I bowed to her with true respect in my heart.
Brody yanked me from the group, setting a fast pace toward the market. “We’re meeting my contact on the other side of the station, so we’ll cut across. Don’t browse. We’ve lost enough time already.”
“No shopping. Got it.” I pressed close behind him, taking in his scent. As usual, the aisles were crowded, but Brody wove a graceful path through the traders and their customers. I kept my eyes forward, not allowing the shiny trinkets to distract me, no matter how pretty or odd. Like the pink crystal necklace a Kandarian pleasure slave modeled for the crowd. It would look beautiful on my pale skin, especially if I wore nothing else. Brody just might agree to stop if I explained my plans for that piece of jewelry.
I ran into something solid and bit my tongue. “Ow.” The bitter taste of blood made me grimace. Twisting my head forward, I only saw Brody’s back.
He’d halted without warning.
I leaned my head to the side of him to see what drew his complete attention then sucked in a breath.
A Ko stood by a familiar red tent. I blinked. “Shit.” It belonged to the merchant I’d bought the book from and the Metax was gripped in the Ko’s fist. Our gazes met.
The merchant waved his hands about, shouting, and then pointed straight at me.
Brody pulled me close and melted us into the crowd. “Is that who you bought the book from?”
I nodded. My heart beat in my throat and choked any possible words of apology.
“I wish you’d listen to me.” He scanned the area with a sharp glance, then swallowed visibly. “You remember our escape plans?”
I nodded again, still unable to speak. We always checked each station we docked at for hidey-holes in case of these types of situations, and we knew this station well.
He kissed me quick and ran past the Ko, trying to draw its attention.
My stomach sank, but I didn’t have time to think.
The Ko didn’t take Brody’s well-meant bait. It was already halfway to me. I ducked under the table and crawled along the aisle from vendor to vendor, the sound of my heart drumming in my ears.
Parovi Space Station was small in comparison to the bigger shipping lane stations. It had one docking ring and only catered to oxygen breathers. The market was in the center with bars, restaurants and hotels lining the main floor. Residents lived in the upper corridors and the maintenance was housed below, which was where we’d meet. I hated separating, but it gave us better chances to survive. If one got caught, the other could do the rescuing.
What if I lost him? I didn’t want to be alone again.
I heard a sharp cry just as a clawed hand wrapped around my upper arm. “What you doin’?” A Metax merchant lifted me from under his table. “Thief.”
“I ain’t stolen nothing. Let go.” I wiggled in his grasp while searching the crowd. Upon turning around, my heart jumped out of my chest. I came face to face with my worst nightmare.
The Ko bent at its waist and drew closer. My horror-filled reflection stared back at me from its dark visor.
All thoughts of Brody and our meeting vanished in a wave of white terror. I slapped the helmeted face from mine then bit the Metax’s clawed hand holding me in place. The sour flavor of Metax flooded my mouth, but he released me with a howl. Jumping over the table of cooking wares, I evaded the Ko’s large gloved hands and landed in the aisle with a clatter of metal pots. I didn’t dare look back. I focused my gaze on the closest exit and made a direct path for it over tables, through tents and around staring pedestrians.
It had seen my face. It knew.
I couldn’t catch my breath. My disguise wouldn’t be good anymore. What was I going to do? The sound of the station alarm shattered my thoughts. I clutched my ears and stared at the large advertising screen over the exit door. My Jurranian face came on with the words Possible Human Incursion scrolling underneath.
No. No. No.
I had to get to Brody. He’d promised to never let them take me alive. Maybe I could make it to an airlock. I shook my head to clear my jumbled thoughts. Everyone around me stood still and stared. Shit, I had to move.
As if hearing my thoughts, one of the bystanders let out a cry to the Ko and pointed in my direction.
I ran. Pumping my arms and legs as fast as they could go, I sprinted from the market and hit the emergency stairwell. I took them at break-neck speed, jumping as many as I could between steps. My breaths came in ragged drags and sweat trickled down my face. I heard the clank of Ko boots following and a new surge of terror gave wings to my feet.
4
I exited onto the lowest level. The heat from the station’s life support system scalded my lungs as I stumbled onto the metallic catwalk. Sweat pasted my jumpsuit to my skin and the air seemed too thin. The Ko were on my ass and I didn’t have time to think. All I understood was I couldn’t lead them to Brody.
The underbelly of the station consisted of a catwalk maze that connected different areas of the operating systems. I possibly could get lost in here forever and no one would ever find my dried up corpse. The thud of boots ringing against the metal grate floors kept me running and I didn’t want them getting any louder.
Light on my feet, I tried to stay silent but I was sure they could hear my heart drumming. Left, right, sprint, down more stairs. There was no method to my madness except to stay ahead until we were all good and lost. Maybe they’d give up the hunt if I led them too far astray. One could hope.
My lungs burned and legs weighed as much as the ore we’d just mined, but I could still hear them coming. The damn beasts didn’t tire. I kept glancing over my shoulder expecting to see them rounding the corner. My shoulder slammed into a solid mass. The impact jarred my body so much, my back hit the floor before my brain registered I’d fallen. I blinked, trying to clear my vision. What seemed like a dark wall morphed into a Ko soldier bending toward me.
