by Jaleta Clegg
"I love you," he said. "No matter what. And yes, I want a family. With you."
She kissed him, long and slow. Neither of them noticed when he dropped the blanket on the ground.
The hatch opened, spilling light across them.
"You finished yet?" Jerimon asked.
"I'm going to kill him," Clark whispered against Jasyn's cheek.
"You're going to have to wait until I'm through," Jasyn answered. "We should have stayed out all night."
"Scholar's figured where we need to go," Jerimon said. "The tanks are almost full. We should be able to leave by noon tomorrow." He came down the boarding ramp to stand near them. "Did you see Larella anywhere?"
"She's still out there?" Clark asked as he retrieved the blanket and shook twigs out.
"She left right after supper," Jerimon said. "I thought she'd be back by now."
"You want help looking for her?" Clark slipped his free arm around Jasyn again.
"I'll call if I don't spot her soon," Jerimon said holding up his com. "She said something about going to the grave site and calming ghosts." He tucked the com into his pocket and walked away into the night.
"An excuse to be alone with her, I'll bet you dishes tomorrow," Jasyn said, watching her brother.
"I don't take sucker bets," Clark answered. "He's completely head over heels about her."
"You noticed."
"It would be very hard not to notice. She's just as bad about him."
"I hope he's smart enough not to lose her."
"She isn't running away, Jasyn. She wants him to catch her."
"Yo, spacer people," Doggo called from the open hatch. "Scholar wants to talk to you."
"Privacy," Clark muttered.
"Not on that ship, not right now," Jasyn answered.
They walked up the boarding ramp together.
Scholar had his globe of light dancing over the table again. Senshi, Fitch, and Reeco had their hands in it.
"I copped the code," Scholar said. "I think we're supposed to find somewhere called Tebros. You ever heard of it?"
Jasyn swore.
"You learn that from Dace?" Clark asked. He bundled the blanket into the cleaner. "What's up with Tebros?"
"We were banned from Tebros."
"We?" Clark asked.
"Dace and me," Jasyn said. "That's where we bought the Phoenix. Tebros won't let us land. And neither will Viya Station."
"I'm almost afraid to ask what you two did," Clark said. Ghost meowed at him, appearing from nowhere like normal. He picked her up, cradling her against his chest. The cat purred. She was getting very round.
"It involved the Sessimoniss and Belliff," Jasyn said. "It's the reason we never came back this way. One reason anyway."
"So we show up as the Phoenix and they say go away?" Scholar asked.
Doggo's eyes bugged out of his face as he stared at Jasyn. "What did you two spacer chicks do?"
"Jerimon told him about Vallius," Clark said.
"Story time," Doggo begged.
"Later," Jasyn said, dodging the issue. She didn't want to talk about it.
"We could reprogram your beacon, rename the ship," Scholar said. "I only need a few hours on Tebros. Long enough to tap the datanet and retrieve Lowell's messages." He smiled, a lazy grin that oozed mischief. "He has a code that propagates itself through the official Patrol messages. It piggybacks in, disguised as destination markers. Within two weeks he can have a message anywhere in the Empire."
"Are you sure he'll have one there?" Clark asked.
"Diego," Fitch said. "We found a patch here that mentions Tebros."
"Leon has an office there," Jasyn said. "If all else fails, we can get him to run interference for us."
"If he's there," Clark said. "And just what does diego mean?"
"Means yes," Scholar said, leaning back and stretching his hands over his head. He cracked his knuckles.
Senshi did something with her finger and the bright bubble of light collapsed. Scholar gathered up the pad.
"I dumped the relevant data to your ship computer," Scholar said. "Jerimon said we could leave tomorrow." He looked a question at Clark.
"Then we should be able to leave." Clark leaned against the wall, studying the teens still at the table. "You should probably stay on Tebros, out of the way."
Doggo snorted.
"Like that's going to happen," Reeco said.
"He had to try," Scholar said. "If I didn't know you'd be safer where I could watch you, I'd make you stay. These people play for keeps."
