The Star Thief

by Jamie Grey

  The woman’s voice came again. Renna assumed she was one of the technicians she’d seen in the command center. “What about you, sir?”

  “I’m on my way. Now get going!” Ragged breathing sounded over the intercom, then Dallas spoke again. “Finn, I don’t know if you’re catching this, but the attackers are on the ground. They’ve destroyed most of the city center and the Warehouse District. They’re looking for the boy. Keep him safe. We’ll do our best from here.”

  The comm crackled again, a whine filling the air. The next second, a blast shattered through the comm speakers. A moment later, the ship shivered with the aftershock.

  Renna dashed to one of the portals and pressed her forehead to the glass to peer down at the tiny city below them. A mushroom of smoke and fire rose almost to the atmosphere. The city of Veth was nothing but a smoking ruin now. There was no way Dallas had survived unless the facility had been made of bombproof material.

  “Try him again!” Captain Finn shouted, pounding a fist on the control panel.

  “Sir, we’re almost out of the ground-to-air comms range. There’s nothing there. We’ll be clearing Hesperia’s atmosphere in thirty seconds.” Keva’s gaze never left her screen, her lips a thin slash on her face.

  “Dammit!” Finn slammed his fist down again.

  Renna had one last glance of the enemy battleships starting to retreat before the Athena shot into the twilight of the upper atmosphere. Below them, Hesperia rapidly shrunk into a glowing ball.

  Renna took a deep breath and released her death grip on the portal edge. It took her a moment to realize the trembles she felt in her limbs weren’t vibrations from the ship. The icy rage that had silently crept into her belly as she watched those fuckers destroy her home and slaughter millions of innocent people rushed through her veins until she was shaking.

  Boyd was dead. The crazy woman down the hall was dead. The guy who always walked his kids to school so they wouldn’t be bullied by thugs was gone. And so were his eight-year-old twins.

  The whole godsdamned city—nothing more than ashes of bodies and buildings.

  Suddenly, she didn’t care that she’d been blackmailed into boarding this ship. She didn’t care that MYTH had enough information on her to send her on a one-way ticket to hell. None of that mattered anymore.

  Because this? This act of war? Bombing her city?

  It was personal now.

  The intercom clicked on, and Finn’s voice filled the ship. “MYTH headquarters is silent. We are on our own now. Let’s take a moment to remember those whose lives were taken in the attack.” There was a long pause before he spoke again. “Everyone, settle in for now. We’ll land on Krooss in twenty-four hours, where we’ll refuel before moving on to Dr. Aldani’s labs.”

  He ran a shaking hand through his dark hair and snapped off the comm. His shoulders sagged for a moment, and he stared down at the console in a moment of despair. Renna wanted to go to him, to tell him it was going to be okay, but before she could move, Finn sucked in a deep breath. With that one action, his shoulders straightened, and he was back to the cool, unflappable Captain Finn. He wasn’t the one who needed her now.

  She spun on her heel. Dammit. Myka.

  EIGHT

  Renna rushed back to the port observation deck just as Myka unhooked his harness. He slipped from his seat to gaze out into the darkness of space.

  “You okay?” she asked, coming to stand beside him. The cool recycled air from the vents brushed her skin, made her hair tickle her face. She pushed it away, forcing a smile. The kid had been through enough already. He didn’t need to see how pissed she was.

  “What happened?” he asked. “All I saw was smoke.”

  “They hit Veth pretty hard, but we got away. You’ll be back with your uncle soon. I promise.” The word slipped out before she could stop it. Promises were few and far between in her line of work, and she never said it unless she meant it. It was a personal policy of hers.

  From the corridor came the heavy thud of boots on the metal floor. Captain Finn stood in the doorway, his eyes shadowed and tired. Renna saw the effort it took him to keep his face friendly as he looked down at the boy. “Everything all right over here?”

  Myka threw his shoulders back, head held high. “We’re fine.”

