by Laurie Bell
Toni glanced up, locating Mate. He was still prowling the docking port, matching each ship to the station’s database. With no signal from him, it was unlikely he and Zach had uncovered a discrepancy. Hm. What else could Zach have found? She asked the dock master for a copy of the delivery docket to compare it against the list Zach pulled from Marn. The dock master swayed unsteadily as he returned to the main office.
“Zach?” She barely gave voice to the utterance, knowing the small microphone in her shades would pick it up.
Zach: Boss, I think I’ve found something. You were right; it looks like there was another hack, a week earlier than mine. The coding was buried pretty deep. They did a decent job covering their tracks, but I have located two access points. One in the morning, and again a few hours later. They pulled the dummy route from the navigation system, but it looks like it didn’t confuse them for long.
Gotcha! “Anything you can track? Can you tell me where the hack was made?”
Zach: Send Mate to access the exact terminal and I can get a better read for you. I’ll flash a map of the location and request Mate head back to you now.
“Thanks.” She signed off as the dock master returned, carrying a small notepad.
“This is all I could find.”
“Thank you,” she told him. Mate emerged from the shadows painting the rear of the bay black. The dock master’s eyes widened and his tongue darted out to taste the air of the bay.
“What is that?”
Toni’s lips quirked up in the corner. “My pet.”
“That’s a pet?” The dock master stumbled back as Mate drew near. The man let out a sharp screech and ran toward his office. He didn’t take his eyes off Mate the entire way.
“Stop it,” she admonished when the C-bot reached her side.
Mate looked up at her and tilted his head. “I am not sure what you mean.”
“Uh huh.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s find that terminal.”
*
Mate backed out of the console’s base. “That is all I can access.”
Using the C-bot’s signal, Zach had accessed the Waystation’s system and discovered two more pieces of information about the unknown hacker. The attack originated from an internal connection via a booster box installed into that particular terminal, and the signal was a familiar one. Zach’s text bubble appeared.
Zach: It’s definitely the Stargazer. It appears he’s a frequent visitor.
Toni spoke quietly, peering around to see if they were being watched. “Zach, can you leave a little gift for our Stargazer friend? Something to activate next time he lands here?”
Zach: Yes.
She smirked. There was no way she was letting the pilot escape now. Finally, she had a chance to solve this case. Those pirates were as good as captured. “It can’t be noticed, Zach. Throw a timer onto it. Don’t let it activate on install.”
Zach: I gotcha, Boss. Are you headed back?
She shook her head. Though Zach couldn’t see her, she found the behavior was instinctive. There was time to go over Marn’s supply list again and check her info drop.
Zach: Boss?
“No. We’ll be back soon, though.”
Toni headed toward the station’s meal zone. Last time here, she’d set up an informant’s anonymous drop and had Zach post several reports on the holonet with hidden messages. She didn’t expect anything would come from the request for information, but on the off chance there had been a response, she should empty the inbox.
With Mate covering the meal zone entrance, Toni strolled to the rear wall. Below the large holoscreen were several small ports. Eyes followed her across the floor; she ignored them through long practice and leaned back against the wall, playing with her shades. Slipping a hand behind her to feign a scratch, she slipped a fingernail-sized chip from one of the ports.
A good ten count later, she straightened and headed to one of the meal counters. Searching the boards for a meal that didn’t sound too disgusting, she purchased a small bag of fried cerulean stick-leaves and wandered back out of the zone.
*
“Zach, how’s that message chip coming? Anything on it?”
“Yes, Boss. There’s an encoded message.”
“Can you break it?”
“Working on it.”
Mate raised his head. “Why encode the message?”
Toni shrugged. It did seem self-defeating. She returned to the tablet in her hand. On it were the two manifests “Mate, are you seeing what I’m seeing? There are discrepancies with the water volumes.” She sunk into the three-seater, the worn red cover stretched but never seemed to tear. Mate lay at her feet. She needed mats. No, a rug—she should get a rug. The interior of the Blackflame was pretty bare since she hadn’t had time to purchase anything personal. To do that, she needed to solve this case and get paid more than the stipend Zaambuka gave his agents at case assignment.
