Solar Flare

by Autumn Dawn

  “Ah.”

  “What do you mean, “ah”?” she asked with rising annoyance. Since when did he weigh in on her affairs?

  His expression was bland, almost disinterested. “You’ve never traveled. You feel safe here.” His tone said he found the concept mildly distasteful.

  She stopped in her tracks and stared him down. “Are you calling me chicken, spinach hair?”

  He actually smiled. “You’ve been spending too much time with your nephews.”

  “They have advantages over my present company, slobber, teeth and all,” she muttered. She started walking toward the garage faster, eager to be rid of him. He’d hit a nerve with his comment, and like so many other subtle barbs from him, it would work its way under her skin until it drove her mad.

  “Personally, I love to travel.”

  “I know. It’s a Kiuyian thing.” She couldn’t live on a planet with a significant alien population and not know that.

  “I’ve been thinking of visiting Ictharus II sometime soon. It’s been a while.”

  Mercifully, they’d reached the garage. She had the familiar twitchy sensation she often experienced in his presence. It always made her want to spar with him. “Chatty today, aren’t you?”

  He stopped and looked at her thoughtfully. “Come with me.”

  She blinked, surprised. She hadn’t expected this offer, not when she was trying so hard to take her frustrations out on him. Why wouldn’t he rise to the bait? She could use a good fight, was desperate for one. It beat the clawing panic and rage threatening to shred her insides. “What?”

  He shrugged. “Or go visit your sister, Xera. The trip might be restful.”

  The suggestion stopped her short. The image of Ryven’s bloodthirsty stare came back to her, causing chills. She drew a steadying breath. Hallucinations were a side effect of the drug. Knowing that, she could ignore them.

  She looked to the side and deliberately scoffed, “Restful! It’s an eight-month journey! I’d be comatose by the end of it.” Dark visions aside, she truly couldn’t imagine being stuck on a ship that long with nothing to do. It’s not as if she could bring her brewing equipment with her…could she? How had Xera stood it?

  The dark pictures tried to rise again, distracting her. But Xera was a fighter. No one was better suited to defending herself than she was. Still, would she fight her husband? Could she?

  “What is it?”

  She blinked and focused on Azor’s careful expression. “It’s…nothing. Just…stuff…left over from the drug, I think.”

  “What kind of stuff?”

  She sighed. “Daydreams. Spooky thoughts. I had nightmares last night, too. The doctors said it should fade as it leaves my system.”

  He looked disturbed. “It’s been hours.”

  “Yeah. Maybe I should drink more fluids or something.” She shrugged, uncomfortable. “Well, I guess I’ll see you. Thanks for everything,” she said awkwardly. She wanted him to leave, but didn’t want to seem ungrateful.

  His cool green eyes slid over her face, seeing too much, but he didn’t nag her. “My pleasure. I’ll be in touch.” He brushed by as he left, causing a disturbing chill to chase down her arm. She shivered, because she knew what caused it. Azor was not the kind of man a woman ignored.

  Brandy decided she was severely stressed. It had just been that kind of day. Obviously she needed a break. It was in her best interests to go unwind before she exploded from tension and someone got hurt.

  She was still in turmoil when she pulled her speed tryck onto the racetrack. It wasn’t supposed to be open this early in the morning, but she had connections. She snapped on her helmet and revved the dark green tryck. The machine had two closely spaced wheels in front for stability and one in the rear that allowed for sharp turns, and it went wicked fast. No one understood her obsession, but as the tryck squealed off the asphalt and raced down the track, it blew her tension away. The rush of wind cleared her head, let her think.

  It was horrible, releasing the memories of last night. She began to shake. After two laps she had to stop, because she couldn’t control the bike. She tore off her helmet and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. There was no one to see.

  As she thought it, another tryck pulled up on her left. She glanced sideways and sniffed. Her glare didn’t scare the guy off. With that build, it could only be a guy.

  He had on a full-faced black helmet, and he didn’t seem put off by her tears. He revved his midnight blue tryck and looked at the track. He looked at her.