  “Good. I thought I might take you on a tour of the Athena now before you get settled in. We’re in the pre-FTL check phase so I have a few minutes.” Although he spoke to Myka, his gaze flicked to Renna.

  She nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. Myka and I could use a snack, too. We’re both starving.”

  “First stop, galley!” Finn gestured to the corridor with a flourish. “Right this way, honored guests.”

  Renna’s heart twisted at the lopsided grin he gave Myka. It was the same one he’d given her ten years ago, when she’d shown up dirty and hungry at Blur’s warehouse. The same flourish he’d used as he held the door for her. She put out a hand to the cool wall of the ship to steady herself.

  Stop it.

  The mess hall was a long room along the port side of the ship. Several large community tables filled the space, and a service area lined the wall. A matronly woman in a crisp white apron stood guard over several pots of soupy liquid.

  “My mate and I are looking for some grub; got anything space-worthy?” Finn asked with an over-exaggerated wink at the woman.

  “You must be our new passenger—Myka, is it?” The woman’s plump face beamed. “I’m Mary Wilson, but you can call me Miss Mary, if you like.”

  The boy nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Mary.”

  She beamed again, her smile stretching her wrinkled face. “Isn’t he just a doll? I have just the thing for you, Myka. How about a steaming mug of tea and a plate of my fresh molasses cookies? They’re my great-great-gran’s recipe; she was from Old-Earth.” She moved away to get a plate and cup while Myka slipped into a chair at the nearest table.

  “Are you going to stay here? Or finish the tour?” Finn asked, slanting Renna a reluctant look.

  The last thing she wanted was to be alone with him again, but the sooner he realized she wasn’t going to let him push her around, the better off everyone would be. She glanced at Myka, who nodded.

  “Sure,” Renna said. “I’m curious to see the rest of this beauty. This is one of the Infiltrator models, right?”

  Finn led her away from the mess hall. “The Athena’s one of the newest starships in the fleet. Specially designed for MYTH operations with a near-silent quantum core, she’s equipped with special cloaking material to get us in and out without detection.” Finn ran a hand along the seamless metal wall, caressing it like he might a woman.

  She forced away the image of his hand caressing her like that and cleared her throat. “It’s gorgeous. Think Dallas might get me one, too, after this is all over?” She said it flippantly and then wished she hadn’t when a shadow passed over Finn’s handsome face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I’m sure he’s fine. He seemed like a tough old guy.”

  Finn shook his head. “Dallas’s one of the best. I’ve known him since I first joined MYTH. I hope he made it out.” His tone made it very clear he didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, he led her to the bow of the ship where the pilot and first mate were prepping the Athena for the jump to hyperspace.

  “This is Flight Lieutenant Mark Kojima. He’s one of the best. Kojima, this is Renna Carrizal.”

  The guy looked about twenty-one or so, a few years younger than Renna. Finn let someone so young pilot his ship? But she hid her surprise and smiled at him as she held out her hand.

  Kojima gave her an appraising once-over before grasping her hand. “Welcome to the Athena. Glad to have you aboard.”

  “Thanks. You handle this bird better than most of the pilots I’ve flown with. The way you escaped those cruisers with the thrusters was genius. I don’t think even Herceg could have done it better.”

  Kojima’s eyes widened. “You’ve flown with Herceg? He’s a legend! Did
you know he was the first to jump to hyperspace without needing the core fusion generator?”

  “I was actually on the Bluebird when he did it.”

  Kojima opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Finn crossed his arms, his uniform jacket stretching over his shoulders. “Enough chatter. Back to your post, Lieutenant. You can compare flight notes with Miss Carrizal later.”

  “Yes, sir!” Kojima saluted, but winked at Renna when Finn turned around.

  “Nice to meet you,” she called before following the captain down another passageway.