“Who would steal water?” Mate asked.
“Someone desperate I suppose,” Toni said.
“I’ve been investigating the stocks. It’s too expensive already. It’s only going to go up. Maybe the pirates are part of a black market ring? It appears there’s good coin in water supplies,” Zach jumped in.
“I have a feeling we’re missing something.”
“Boss, I’ve opened the message,” the CII announced a moment later.
Toni sat up. “What does it say?”
Zach projected the reply onto the nearest screen, and Toni read it quickly.
Supplies not what you think. The Reef, Uxt. Contact will provide further intel. Belani woman seated close to the bar, alone. Code name: Jasmine.
“Can you ping the source?”
The CII declared negative.
Mate rose up on all fours. “This sounds like a trap, Boss.”
Toni agreed. Still, she’d heard about Uxt. The planet was a water world with only five percent of its landmass located above the surface. It had become a major tourist mecca after the inhabitants of Uxt built a massive entertainment complex and casino under the planet’s ocean. The Reef, Zach informed her, was a well-known bar located within the complex.
Toni knew that already. The Reef was talked about in glowing terms at the Academy. Every traveling Defender or Sentinel who addressed her small class had ended the lecture extolling the virtues of the bar on Uxt, with a suggestion to the new graduates to stop at The Reef if they were in the area. Toni had always intended to visit. “The place will be full of Defenders, Sentinels, and STCT. If this mysterious contact wants to meet us there, then let’s do it.”
CHAPTER THREE
Mate let out an unhappy snarl and paced in a circle when she told him to wait outside. As Toni entered the bar, she let the swinging doors catch her in the back to stop them rattling, removed her shades and peered from the top of the flight of stairs into darkness. Her eyes adjusted quickly, allowing her to make out the interior. The Reef opened out onto a rectangular floor. Along the back wall she spied a counter with two men behind it. Shenghi! The enormous man on the right yanked bottles from beneath the bar, throwing them up into the air from all four limbs. Somehow, the other barman, the one with the flaming red hair, avoided a crack in his skull while pouring drinks for the crowd standing three deep in front of the counter. What tables Toni could see were fully occupied. Grey STCT uniforms, Sentinel red peaked caps, and the occasional gold flash of agent badges, allowed Toni to relax—her back was covered.
Yellow and green Defender uniforms dotted the room, but were mostly gathered around a ten-seater circular booth in the far rear corner. There was a lot of laughter coming from it. A few darkened corridors appeared to lead to washrooms and what was likely a rear exit. Why on Marn would her contact want to meet her here?
Toni approached the lone woman seated at a table close to the bar in the corner furthest from the Defenders in the rear booth. Voluminous black hair cascaded around her bare, dusky shoulders, a stark contrast to Toni’s own straight white locks.
The Belani woman’s pointed ears twitched and pricked up, her eyes widened as they traveled up and down Toni’s body. “Jasmine?” Toni enquired, taking a seat opposite.
“Love the shirt.”
Toni appreciated the compliment though she didn’t respond. It wasn’t a style choice. Jasmine gestured to the four-armed barkeep. “Jeri, two more.” Somehow her snarky voice carried above the loud chatter, or perhaps Jeri had been waiting for her, because he raised one arm almost instantly in acknowledgement.
“What do you have for me?” Toni asked. No point in wasting time.
“Hey, there, hold up a little. You’re fast, hun. How about we both have a drink and get to know one another first?” Jasmine ran her fingers along the side of the half-empty flute. So, she’d already imbibed. With luck, it would make her chatty. The woman took a long sip, scrutinizing Toni over the rim. Her lips were freshly painted with a deep red gloss, liberally staining the rim of the flute.
Toni narrowed her eyes. “I’ve got things I should be doing. Either tell me what you’ve got, or I’m leaving.”
The four-armed barkeep Jasmine named Jeri placed two flutes filled with a bubbly pink liquid in front of Toni and shot a warm smile at Jasmine. “Hey, girl, what are you still doing here?”
