It’s dangerous as hell and we never know what kind of life or death situations we’ll find ourselves in. I’m not loving the looks of this random warehouse. Darius, any indication of the kind of business the people who own this warehouse are in?”

  “Looks like a shell corporation. Their name is Far Fringes Shipping Group.”

  “Registered to?” Holly asked.

  “Wilma Sunsong. Sounds like a fake name.”

  “My thoughts exactly, chap.”

  “Can’t even track it down to a real person. But I’ll keep trying. It’s late here, so, I’m go
ing to sleep, but I’ll stick around in the nest, sleeping on the couch. Charly’s totally cool with that, so I’m around if you guys need me or bump into an emergency.”

  “I’m not cool with that, Darius. You didn’t give me a choice.”

  “You know it’s for the best, Charly.” Darius shot back.

  “I’m out too. Middle of the night here and Torden and I have to tear down and clean up from today’s soiree early in the morning,” Charly said. Holly caught the sound of someone in the background saying something. “Torden wants me to tell you that the premier of the opposition party was at today’s party. He’s honored that such a noble—you said noble—I’m not either putting words in your mouth. Anyway, never mind. The point is, I need to sleep. Goodnight. Don’t get yourselves killed. I’ll never get over it if you do.”

  “Night Charly. Thanks for keeping the lights on through your hard work,” Holly said. The rest of the crew muttered their thanks and goodnights.

  The crew was silent for a while. Holly kept watching the warehouse through the binoculars. She heard the sounds of Iain and Shiro setting up some of the gear.

  “Iain,” Holly said, still watching the warehouse.

  “Yes?”

  “You know field medicine.”

  “That’s right.”

  “What would you think about getting a kit and keeping it with you for situations like this?”

  He was silent for a moment. She didn’t stop watching the building, though her eyes were starting to smart from having the eyepiece pushed against her bones. What could possibly make him hesitate about this? She began to wonder if she’d really asked him to do something horrible. She wrestled with the thought of taking it back and apologizing. But she held fast to what she’d asked him, unwilling to tell herself no for someone else. That was his job. He didn’t have to do things for her unless he wanted to. Besides, like the rest of the crew, she paid him for his time in coming on the jobs.

  “Alright. That might be smart, Holly,” he said.

  Holly took the binoculars away from her eyes and looked at him. “Someone else take a turn watching. We’re all on board with watching it for a day, then moving in on it tomorrow?” That had been something they’d quietly discussed on the space elevator down to Itzcap’s surface. But she wanted to have the crew recommit to that.

  “I’ll watch now,” Shiro said, moving to stand beside Holly and take the binoculars from her. “We should have brought a camera.”

  “Traveling light,” Holly said. “But I agree the binoculars take a toll. Odeon can you go next? Or is that when you want to go see your parents?”

  “No, Holly, I have no wish to see my parents this trip. I’ll go on the next watch.”

  Holly nodded, respecting his choice to avoid his parents. Honestly, she hadn’t liked them much when she’d met them. They were a strange mix of elitism and lust for adulation from the very people they believed they were better than.

  “When I’m done with my turn on watch, I definitely think I will go out to the pool. I need some sun. Winter back home hasn’t given me enough sunshine, and it drags my spirits down.”

  “What will you wear to do that?” Iain asked, his eye filling with mirth.

  “I packed spare underclothes. That should do the trick. Care to join me, Grant?”

  Holly couldn’t see Shiro’s expression very well behind the binoculars, but the tone of his voice equal parts sweet and sour.

  Odeon came to sit on the sofa near the windows of the balcony. He’d been arranging their baggage along the wall and assigning rooms. “Holly Drake, would you like me to put Iain’s baggage in the room I’ve assigned you?”

  She bristled at the question, then realized that he didn’t sound accusatory. Still, her face suddenly felt like it was on fire. “That’s not necessary. Iain can sleep in his own room.”

  He studied her. Holly felt certain that Iain and Shiro had both become still as they listened to her conversation. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed for having a relationship with Iain, it was the tension in the group over her pairing off with someone. Would it impact how they behaved and had each other’s backs? Would one of them decide Iain wasn’t worth waiting for in a situation where they had to run just because Holly had chosen him? The permutations were many, and she didn’t want to endanger that.

  I should have thought of that before I let it all happen.

  Whatever. She was only human. And she sure as hell wasn’t about to isolate herself eternally over her role as a leader. She needed a companion when she wanted one, and she wasn’t going to die on that hill, alone and sad. Fuck that.

  Odeon dipped his chin and held his Ousaba close to his chest with one hand, like he was cradling something. He always seemed slightly less when they came to Itzcap, like he was shrinking in size to hide from the omniscient gaze of his parents.