  The ship’s interior seemed to be one long oval, with an elliptical corridor running the entire length and another smaller corridor in the center. The floors were made of corrugated metal, polished to a high shine, and the walls had been covered in some sort of thick polythene plastic to heat the space and cut down on the ship’s noise.

  It was gorgeously designed and obviously top of the line. Renna had some serious ship envy. Since the Seralline job two years ago, she’d had to stay out of sight, which meant giving up her own ship. It had been too easy to track. Using public transport or renting with a fake ID was safer. But someday…

  Renna sighed. If she got through this damn mission first. “So where to next? Lower deck?”

  “Staff quarters are on the lowest deck. There should be no reason for you to go down there.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Whyever not? It’s not that big of a ship. I’m sure I’ll be down there once in a while.”

  Finn stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned his cold blue eyes to her. There it was again, the brief pause as he studied the scar on her neck. He’d always been fascinated by it, especially since Renna never talked about how she’d gotten it.

  He dragged his gaze back to her face. “I’ve already told you I don’t want someone like you on my ship—or fraternizing with my crew. I know you, Renna. I know how you work. But Dallas says you’re the only one who can figure out who these people are and help stop them, so I have no choice.” He lowered his voice and leaned close enough that his scent washed over her again. “Let me remind you: There’s a chain of command here, and I’m at the top.”

  So much for working together. Whatever he thought he knew, she wasn’t some raw recruit now. She was the best thief in the galaxy, and he damn well needed to remember it.

  Renna lowered her voice to match his tone. “I don’t mind you on top, darling. It’s when you start pushing me around that we’ll have a problem.” She smiled at him coldly. “So I’ll do my job, don’t you worry. Just don’t expect me to play by your rules. You know I was never very good at following orders.”

  “It’s the only reason you’re still free.”

  “What the hell do you mean by that?” she demanded, her hands on her hips.

  “You should have been there when the police raided Blur’s hideout. You were supposed to be back from the Peters job already.” His eyes bored into hers, his top lip curling. “You should have gone to hell with the rest of them for what you did.”

  “If you think that should mean something to me, I hate to disappoint you, Cap, but I don’t know what in the stars you’re talking about.” She leaned in close to him, her fingers itching to poke him in his chest. She curled them into tight fists instead and lifted her chin, throwing his own hard stare back at him. “But let me tell you something. Just because you knew me seven years ago doesn’t mean you know one damn thing about me or my life now.”

  “I know enough to want you the hell off my ship. I would have been perfectly happy to have never seen you again.” His raspy voice deepened into a growl, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. “If I wasn’t under orders, I’d leave you on the next planet.”

  “If I wasn’t being blackmailed into helping your sorry ass, I’d be more than happy to go!”

  “Then do it. I’ll even write your discharge papers. I’ll risk the court-martial; I just want you off my ship, Carrizal. I don’t need a sticky-fingered whore distracting my crew.”

  “A whore? Is that the most creative thing you can come up with?” She shook her head and pursed her lips. “I’m so disappointed, Captain. The man I knew was much better with his tongue.”

  He grabbed her arms and yanked her to his chest. “The man you knew died seven years ago, along with any respect he might have had for you.”

  She leaned into him until she could feel his heart thundering beneath hers, his chest rising and falling in time with her own breathing. “Then why do you keep bringing him up? Why do you watch me like you’re reliving the same memories I am?”

  “I’m watching to make sure you don’t steal anything. I know how you operate—everything is fair game to sell to the highest bidder. You never could be trusted.”

  Her fingernails bit into her palms. She’d knock the smug look from his face if he said one more word.

  Footsteps vibrated on the metal floor of the corridor as Keva darted around the corner. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing shouting at each other? The whole ship’s going to hear you!”

  A muscle jumped in Finn’s jaw. He pushed Renna away, stepping back so the width of the corridor separated them.

  Renna forced her hands to stay at her side. “Isn’t that too bad?” she drawled, feigning calm despite the hammering in her chest. “Maybe your crew will finally see you for what you are.”