Jasmine pointed to Toni and then back at Jeri. “Hey, this is my friend, Jeri, Jer this is …”
Suspecting the woman was well on her way to very drunk, Toni sighed. This is such a bad idea. “Delle. Agent Delle.”
“Have a drink, Agent Delle. Then we can have some fun.” Jasmine smiled, exposing a lot of shiny white teeth. Her eyes remained sharp, though. She clearly hadn’t drunk a lot before Toni’s arrival. Toni had the sudden impression of a carnivorous beast lying in wait. This was getting her nowhere. She needed to get back out searching for the pirates, not spend her night in a bar full of drunks. Toni stood.
“No wait, wait. Dan Colten. That’s the name you want.” One eyebrow cocked as if Toni should recognize the name. She didn’t.
Toni sat back down, sipping from her flute when the other woman gestured to it pointedly. Toni ran her tongue around her mouth tasting the sweet berry liquor. She would have preferred water but they all knew how expensive that was. Especially the unfiltered kind. “Tell me about Colten.”
“He’s a smuggler. And a jackass,” Jasmine said, slurring her words.
Oh great, a jilted lover. Toni didn’t need this. Tonight was looking like a giant waste of time. “I take it you know him well?”
“He just shot you into an asteroid belt, didn’t he? You must think he’s a jackass too,” Jasmine replied with a snort.
Toni coughed as she swallowed her drink. “How did you know about that?” She took another sip from her flute and leaned forward. A sneeze erupted from her nose. Strong drink.
“I know everything,” Jasmine declared before swallowing the contents of her glass in a long gulp.
Toni watched, bemused. “He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”
Jasmine grinned and raised her hand, gesturing for another round.
Resigned to a long night, Toni tapped the edge of her shades to signal the all-clear to Mate. “So, what happened?” She let her forehead crease and bit her bottom lip, an expression she’d learned from her sister. If there was anyone who could fake interest well, it was Serina.
Her mysterious contact waved a hand in the air. “I can’t tell you.”
“How did you know about the asteroid belt?” Toni asked. It was like interrogating a hostile witness. She was getting nothing. A tick twitched in Toni’s right eye. Mission. Remember the mission. Get the information and get out.
Jasmine snorted. Toni couldn’t help but focus on the way the woman’s petite features scrunched, the tiny lines around her eyes deepened and a little crease appeared in her nose. Kheghing hell, am I attracted to her? Toni tore her gaze away and ran her hands over her arms, covering as much of her upper body as she could with the movement. Her cheeks burned and she grit her teeth. No, it wasn’t attraction. It was envy. Toni felt so gangly in contrast to the woman’s graceful movements. What am I doing? An agent didn’t react emotionally to anything or anyone. This woman had no power to hurt her; she was an information source, that was all.
“Jasmine, why am I even here if you’re not going to—”
“Okay, no. We need to clear this up straight away. It’s just Jas, not Jasmine—never Jasmine. They call me Jasmine.”
“They?”
“The smugglers,” she hissed, her voice so soft Toni could barely make out the words above the chatter and laughter around them.
Jeri placed two more frothing flutes onto the table. “Jas,” he warned.
“Oh, don’t,” the tipsy woman grumbled in reply, leaning back into her chair. She stared at Toni over the rim of her replenished drink. “They take me for granted.”
“Is that why you’re doing this?” Toni asked.
Jas’s gaze drifted around the room.
I’m not going to get the truth, am I? She took another sip from her drink. Placing the glass down, Toni propped her arms on the table and searched the woman’s face. There was no tension around her eyes, the lines and crinkles just gave her a tired air. Why had Jas contacted her? Toni knew she should storm out, but something about Jas made her linger. Her dark gaze locked onto Toni. Maybe it was the hint of loneliness Toni recognized. Mate and Zach were the best companions a woman could wish for, but they weren’t alive. Mate had been designed as Toni’s childhood companion and Zach—well, she hadn’t worked him out yet. Not entirely. Her tweaks to his default programming seemed to be having a unique effect and as a result she wasn’t sure what he was going to end up as. The cold hole in Toni’s chest seemed to widen and for a heartbeat, Toni wanted. Wanted a warm touch, wanted a shoulder to lean on, wanted an ear to listen to her woes. Could this woman be all that?
