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

by Nicole Grotepas

  “Good, and plan an escape route as well. I’d like to have two to three plans ready to go in case something goes awry. I’m going into this damn thing fully loaded and ready to raise hell.”

  Trip glanced at Holly, her eyes full of mirth and something else. “I like this side of you, Holly.”

  Holly blinked, wondering what side she’d been showing lately that Trip had noticed.

  “Tech support—Darius, my boy—I’m sorry, but you’re going to need to come to the base with us. Since Ixion will be between Kota and the base, as you’ve told me, there will be too much delay in radio comms. Plus, I want you there in case we need a backup plan.”

  “I don’t like it, Drake.” Darius met her gaze. He shook his head in irritation. “But I will. For Odeon. That said, I’m staying on the ship.”

  “Fine. Like the last job. That will work for me.”

  “But, this is going to be lean and mean. You and Shiro will be the only legs on the ground, since Charly has to stay.”

  “Sorry, dudes. This soiree is a big deal. And my gut tells me I need to be here. Don’t ask me what my gut is thinking, because usually it’s just thinking about food and booze.”

  Darius made a sound of disbelief. They were all thinking it, and every eye in the room settled on Charly, likely more convinced that she was thinking most about her political and social machinations.

  “Bigger than rescuing Odeon?” Darius shot at her.

  “Take a breath. Life goes on—you’ll get Odeon and you’ll make sure to break some faces while you’re at it, on my behalf—but the Centaus would never use me again.”

  Holly cocked her head to the side. “Would they notice you’re gone, though? Can’t Torden manage it?”

  “I’d let him if the boy could handle it. But he’s not a mingler, you know that. He barely says two words to you guys when you ask him to make you a drink.” Charly heaved a sigh and her shoulders shrank inward slightly. “Look, guys. I love Odeon. You all know that Yasoan has a massive spot in my heart that only he can fill. But my link to the elites helps us, a lot. Don’t make me decide between the two.”

  “You win, Charly, but I don’t like it.” Darius was surlier than usual. He frowned and sat down heavily onto his chair in the corner. “I do like this, though, Drake. We have to go to Shig’s, since this is going to be such a lean job. And I know you hate Shig’s and everything, but you have to go with me. Because I said.”

  “You mean that you request my presence?”

  “You’re the boss. So I need you there.”

  Holly frowned, rose, and went to the windows overlooking the street. She studied her fingernails, then squinted into the light streaming in through the window. Ixion was visible between the spires rising above her. “I hate Shig’s.”

  “Tough. We need tranquilizers and wound patch kits.”

  He was right. They couldn’t botch this again. Botch. What a stupid word. The thought drifted across the surface of the ball of emotion in her head—resistance to the grimy, repulsive nature of Shig’s shop.

  She nodded, accepting her fate. It wasn’t much of a hard choice. What wouldn’t she do at this point to get Odeon back?

  The energy and rage mounted within her, the force an avalanche carrying her along. Whatever backup she could gather to ensure that they returned to the Bird’s Nest with Odeon, she’d do. Ixion’s spear, she’d hire Aeolionais to join them if she had to. And Xadrian. And an entire damn army.

  “I’ll meet you there, Darius. Comm me. But I’ve got to go make another stop first.”

  * * *

  Saanvi Chadda waved and hurried toward Holly, exchanging besos with her.

  “Holly. You may appreciate what I’m about to show you.”

  “Here’s hoping it’s everything I’ve dreamed of.”

  “I don’t know. But it’s the size you seemed interested in and the price may be affordable for you.”

  They met at the primary spaceport, where Saanvi normally spent her time working. Holly got onto the little cart with her and she zipped around the track marked like a road. Massive hangars held ships, while cruiser ships touched down and took off intermittently, along with other similarly sized ships. Mechanics like Saanvi worked on them and other techs unloaded cargo and topped off fuel and life support systems.