  “What? You want to race?” she demanded. She thought about it and decided the offer was appealing. It was why she’d come, after all. Her jaw hardened as she slipped her helmet on.

  The stranger held up three gloved fingers. He closed one, then two, and revved his engine. On three they took off.

  Brandy gunned her engine, felt the welcome surge of adrenaline. Her companion started to pull away from her. She poured on the coals and caught up.

  Lap after lap passed with nothing but the roar of the engines and silence of the empty stands. It was lonely and beautiful and freeing. When she finally slowed to a stop, she felt lightened. There might be more tears later, but at least she could cry. She’d been too tensed to allow tears before.

  The other rider pulled up and looked at her. He raised a hand in farewell.

  “Wait! Don’t I get a name?” she asked on impulse. He’d been a decent companion.

  He thought about it for a moment. “I’ll call you.” His voice sounded odd, kind of strained.

  “You don’t know my number!”

  “You work at The Spark. I’ve seen you. I’ll call there.” He took off without further comment.

  She didn’t know what to think. She had a secret admirer? Did it follow that he was a weirdo? He certainly knew how to ride.

  He thought she worked at the inn. Didn’t he know she was an owner? Was he new in town? She shook her head in confusion. First Azor, now this guy. Was there a secret society of men out to confuse her?

  She didn’t know what to do with such a day, so she headed home. She had a lot to think about.

  CHAPTER 5

  Azor looked at the man before him with distaste. Darren Topek looked the worse for his night on the town. His nose and eyes were swollen and his blond hair disheveled. He smelled like he needed a shower and his knee was in a brace. He stared morosely at the table, probably wishing he’d never heard of Brandy.

  Azor wished the same. Conscience of his boss acting the mediator and grateful for it, he leaned forward and said pleasantly, “So you had a big night last night. Didn’t end the way you’d hoped, did it?”

  Darren kept his mouth shut, but that would only help him so long.

  Azor studied the man and thought dark thoughts. “I have a personal grudge against rapists, and it’s my pleasure to remind you that you could earn the death penalty for what you did.”

  Darren looked up at that. “I didn’t do anything!”

  “Only because she turned out to be more of a handful than you’d expected. Not used to your victims fighting back, are you?”

  “I’ve never done that before,” Darren blurted, then looked as if he’d like to cut off his tongue. After a moment’s thought, he must have decided the news might save his neck, for he affirmed, “I swear, I’ve never been in trouble.”

  “Before,” Azor added. “Why now? Why her?”

  Darren kept mum.

  Azor placed an electric tablet before him. “Here’s my copy of the medical reports. You put too much drug in her drink. If she’d finished it, you’d be on trial for murder. The odds of you dying are looking good.” He sat back and waited. Topek looked terrible with his pallor making his black eyes stand out.

  It didn’t take long for him to ask, “What do you want from me?”

  Azor didn’t smile at his capitulation. They weren’t done. “Where did you get the drug?”

  Darren took a deep breath. “There was this guy in one of the clubs. He started a conv
ersation with me a couple nights ago and offered me the stuff. I’ve only been here a couple of years, but I noticed the local girls were really hard to date. You know, they’re stiff about…stuff.”

  “So you couldn’t get laid. I’m bleeding for you. Why Ms. Harrisdaughter?”

  Topek’s hand shook as he brushed the tangled hair from his eyes. “We were already talking. She said she wasn’t into messing around, but she had a reputation. I thought…”

  “Your word against hers would shine like truth and justice,” Azor suggested mildly. “That’s pretty cold. Maybe I should let the judge have his way if that’s all you’ve got to say. He owes me one.”

  Darren talked faster. “Look, they say she’s dealt drugs herself, that her family was rich and bribed a judge to let her go. Her sister’s supposed to be a slut, too—“

  “Careful,” Azor warned softly. The urge to strike was hard to resist. He had to fight to keep his hand loose, to keep from forming a fist.