"I laugh at danger," Doggo proclaimed, his hand in the air.
"Doggo," Scholar said. "You remember on Xqtl? How mean they were? These people are worse."
Doggo's face went pasty. He lowered his arm. "Worse?"
"You're going to stay back with me and fight them through the computers," Scholar said. "If possible. Let the people who know how to use guns be the ones with the guns. You got it?"
"Diego," Doggo said, visibly deflating. "I don't think I like these adventures much."
"It hasn't even started yet," Scholar said. He shifted attention to Jasyn. "You want me to reprogram your beacon?"
"You can do that without compromising it?"
"I can program a patch over it that interrupts the data feed and inserts a new name and registration code. Everything will track normally. Easy." Scholar looked confident.
"I'm not even going to ask how you learned to do that," Clark said. It was highly illegal, almost as bad as tampering with the chip itself.
"Grow up on a world controlled by a crime syndicate and you learn all sorts of useful tricks," Scholar said. "You're already wanted for treason. What's another crime compared to that?"
Jasyn laughed, tickled by a memory.
"You think it's funny?" Clark asked her, puzzled by her shift in attitude.
"Just remembering how many charges we racked up when Targon was chasing us the first time. A stack of paper this high," she held two fingers several inches apart. "It took them six hours just to read through them all."
"And you didn't tell me all this before I married you?" Clark asked. "I married a criminal, a crime queen with a rap sheet longer than—"
"Leon got most of them dismissed and I thought you already knew. You knew everything else about me."
"Not what was important."
"They're getting mushy," Fitch said. "I think I'm gonna puke."
"Hush up," Senshi said, smacking him across the back of the head. "I think it's sweet."
"And I think I've had enough of an audience," Jasyn muttered.
"Later," Clark mouthed and winked at her.
The knot of worry was loosening. His smile worked miracles. Things were going to work out. Look how bad they'd been before. And everything had worked out then. It had to work out this time. It would. Dace was involved. Dace could wiggle her way out of anything. Jasyn made herself breathe deep, blowing out tension.
"Reeco," Clark was saying, "help me check the levels on the distiller."
Jasyn watched her husband walk out of the ship, trailed by Reeco. She loved him, more than she ever thought possible. She just wished they'd manage to stay out trouble long enough to have a normal life. Children. She smiled at the thought. Clark had agreed. He wanted a dozen. Too many for her, but maybe she could work her way up to it, if he was serious.
"What you smiling at now?" Doggo asked her.
"Nothing you'd understand," Jasyn said.
"You tell me about the Sessimoniss now?"
"I think I'm going to bed now. Good night."
* * *
The moon of Jericho was small, a bluish ball that rose over the horizon long after sunset. It washed the landscape blue and silver. Jerimon picked his way through the settlement, headed for the hillside where they'd buried the victims earlier. He saw Larella, sitting on a block of stone with her feet tucked underneath her. She had her head back, eyes closed to the moonlight. Her pale skin glowed eerily. Her dark hair was loose, hangin
g in curls around her face. He stopped a hundred yards away, drinking in the sight of her. She was beautiful, more so than any woman he'd ever met. And she was so sweet, kind and gentle. She was perfect.
He thought at one time that Dace was perfect, but he could see now that they would never have fit together the way he did with Larella. He wondered if she'd realized that, if that was why Dace had kept him at arm's length. Larella lowered her head and opened her eyes. She was looking at him. And smiling. He moved towards her.
He stopped a few yards away. He was uncertain now that she was so close. He had never felt this way about anyone before. His hands were sweaty. His heart beat too fast. She turned her head towards him and he caught the glitter of a tear on her cheek. Without stopping to think, he moved. He was beside her, catching her in his arms before he realized what he was doing. He brushed the tear from her cheek.
"What's wrong?" he whispered, unwilling to trust his voice. He swallowed hard as she reached up with her hand to catch his. His other hand on her back felt her warmth.
"It's so sad here," she said. "They're all dead and in such pain."