  Saanvi drove them to a hangar on the far side of the area. The doors stood open, and ,as they passed through, Holly felt a wind barrier against her face. The air on the other side of it was much warmer.

  “There she is,” Saanvi said, nodded toward the ship.

  It was older than Trip’s Olavia Apollo. The colors were in need of a touch up. It looked battered and worn, but if it worked and was the right price, that sort of thing shouldn’t turn her away.

  “Let’s go inside and check it out.”

  They climbed the ramp and entered through the hatch. There was a corridor that ran along the bottom of the ship. Metal decking covered the floor. Things looked dated and the smell was laced with old must. Holly followed Saanvi through it, climbing ladders to the different levels, of which there were four, including the navigation deck, which was the smallest floor. The ship had a window instead of a screen like the Olavia Apollo, that was fed camera images.

  “This one has the older method of looking out through a window. That’s the biggest drawback.”

  “That doesn’t bother me. Less likely to break.” She inspected the seals around the window, then looked at Saanvi. “Did you look over the mechanic reports? Are there issues I’d need to deal with that will make it more expensive in the long run?”

  “I have, mostly. But if you think you’d want it, I’ll do a more thorough inspection.”

  “That would be good. And a test drive?”

  “I would do one, yes.”

  Holly sighed. “And the price?”

  They discussed the price and Holly debated internally, considering how much she’d made, the money Danielle had paid her that didn’t go towards the orrery.

  Before she could make a solid decision, it was time for her to head out to meet Darius.

  29

  “Doctor,” Darius said, giving the human male a hefty handshake, gripping him up the forearm even. It was a very familiar handshake, seemingly more familiar than a beso. “Long time, no-selling me medical grade supplies for dirty yet hella fun work.”

  Shig Soliss emitted a dry laugh.

  Holly shook her head.

  Darius saw and shrugged. “That sounded better in my head.”

  “Oh no, that was very smooth,” Shig said, scowling at Darius. “Besides, I’ve seen you at our regular haunts.”

  “Right, those,” Darius said, casting a hunted look at Holly. “Disregard what you just heard, Drake.”

  Holly cocked her head to one side and crossed her arms over her chest. “None of my business what weird stuff you do when you’re not on the clock with me.”

  “Just gambling, Drake. You already know all my vices. My adorable vices.” Darius meandered to the shelf and inspected the vials and flasks there.

  It was more like a storage room that had been converted into a store-front. There was no window. A door in the back—behind where a display counter had been erected—led to some deeper storage area and maybe a window, since a hint of bright light poured into the room where Holly stood. She hugged the back wall, trying not to touch anything, but also trying to put on a front that she was totally cool with Shig’s operation. She wasn’t.

  But, there was a market for his goods. Where else would Holly get tranquilizers? It was far better to knock out someone—like security guards—than it was to kill them. And, a tranquilizer was a better option than a possible brain injury.

  The ethics of it were complicated. A sticky oatmeal of conjecture and theoreiesbased on loose philosophies. Life was just one big pile of gray areas that were impossible to sort. And the deeper she dug, the more she realized it was based on whatever codes she chose to adhere to. Not some universal idea of good versus
evil.

  The only thing she knew for certain was that evil wasn’t some laundry list of vices that she could sort into A and B columns. It was centered more around the treatment of others—did she exploit them for her own gain? Did she stand by while the weak were exploited or oppressed?

  She let out a hefty sigh as her thoughts ran at speeds reaching those of the Olavia Apollo. Darius turned to glance at her.

  “You alright, Drake?” he asked.

  Holly nodded, feeling heat rush to her cheeks.

  “You think very highly of your vices,” Shig said, apparently interpreting her display of exasperation as an indictment of Darius’s claim that his vices were adorable. “The lady doesn’t seem to agree.”