  He must have seen the change from cop to predator, for Darren held up his cuffed hands in a gesture of peace. “Look, I’m just telling you what I heard. There’s always been rumors about them. I mean, there was all that stuff about them a few years ago; it was in all the papers. I thought…well, I thought a girl like that wouldn’t really mind…you know. I thought it might even be a kind of justice—you know, if she got what she deserved.”

  “Very righteous of you,” Azor said with a curl to his lip. He stood up, disgusted with the whole conversation. “I have some pictures for you to look at. You’re going to help us find the dealer.”

  “I don’t really remember much about him,” Darren said nervously.

  A hard light gleamed in Azor’s eyes. “Let’s see if we can help you remember.”

  Chief Puyta didn’t look happy when they left the interrogation room. “I hate the rumor mill. Those girls don’t deserve to go through this again.” He meant the upcoming trial, of course, and the media circus that would go with it.

  Azor grunted. It was little consolation that Topek had identified the suspect. They could throw him in jail, but it seemed there was always another one to take his place. “She ought to take a long vacation—off world.”

  “Yes. You should let her tag along when you take your vacation. I’d feel happier if she traveled with an escort; that is, if you two can keep from bickering for once.”

  That earned him a quelling glance, though it was milder than normal. After all, this was his boss. “Believe it or not, I tried. Anyone with sense can see it’s in her best interests. She’ll never do it, though. She won’t run.” She wasn’t always wise, but she didn’t scare easily. He felt a reluctant admiration for her stubbornness, but he still wished she’d wise up.

  “It would help if Gem got behind the idea. She can make her sisters do anything. Maybe you should mention it to her.” The chief looked at him expectantly.

  Azor winced. “We’ll see. I can’t imagine she’d like to travel far.” He thought about it for moment. “I’ll dig up some travel brochures about Ictharus II.” It was a pleasant little planet, and conveniently close to Polaris. If Brandy became a pest, he wouldn’t have to tolerate her long. Besides, he’d already offered to take her at least that far.

  As he thought about their earlier conversation, he was reminded of Brandy’s reaction when he’d mentioned visiting her sister. Daydreams, spooky thoughts… He remembered the rumors about the drug. Was she having more than nightmares? Slowly, he asked, “Have we heard anything about Euphoria’s side effects? Has there been any confirmation of the…mental phenomena? The foreknowing?”

  Puyta blinked. “Are you asking me if I’ve met any prophets lately? Why? Does this have something to do with Brandy? What did the doctors say?”

  Azor shook his head. “I’m just wondering. Maybe it’s just lingering a bit. If things were seriously wrong, it would be obvious, wouldn’t it? She’s not matching any of the symptoms on the checklist the doctor gave me.”

  “Well, stay on it. Make her see a doctor if things get worse.”

  Azor nodded absently. He intended to keep a close eye on the girl.

  The call came that evening after dinner. Brandy was immersed in a video feed and had actually forgotten her afternoon’s encounter as she absently reached for the com.

  “Hi.” There was a pause. “I said I’d call.”

  Brandy sat up. It was the guy from the track! “Hi! Uh…I didn’t really think you would.”

  There was an awkward pause. “Maybe I’d better go.”

  “No! I mean…I enjoyed riding with you today. Are you often at the track?”

  “Sometimes. You shouldn’t ride alone. Accidents happen.”

  She’d heard that note of concern before. “You sound like my family.” She paused suspiciously. “This isn’t Blue, is it?”

  There was a choking noise. “Your brother in law? Hardly.”

  “How do you know my brother in law?”

  He sighed. “Look, everyone knows your family. That’s just one more reason I shouldn’t have called. They wouldn’t like me. I don’t have the best reputation.”

  “Why? Are you a drug dealer?” she asked suspiciously. She was ready to hang up.

  “No. I’m…a stripper.” He sounded suspiciously grave. Was he laughing at her?

  “Really,” she said doubtfully.

  “I work at a club downtown. You know, one of those places women go wearing masks.”