She lifted her other hand and touched his mouth. Her fingers were soft, her touch lighter than the breeze that drifted past.
"Don't talk," she whispered. "Just hold me, let me feel you live."
He stared into her eyes, only inches from his. She closed her eyes, her hand slipping from his mouth to his shoulder. He leaned forward, unable to resist. He kissed her.
It was tentative, barely a brush of lip against lip. He pulled back, ready to apologize. He hadn't meant to kiss her. She sighed and slipped her hand behind his head.
"I was wondering when you'd finally admit it." She leaned forward and kissed him. It was not tentative. It was firm and warm and full of promises. She moved back mere inches to look up into his face. "Lady Rina promised me the Lovers. She promised me I'd find my soul mate."
"And have you?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
She answered him by kissing him again, sliding forward on the rock until she was in his lap. "Jerimon," she whispered his name, just his name. It was answer enough.
Chapter 32
Tayvis stared at the wall above Roderick's head.
"This is unacceptable. I've given you plenty of time and yet, you still haven't found that woman who broke into my office and stole my files. I'm beginning to doubt your competence."
Tayvis tuned out the rest of Roderick's rant. He'd been subjected to it almost constantly for the last week. It would help if the man let him do his job instead of hauling him around like an untrustworthy pet. He might have been able to get a line on Dace when she left Drometheus, except Roderick had panicked and run for his retreat on Lushay, dragging Tayvis with him. Roderick had left Tayvis at the port office, a tiny building that was little more than a posh waiting room, with strict orders to recover the files and arrest those involved in stealing them. Impossible when you had no resources and no connection to any datanet.
"And that is why I've requested another agent. He's better than you. He won't get himself shot by the catering staff." Roderick wagged a finger at Tayvis. "You will stay here, with an assault team, and set a trap. Just in case they try to raid my home. Not that they'll find anything except my useless sister. And if you fail, I will personally see to it that you are not only dishonorably discharged from the Patrol, but executed as a traitor to the crown. I will not stand for incompetence, not when I have a choice."
Tayvis stood impassive to Roderick's tirade. His arrogant posturing grated on Tayvis' nerves. Roderick was by far the most incompetent and inept politician Tayvis had ever had the misfortune to meet. Yet he held the power. Tayvis had been put under his orders. Had Nuella known when he assigned Tayvis? Had Nuella been trying to help Lowell or was Tayvis facing more condemnation when he returned empty-handed to Linas-Drias? He'd been set an impossible task. If Roderick hadn't impeded every move, Tayvis might have been able to catch Lowell. Whether he took him into custody would have depended on Lowell's answers. But that was a moot point. Lowell would never be stupid enough to land on Lushay.
Tayvis let Roderick's words flow past, barely listening to the now-familiar raving. Dace was working for Lowell. She believed Lowell's claims enough to steal for him. Tayvis had only been looking for a quiet room at the party. He hadn't expected Lowell to send her. She'd caught him off guard. He hadn't expected Dace to shoot him. If he could erase that haunted look in her eyes, he would. In a few months, he'd be free of the Patrol. He only hoped she'd be waiting for him on Proxima, like she'd promised. He was tired of the games, tired of second-guessing everything he was told, tired of never trusting anyone.
He caught the sound of a shuttle landing and tuned back in.
"I'm headed for court. Don't burn down my mansion." Roderick wiggled his fingers into gloves. "And just to be perfectly clear, you are not in command of anything except the arrest team. And if you bungle that, you will face a firing squad. Ah, here he comes. Meet your commanding officer." Roderick waved his hand, his lace cuff fluttering.
"Well, well, if it isn't old Bootlicker."
Tayvis clenched his hands into fists. Not this man, never this man. "Good to see you, too, Vance."
Roderick smiled. "I see you two know each other. Good. That simplifies things. You screw up again, Commander Tayvis, and it will be your last time. Are we clear?"
"Perfectly, sir." Tayvis bit off each word as he fought back the wave of anger.