  “Are you kidding? The only reason I keep Darius around is for his flaws. He’s so loveably broken.” She didn’t want to banter with Shig. It felt too much like accepting a bribe or dirty money. A thin film of slimy, compromised morals covered her as she appeared to meet this individual on his playground. Was it the fact that he stole from his place of reputable work and brought it to this place of ill-repute and sold it to possibly terrible people? Who else did he peddle his wares to?

  Holly stared levelly at Shig, refusing to look away again in revulsion. The magnifying goggles on his forehead glinted in the naked lightbulbs dangling from overhead. He didn’t take pride in the experience he provided for his clients, like Madame Le Tissier did, who presented a wealthy showroom that made her clients feel safe and sophisticated. A haphazard pile of slides and a microscope sat on his countertop as though they’d interrupted him in the middle of his studies.

  Shig was cleaned up and polished—his face was attractive and full of the kinds of angles that women swooned over. It wasn’t anything in his physical appearance that disturbed her, necessarily. It was his bedside manner. If she woke up to find herself in his care, in a hospital, she’d fashion a rope from bedsheets and go out the window. He chilled her.

  “So, Darius. You wanted tranquilizers?”

  “That and some other things.”

  “Like what?”

  “The high-tech wound patch kits. And anything that will help us infiltrate the mining base to bring back someone who’s been kidnapped.”

  “Kidnapping. That’s a serious crime.”

  Holly watched, listening, wondering why Darius had insisted on her coming with. So far she needed to do nothing to help. Tucked away in a corner of the spiretop club, the Twisted Nebula, bass throbbed through the floor and the walls. Empty vials and beakers rattled and hopped along the shelf. What had been in the empty containers? Had he poured their contents into a concoction that he’d sold to a monster somewhere?

  Shig sighed and strode over to the shelf near Holly and moved the items that were inching closer to the edge deeper into the shelf.

  “I swear, this club—” Shig let that hang in the air between them.

  Darius returned the conversation to Shig’s previous remark. “As serious as being caught stealing medical supplies from your hospital and selling them on the black market?”

  “Hardly. I think one is considered human-trafficking and the other is a simple offense of theft. So, yeah, I’m in the clear.” The doctor brushed past Holly and returned to his counter.

  “Well, anyway. I don’t really disagree. We’d like to just off the kidnappers, but that’s slightly against our moral code. The tranqs would be for security guards that get in our way. The patch up kits are for us, obviously. We expect to encounter some resistance.”

  “I’d suggest taking some vials full of the kinds of drugs—uppers, you know—that will keep you going even if you get exhausted or injured. How long do you anticipate this operation going?”

  “Not sure. Long enough that we get our guy back.”

  “Who was taken?”

  Darius glanced at Holly as though to ask if he could share the details. Holly shook her head.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Darius said. “These people are nefarious. We’re only going to be careful to not slaughter them all because we’re not assholes like them. Not because they make the world a better place.”

  “Oh, is that where the bar is? Making the world a better place?”

  Darius laughed. “Just sell me the stuff. We’ve still got some other supplies to pick up.”

  30

  Holly tapped each of her weapons to double check that she was ready. This time she’d brought the Equalizer. The aether gun was snug in its holster against her back, beneath her jacket, and there were spare cartridges stowed in her pockets. Her aether whip handle hung from her belt. Throwing knives were secured in her sleeves, plus she still had the long-knife in her boot as a back up.

  She took a breath, and nodded. Ready for war.

  She locked gazes with Darius. There was a grim set to his jaw. His eyes were shadowed, even more than the usual strip cast by the thin brim of his driving cap. He was seated at a makeshift bay of monitors set up in the mess hall of the Olavia Apollo. Trip perched behind him, watching the monitors.

  “I’ll be into the security feeds soon, Drake.” The tech expert shoved his chin toward his monitors, then rolled his eyes. “But you and Shiro still need to watch out for other security doofuses. I’ve got a distraction ready in case things go south, but it won’t pull every single idiot, so you’ll need to still take care of your own ass. ”

  “I know.”

  He raised his hands as though in surrender. “I’m just saying. I know you know.”