  Maybe he needed to go see his grandmother.

  “I also wonder if you’ve noticed that this warehouse is near your father’s former home,” Odeon asked.

  She’d been avoiding it, not knowing what it could mean. “Yes, I had noted that.”

  “It could mean something.”

  She squinted, fighting back the emotions over what it could possibly mean for her. Was George back?

  * * *

  One of them watched through the windows of the rental house at all times, even into the late hours of the day. Odeon left at one point to go see his grandmother. He came back in better spirits than when he’d left. Shiro got his time by the pool, sunning on a towel as the afternoon sun baked him and when he returned to the top floor where their surveillance had been taking place, Iain was at the binoculars and Holly had been keeping him company. Shiro cheeks had a bronze glow and he seemed quietly pleased with himself.

  Iain eventually went to a nearby market and returned with what he said would function as a field medicine kit, though he mentioned that it was hardly what he would want to use every time. It would work this time. But for any further jobs in which he was included, he’d want something a bit more serious.

  Night came, and Odeon left to find them dinner. He returned with takeout from a local restaurant. They ate around the coffee table, their bare feet swathed in the long faux-fur of the white rug.

  When they finished dinner they’d also finished planning their moves on the warehouse.

  “That was incredible. Remind me to make sure all our gigs have a stop on Itzcap.” Shiro rose and went to take the binoculars from Iain, who had been manning them during the dinner.

  Iain came to the sofa and sat next to Holly and ate quickly.

  “Everyone good with the plan? We’ll continue to monitor activity through the night, but so far I think breaking into the warehouse tomorrow morning works.”

  “Likewise,” Iain agreed.

  “From what I can see from here, my lockpick set will work on those locks.”

  “Whatever we’re going after in this supposed vault must not be insanely important,” Holly said.

  “Otherwise the locks would be stronger,” Iain agreed, making eye contact with her.

  “Yes,” Odeon said. “Or perhaps the intel is wrong.”

  20

  Getting inside the warehouse was easier than it should have been. Odeon’s tools worked quickly. Holly, Shiro, and Iain kept watch while he broke through the locks.

  The morning was warm and clear with a crisp atmosphere which made everything brilliant and vibrant as Holly stood with her back to Odeon. The streets were relatively empty that surrounded the warehouse. Birds sang from tropical trees. A small vehicle hummed by. The drive peered out at them. A Yasoan. Holly waved and smiled.

  “They probably think you’re up to no good, Holly. Wicked human and all,” Iain remarked.

  “Maybe they saw Odeon’s silver hair and realized I was being babysat.”

  “Is that a security camera up there?” Shiro asked, pointing at an indiscreet camera that none of them had noticed. When the wind blew, the palm fronds hid it.


  “I’ll take care of that.” Holly removed her aether whip and turned it on. The violet aether coalesced into a continuous strand of solid violet rope. She strode a few steps, circled her arm over her head and whipped it toward the camera. The whip wrapped around the camera. Holly flicked her wrist and then yanked hard. The camera was surprisingly strong, but the thin support holding it cracked and released the camera. She pulled the whip back and it brought the camera with it. She crushed it beneath her boot and turned off the aether whip.

  “Impressive,” Shiro said.

  “Remind me not to say no to you,” Iain said.

  “My whip will make you say yes.”

  “We’re in,” Odeon said softly.

  “Think anyone’s in there?” Holly asked her crew.

  “Let’s pretend there is, so we go in cautiously.”

  “I’d do that anyway,” Holly said.

  “Same here,” Shiro said.

  Iain drew the Equalizer and pointed it down at the ground as he crept toward the door. Shiro held his lionhead cane at the ready. Odeon put his lock-picking tools away and held his Ousaba in front of himself with both hands.

  “Odeon and Shiro on lead,” Holly said. Iain was the medic, so she couldn’t risk him going first, and as the leader, she didn’t want to put herself in initial danger. That was the way it was, though she didn’t like it.

  The large steel door swung inward. Clouds of dust floated out into the sunlight from the shadowy interior. The door into the warehouse was a gaping maw of dusk, a yawning portal into oblivion. Holly’s mind screamed for her to run. She swallowed and told her body to move.

  Shiro and Odeon moved into the warehouse, carefully checking as they proceeded. They motioned for Holly and Iain to follow and they did, proceeding cautiously. As Holly stepped past the threshold, she paused while her eyes adjusted, looking around to survey the scene. Stacks of crates and boxes lined the perimeter of the warehouse. The only light came through the dirty windows that lined the upper walls. Motes of dust swirled in the shafts of sunlight that poured in through windows. An odor of dust and stale air prevailed in the warehouse.