  She’d heard of such places, of course. The police were constantly raiding them. Not that it kept them closed for long—they were too popular. “I’ve never been.”

  “Yeah. I figured.”

  “That sounds sarcastic.”

  “It’s a complement. You don’t need to hang out in a place like that.”

  “What about you?” she asked curiously. He sounded like a decent guy. What made him chose such a living?

  There was a long pause. “I’ve got people depending on me. Family.”

  “So you’re married,” she said coldly. As far as she was concerned, it was the end of the conversation. She looked for the “end” button, but his urgent words were loud enough to stop her.

  “No! My sister. She’s been sick. She can’t work, and she’s got kids. A laborer’s job won’t pay the bills.” Another pause. He added almost shyly, “I’m going to school during the day. Another year and I’ll get my degree.” He didn’t need to add that he looked forward to changing his life; it was there in his voice.

  She digested that. Interesting. His circumstances made her think he might be younger than her, though. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-three.”

  She winced. A younger man. That would seal her infamy.

  At her continued silence, he said coolly, “Look, I’ve got to get back to work. I won’t call you again, okay?”

  “I’ve…” she began, uncertain what she’d say, but found she was surprisingly unwilling to end the call. Was she that lonely? “I respect that you’re trying to change your life. I’ve been there.” She thought about it, and then added firmly, “You can call again, but understand that I will mention it to my family. I’m not into secret relationships.”

  “You can tell anyone you like. They’ll talk you out of me soon enough,” he said dryly. “Probably be best.”

  “You can’t be worse than my last date,” she said darkly.

  He waited a moment, and then asked carefully, “It went badly?”

  She shut her mouth against the urge to tell him, but something made her admit, “He tried to rape me.”

  “I’m sorry.” His voice had deepened, become grim. “I have a personal grudge against rapists.”

  She swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

  “I’m glad he didn’t succeed,” he added softly. “You don’t deserve that kind of treatment.”

  Her throat tightened. It wasn’t funny, but she laughed. “You don’t really know me.”

  “You think you deserved it?”

  “No.”
/>
  “Good. Now I really do have to go. It’s my shift.”

  “Call again.”

  He paused. “Maybe.”

  “Please.” There was a discreet beep as the com signaled she had another call. She frowned in annoyance as she waited for his answer.

  “I wish you the best.”

  “That’s not a—“ She made a face at the dial tone. He’d hung up.

  The com chirped again. Annoyed, she took the call. “Yes?”

  “Hello, sis.” The voice was grainy, echoing, but clearly Xera’s.

  Brandy sat up, suddenly charged with adrenaline. She forced herself to speak normally. Xera would think she was crazy if she started spouting off about her nightmare. She fought to keep the strain out of her voice. “Hey! You called me at a decent hour. What is it, O-Dark-Thirty there?”

  “I was up anyway. Couldn’t sleep.”

  Brandy frowned. Xera calling at a decent hour was always suspicious, and she knew Gem. “Why? Did Gem call and wake you up?”

  Xera stifled a yawn. “The baby. So how are you?”

  “Fine,” she said guardedly. “Yourself?”

  Xera wasn’t one for small talk, at least with her sisters. The poor connection made it necessary to get down to details. The signal could break at any time. “I want you to come visit.”

  “What?”

  “You know, hop on a ship and fly my way. It’s easy. I want you to see my children.”

  There was only one reason Xera would make such an offer. She thought Brandy was in trouble. The offer was hardly surprising, considering that Gem had mentioned the subject of travel this very afternoon. Her sisters were trying to fix her problems. “You said yourself it’s a hostile border. Besides, it would take me most of a year to get there.”

  “It would seem much shorter with the new semi-suspension technology. You’d sleep for weeks, wake up for a week, and sleep again. It’s no big deal. Besides, the border has calmed down a great deal in the past few years. We’d meet you part way and escort you the rest of the way here.” Xera had married into a powerful family. She could have a couple of warships at her disposal with little trouble.