  “Darius, it’s pretty tender, actually. I almost think you’re worried about little old Odeon,” she took her gun out and removed the cartridge—full—then put it back in its holster. That was the second time in ten minutes that she’d checked the cartridge.

  “We’re all worried about him, Ms. Drake,” Shiro said, quietly.

  Holly looked at him. “You too, Shiro?”

  “Come on, Drake. Enough with the teasing. Odeon’s one of us. You don’t mess with one of ours. Mess with the bull, get the horns.”

  “Agreed. As much as the two of us get into scraps, we’re like brothers.” Shiro’s eyes glistened.

  Holly squinted. “Don’t start with that. We can’t begin this escapade with a bunch of crying, Shiro, or we’ll never get anywhere. We’ll find him. And someone’s going to pay if he’s hurt.”

  Shiro shook his head and lifted his dark blue bowler and bowed his head, laughing a bit. “I’m sensitive.” The rest of his outfit matched the color of his hat, which seemed uncharacteristic for the aficionado of style. But it worked. The idea was to blend in until they wanted to be seen.

  “Trip, you ready?”

  “I am definitely itching to fly us the hell out of here when it’s time.”

  They were parked in a landing bay on the mining base, getting ready to ransack the castle. Or at least, the base. The rescue operation was underway.

  Holly took another deep breath. “Good.”

  “The extra eyes will be helpful. We’ll watch for Odeon and give you directions,” Darius said, sitting up straight. “Just a minute left before I’m patched into the base feeds. So, get out of here. Go. Now.”

  Holly and Shiro exchanged a look, a nod, and then tromped through the corridors to the ladder that took them down to the ramp off the ship.

  “Testing,” Darius’s voice came in her ear. “Private, secure channel good to go.”

  “Yes, we’ve got you. At least, I do. Shiro?”

  “I hear you both.”

  “I’m going to keep an eye out for secure channels popping up. I’m already seeing activity on a few bands. I’ve got a decryption program working on them. We’ll see who else is here saying shit they don’t want me to know.”

  Holly led the way along the marked paths through the hangar bay of the mining base. Humans and Constellations scurried up and down pathways, carrying tools or pushing carts, and wearing uniforms that marked them as mechanics and fuelers.

  She was most interested in those wearing security uniforms.
So far they’d never had a problem with security for all the weapons they carried with them on the mining base, but the last thing she wanted was a curious guard to decide they didn’t like the look of her and to decide that an interrogation might be fun.

  The intel Darius had gathered had hinted at something big happening soon on the base. Sorting through the information led them to the conclusion that it had to do with Magna and, likely, Voss. It was a long shot, in a way, but it was the only shot. Short of trying to set up another pointless hand-off with the deranged human, Holly’d made the decision to show up and apply blunt force to the situation.

  But she still waited to hear word from Darius that they’d made the right call. Once he’d decoded the other transmissions being shunted around the mining base, they’d know for sure, and, with any hope, have a read on a location.

  That was it. That was the grand plan—no galactic orrery. No contact with Magna. Just, “something’s going down, and we’re here to break heads.”

  Holly and Shiro reached the entrance to the corridor. The wide doors of the hatchway shut behind them and they stopped in front of the elevators and stared at each other. Passersby scooted around them. Conversations buzzed and faded.

  “You decide where we begin, Ms. Drake.” Shiro’s brown eyes studied her.

  “New performance suit?” she asked. Banal conversation. But it would distract her from the grave nature of what they were doing.

  “It is. Yes. Present from my father.”

  “How’s that business coming.”

  “It’s a small market, but I believe it’ll grow.”

  The doors opened and they entered the elevator after the passengers slipped between them and headed down the corridor.

  “Let’s start with the 41st floor.”

  “Let’s.” Shiro used his cane to tap the button for the corresponding floor.

  “You brought other weapons for this?” Seeing the sword cane made her realized she’d not double checked with her constantly peacocking crewmate.