I screamed. The sound tore past my vocal cords with a razor’s edge and I swatted aside the large hand reaching for my throat. Rolling farther onto my back, I used the momentum to kick the Ko under the chin with both feet. All this came by reflex after years of corridor and dockside fighting. Life in the void wasn’t easy; only the tough survived.
Something clicked against my heel when I made contact and the Ko’s helmet hissed. Fog poured from the edges where it met his suit then it popped off his head.
Our gazes met. My vertical fake slit eyes to his orange glowing ones. His skin was the same shade as his suit and his full upper lip curled as if he smelled something distasteful. I’d never heard of anyone seeing a Ko. My death warrant was in his glare.
I was so stunned, when he backhanded me across the face it was as if I welcomed it. The sharp pain flashed across my cheek. Thankfully, I didn’t hear anything crack. Fingers wrapped around my shoulders while blood filled my mouth. He lifted me at arm’s length but I still managed to spit in his face.
Red, foamy spittle landed on his black skin and sizzled. He dropped me and howling, tried to wipe it off. His skin bubbled and melted as if my bloody spit were acid.
I landed on my feet and spun, coming against his friends. “Ko shit.” I backpedaled past the screaming Ko on his knees. His friends glanced at each other, and then trained their weapons on the injured one. With one shot, he was dead. Not waiting for an encore, I continued my marathon sprint through the twisting catwalks and descended more stairs. What would happen when I hit bottom? The climb would be killer.
I had to either run or hide.
My body told me running wasn’t an option any more. I lumbered away from the stairwell in a hurry, scanning the pipes and machinery for a cubby I could squeeze into. Somewhere small, where the Ko couldn’t follow.
There.
An air duct on the far wall traveled over the reactor to the other side of the station. It hung by brackets from the ceiling. The Ko wouldn’t fit inside of it, and I might be light enough not to tear it from the braces. I stepped quickly to the grate and p
opped it off. Shoving my backpack in first, I crawled behind it, pushing until I could set the grate back on with a desperate stretch of muscle and flexibility born from terror.
I sat and listened, waiting to hear their cry of discovery. My panting sounded so loud, how could they miss me? I tried to slow my breathing, taking slow quiet inhales and letting them pass through my lips as a whisper, but my lungs ached with need and stars flashed in my vision. The stairwell door clanged open and one of the Ko hollered over the others. The noise startled me into motion like a starting pistol. Pushing my bag, I crept through the air duct, keeping my pace easy and steady.
The Ko made enough noise searching for my presence that I didn’t fear the occasional metallic ping the duct made from my weight. I did worry it would mask any signs that the duct was giving out. I would make it. I had to. Brody waited for me on the other side. Hope was all I had left.
The floor of the duct grew warmer until it stung the palms of my hands. I must have been right over the reactor. Placing my hands on my backpack, I used it as protection while skating it forward. My progress slowed and the heat grew, burning my knees through the thick cloth of my suit.
The air blowing within the ducts would travel throughout the station. I paused to wipe the sweat from my eyes, then stared at my wet hand. My scent would move with that air. I grinned. It would make tracking me harder for the Ko. They’d smell me everywhere. A surge of energy sprang into my limbs and I picked up the pace. I’d find my Brody soon. He’d promised to take care of us if we ever were caught, and he never broke a promise.
I listened through the grill at the other end of the air duct, but heard only machines. Things were too automated to waste crew down here. They’d be sent if an alarm went off or something malfunctioned, but not to monitor. The station hub could watch the gauges. Popping the cover off, I shoved my backpack out and peeked around the edges. Nothing moved. No one shouted. I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Brody would meet me by the waste disposal unit. No one hung around there; the smell could peel paint. I swung my backpack on and raced on weak knees to the rendezvous point. Glancing over my shoulder, I didn’t see anyone following or hear pursuit. A huge smile spread across my face, cramping my cheeks.
I got away.
The meeting spot wasn’t too far now, then we could figure out an escape. I remembered seeing a massive live cargo ship listed on the station manifest. They were stocking their hold for a trip to the inner systems. Maybe we could stowaway on board. Hide with the livestock. I couldn’t wait to hug my man tight and kiss him into oblivion.
Turning the corner toward the waste disposal unit, I stopped mid-step, my grin fading. Swinging around, I scanned the area. Brody wasn’t here. My racing heart skipped beats as I paced the area. What if he’d gotten caught? Running my hands over my pinned hair, I tried to ignore their tremors. My chest grew tight with the effort not to cry. Jurranians didn’t shed tears, but I was tired of pretending to be something I wasn’t. All running and hiding then running some more. What kind of life was that?
A horrid one. I wiped my nose on the back of my sleeve and continued to pace. I’d lost all my family. Each one had sacrificed themselves in some way or the other so I’d survive, and what for?
Screw this, I couldn’t wait. They must have captured Brody. I needed to find the Ko ship and see if I could rescue him. I wouldn’t let another person I loved go without a fight.