Vance Shiropi waited to speak until Roderick and his train of assistants left the room on their way to the shuttle.
"Imagine my surprise when I'm pulled from my duties to take over a simple assignment. A massive failure run by none other than Lowell's pet agent, Tayvis. Who had the brilliantly stupid idea of setting you to catch Lowell?"
Tayvis crossed his arms over his chest. "If you're in command, you should know who gave me my orders."
Vance smiled, a cold curving of his elegant face. "Are you sure you want to play that game with me?"
Tayvis gave him a flat stare. Vance had tormented him since their first day at Military Academy when they were both twelve. He'd only play nice if it got him what he wanted.
Vance broke eye contact first, glancing out the window to watch the shuttle lift. "I've read your file. I know where your sympathies lie." He shifted his gaze back to Tayvis. "If I get even a hint that you are helping Lowell or his people, I'll personally deliver you to High Command for your trial. Are we clear?"
"Perfectly."
"Your squad is setting up camp beyond the fence. I expect to find you there, coordinating surveillance on Hom Medallis' mansion. You are not to set foot on his property unless there is an incursion. It will be remote only."
Tayvis turned to leave. Another impossible condition on an already impossible assignment. How was he supposed to guard something half a world away? And how was he supposed to do it without mutilating Vance's pretty face? That temptation was going to be a hard one to resist.
"And Tayvis," Vance waved a folded paper, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you've been demoted. I expect you to salute and wait for dismissal."
Tayvis crumpled the official paper in his fist as he stalked from the room.
Vance's voice followed him. "That's your first warning. Show proper respect or you'll be scrubbing troop transport bathrooms for the rest of your miserable career."
Chapter 33
"Are you sure about this, Lowell?" I asked for the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.
He didn't bother to answer. He was hunched over the ship's computer, his hands poised and ready.
We hit transition and it was too late. I was very busy for a few minutes. I was the only pilot on board. Lydia was a passable engineer, still working on her qualifications. She was running the scans. Marshal had just certified as a navigator. He sat behind me, ready to set a new course almost as soon as we were through with this one.
We were planning on stopping on Cygnus barely long e
nough to refuel for the long jump to Onipas. And just long enough for Lowell to do whatever it was he was doing with the computer and the com. He wouldn't share though he'd been working on it the whole three days from Zanius to Cygnus, when he wasn't sleeping.
Onipas was a far jump, but after Lowell frowned at the charts for a while, he agreed it was the best place for us to hide until it was time to make the jump to Calloway where the secret lab was hidden. Onipas was too far out of the loop to be a problem, even if they had learned who we were and that we were wanted for treason. I was counting on Omar's hospitality. This time Jasyn wouldn't be there to drag me off to all the women's activities. This time I could just sit and soak up sunshine. And relax.
I took a deep breath and blew out the tension. We weren't in the Phoenix, we were in a ship that wasn't listed as wanted. We would be fine. As long as I stayed in the ship, no one would find us. We would be safe. Lydia and Marshal were going to take care of all the port business. I was trying to talk myself into relaxing but it wasn't working very well. We were too close to Shamustel, where people in unmarked black flitters had tried to kill me. I still didn't know who they were. I hoped they weren't waiting for us on Cygnus. My gut believed they were. It was in knots again.
Cygnus had an automated docking sequence for the orbital stations. We were only pausing long enough to refuel, we weren't landing on the planet. That helped me feel a little better. Except I had little to do but twiddle my thumbs while the station reeled us in and clamped us to the side.
"We're docked," Marshal said. He started programming the course to Onipas.
Lydia spoke to station control, arranging for refueling. They knew her and her ship. There were no awkward questions. "It's all automatic," she told me. "It will take a couple of hours. I'm going to go shopping."
Shopping? How could she? But she wasn't the one on the most wanted list. She smiled and left the cockpit.
"Ah," Lowell said to himself. Strings of data flowed across the screen. He hit a final key and sat back, running a hand through his silvery hair. "That's done."