What am I thinking? She’s a contact, a smuggler. I can’t trust her.
Did she need to?
For one night, Toni could pretend, couldn’t she? That she was normal. That she was open and friendly. Just keep your weapon close.
Toni picked up her flute and swallowed the contents in one gulp. Fire erupted throughout her body. She swiped a finger below her nose to remove the sweat. That kicks like a TAFF Generator.
“Wooh, now we’re talking! Here.” Jas pushed over another drink. Jeri retrieved the empties with his lower hands and pointed one finger of his upper hand into Jas’s face. “Be good, girl.” With the fourth hand he pointed at Toni. “And you, too.” His grin grew wide enough to take over his entire face.
Toni couldn’t help but grin back. Jeri’s lower hand rested for a split second on her shoulder before he turned away. Warmth flowed down her arm and spread to her chest. She blinked. Work, remember, this is work. She shook her head. Screw it.
“See, Jeri’s terrific,” Jas said loudly. Toni guessed Jeri heard her because one of his hands came around behind his back and held up a finger.
Toni giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. Her reaction made Jas shriek with laughter.
Eight drinks later, Toni told Jas all about her sister and mother. No names of course—she didn’t think there was enough alcohol in the galaxy to strip her of the control that had kept her alive all these years. It felt great just to vent. Jas remained just as vague as she complained heatedly about her co-workers. A blank, spacy feeling crowded the usual sharp voice of reason out of Toni’s head. Heat pulsed inside her skin. She flapped her hands in front of her face, suddenly uncomfortable with her emotions. Was she actually having fun? Urgh. Admittedly, she was growing to like Jas. Maybe not as a true friend, but the woman was listening when Toni spoke, making eye contact and groaning sympathetically. And khegh, it felt good to be heard.
Jas took Toni’s wrist, comparing her dark skin to Toni’s freakish non-color. “So clear. It’s like I can see straight through you.” Toni snatched her hand out of Jas’s scalding grip. “No, no. I’m sorry. It’s cool.” Jas held he
r arms aloft. “I guess I shouldn’t ask about the … you know.” Jas touched her own neck. Toni shook her head, fighting not to cover her scars. “How about we do something else then?” She turned toward the bar. “You dance?”
“I … no.”
“Another drink.” Jas smiled. Her eyes glinted, brightening as her smile deepened the lines.
Toni glanced at the empty glasses gathered on the table. Jeri appeared. Two more pink monstrosities pushed close to her hand.
Another three drinks in and it was Toni who suggested they move to the top of the bar’s counter. Jas grabbed hold of Toni’s hand, declaring it was a great idea, and in moments the two women were dancing on the counter to the catcalls of the men and women lingering in the bar.
Slipping her jacket and badge off to hide her status, Toni worried briefly that the other agents in the bar would recognize her, but it wasn’t as though she was nondescript. Shenghi, practically everyone in the room had to know who she was. No one approached her though. Of course they didn’t. She’d been just as alone at the Academy as she was in her personal life. No one ever really spoke to her, got to know her. Why would they now? Her difference kept them all away. The usual cold feeling in her chest at the thought wasn’t as cold. She blinked. Huh! They were fabulous drinks that Jas kept ordering. Toni had to remember to get the name of it.
Jas kicked out a squishy pouch she’d pulled from somewhere and berated the drunken agents until they started throwing their coins into it.
Toni thought it was all hilarious. She’d never experienced this kind of attention before. She fantasized the unfocused eyes stared at her with desire. Her jaw ached from all the smiling. She’d never felt so carefree, nothing bothered her.
“You’re all right, Delle,” Jas told her. Toni quickly interrupted to insist the woman call her Toni. After all, it was only for one night. She’d never see Jas again. What did it matter?
The fun came to an end when Jas tried to climb off the counter. She slipped, letting out a sharp cry. Toni reached for her, heart pounding, but her reaction time was impaired. She could only watch as Jas crashed to the ground.