  “And what’s that?” he asked dangerously, lowering his voice.

  “You’re as mercenary as I am,” she said, matching his low tone.

  “Watch yourself, Renna. The truth is a double-edged sword, and last I knew, swordplay wasn’t your strong suit.” The ice in his words could have frozen the deepest lake on Hesperia.

  “Things change, Captain. I’ve grown up. I know how to play with lots of new toys.”

  Murder flashed in his eyes, and he took a step forward. Renna hastily swallowed her next witty quip.

  “Betray me again, and I’ll make sure you serve the rest of your life on a hard work planet.”

  This again? Renna’s smile was icy. “Do you really want to talk about betrayal, Cap? Because I have a few choice words regarding your own actions. I’m happy to share if we’re going to play that game.” She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. Despite her relaxed pose, she held herself tightly in check. One more word from him and she’d attack, prison planet be damned. “And if you ever call me a whore again, I’ll make sure you never have the luxury of enjoying a real one.”

  Finn growled and spun on his heels. “Keva, show the thief to her cabin. I’m done here.” He strode away in the opposite direction, anger rolling off him in tangible waves.

  Keva’s jaw dropped open, her purple, beak-like lips parted in shock. “I’ve never seen the captain so angry. What did you do?” the lieutenant demanded.

  “I have no idea.” Renna shook out her hands and cracked her neck, trying to relax the muscles in her body that were still coiled like springs. She hadn’t felt so out of control in years. Not since the last time she and Hunter…Finn had sparred.

  Damn him and damn her past for finally catching up with her.

  NINE

  That night, Renna fell asleep to the hum of a ship’s engine in her ears for the first time in almost six months. It was the smoothest, steadiest sound she’d ever heard, and she fell a little more in love with the Athena.

  Despite the blowup with Finn and the destruction of Veth, she slept like a rock. She always did while traveling, and when the morning bell rang for the crew to switch shifts, she stretched in her bunk and snuggled more deeply under the covers. There was no reason for her to get up. She wasn’t an official member of the team. Finn had made that very clear last night.

  An hour or so later, the ship trembled as it came out of FTL, and she jerked awake. They’d reached Krooss. She’d been on the planet once, five years ago, for a job. It was a backwater planet, the space port barely a scrabble of clay buildings and steel warehouses, but it was one of the last stops in the
Thassa system to fuel up.

  She stretched and glanced around her room. The berth they’d assigned her was small but comfortable, with a bed, a holovid on the wall, and a table and chair in the corner. A low leather couch sat across from the holovid, and another door led to a bathroom. The place was nicer than her first apartment.

  And the shower was amazing. The bad thing about space travel was how dirty it always made her feel—the recycled air, the metal coatings, the space particles. But after a quick rinse, she felt almost human again.

  Renna peeked in on Myka, but he was still sleeping and she didn’t want to wake him. Gods knew the last time the kid had had a good night’s sleep.

  She headed toward the bridge, passing crew members busy at their stations, mechanics on their way to the engine room, even a private wiping space dust off the walls. As she approached the center of the ship, she heard Finn talking with the crew. There was no way she was dealing with him before she’d even had her coffee, so she changed routes and made her way to the flight deck where Kojima was on duty.

  At least he didn’t look at her like she was diseased.

  “Good morning, Miss Carrizal.” He smiled as she climbed the stairs to his cockpit.

  “Call me Renna, please.”

  “Then what brings you my way this fine morning, Renna?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think I’d exactly be welcome on the bridge after my little fight with the captain yesterday.”

  “I heard about that.” He chuckled. “I’ve never seen the guy lose it, and I’ve served with him on three missions now.”

  “Yeah? How long have you been with MYTH?” She studied the holoscreens and consoles in front of him. He might look young, but he had some serious skills to run this complex navigation system.

  “Four years. They recruited me straight from the academy. Been with Captain Finn almost the whole time. He’s one of the best.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”