Spinning around, I stormed from the disposal unit and rounded the corner, right into someone. I gasped and stumbled back, only to see the face I’d wanted to the most. “Brody!” I leapt and wrapped him in my limbs.
“Whoa.” He clung to me and caught his balance.
I punched his shoulder. “I thought they got you.” Then grabbed him by the hair and planted a kiss on his mouth before he could answer. We met in a clash of teeth and lips, his taste hot on my tongue. He was safe. They didn’t have him. My relief was so great, I nearly melted in his arms.
He broke off the kiss and set me down on my feet. His gaze lingered on my fat lip. “You alright?”
I nodded, unable to tell him how close I came to being Ko bait.
“We’re already late for the meeting and your picture is plastered on every vid screen in the station.”
“You still want to go?”
“It’s our best hope of getting off station.” He clasped my hand and tugged me to follow. “We’ll take the outer service corridors to the dock. They want to meet in a repair shop away from the market.”
“The outer sectors are for mechanoids. They’re cold.”
“We’ll have to move fast to keep from freezing, but we don’t have any options.”
I nodded and chewed my lip to keep quiet. My instincts all cried to hide in the live cargo ship, but Brody knew about these contacts better than I did, and I was the one who’d caused all the Ko trouble.
“First, let’s get off this level.” He directed me from the central core of the station toward the outer walls of the station. “There might be lifts or stairs this way, but we can’t go back the way we came. The Ko are covering all the exits, which is why it took me so long to make my way here.”
I ground my heels into the floor. “Would they blow the station?”
“I don’t know, but we best not be hanging around to find out.”
“But the people—”
“Lucille.” He glared at me over his shoulder while increasing our pace. “We ain’t responsible for the crazy Ko. If the stationers don’t want to die at their hands, then they need to take arms and defend themselves. Two humans won’t make any difference.”
“I just feel bad.”
“Me too.” He nodded as if answering an inner question. “Me too.”
We stopped at a narrow and short lift door, where Brody knelt, fiddled with the control box case. “Open my pack and hand me my gear.”
I searched inside the backpack he still wore and found the switchboard with wires he used to override things. Using computer crystals and jury-rigged tech from multiple races, my Brody could reprogram almost anything mechanical.
He yanked out the control box wiring. “I don’t have time for finesse.” He winked at me as he connected his gear with a few sure moves. The lift doors slid open with a puff of frosty air.
“Dang. This is going to suck.” The outer tunnels and corridors for maintenance mechanoids didn’t contain much atmosphere, only what leaked in from the station. It wasn’t instant death to travel them, but it wasn’t comfortable and we didn’t want to be trapped. This tunnel went vertical. Mechanoids could hover or fly through them. We’d have to climb.
“A mech is coming.” He tossed me his control thingy and lunged inside the lift.
“Brody.” My voice had risen to an unnatural octave.
He came out holding a mechanoid, and then wrangled with the thing until its control panel popped open. With a few light touches, the mech shut down. “This is good. I’ll reprogram it to carry us up to the resident levels. From there we can travel to the repair shop.”
“Okay.” I sounded sure. That was what I wanted. Inside, I pictured hanging onto a mech with a very long drop under me. Sweat re-bloomed over my skin. Great. Now I’d be slippery.
He clipped his gear to the mech and had it running in no time. “I’ll keep a hold on the mech, but you need to grip onto me. Can you do that?”
I nodded.
He bent to meet my stare. “If you drop, I’ll follow.”
I swallowed. His threat forced me to be truthful. “I’ll hold on as tight as I can, but the trip has to be fast.” I was small and light, but that meant I didn’t have a whole lot of muscle mass for heroic stunts.
Brody guided my hand to the straps on his backpack, where he wrapped them around my wrists. “Hold here. I’ll do the rest.” He set the mech by the open door and hooked his fingers into the underside of the bot as it floated upward.
My heart stopped. He was supporting our weight with the edges of his finge
rs. I sucked in a scream and wanted to close my eyes, but he stared at me, his face red and the muscles in his shoulders trembling. “You can do it,” I whispered.
He gasped and shifted our weight as we rose faster and faster.
The cold ate into my bones, and I tried not to take in the oxygen Brody needed. As my eyes fought to roll back into my head, I sensed deceleration and heard the lift door slide open. Dragged over the floor, I was deposited on top of Brody by the mech, who returned to the lift. “Nice job.” I patted his cheek with numb fingers.
“Thanks.” He breathed hard. “Next time, I suggest the outer corridors. Remind me of this.”
“If we have a next time.” I rolled off and examined our surroundings. The metallic flooring and walls spoke of a low-end neighborhood, which was what we wanted. It meant we were close to the dock. I helped Brody to his feet. “You good?”
“Fine.” He shook his hands to get the blood flowing once more.
“Look. There’s an exit sign.” I started for it, but he grabbed my arm.
“Let me go first. Everyone is looking for your face.” He unclipped my hair and let it tumble. “Try to hide your features.”
I settled the tangles around my cheeks and gave myself enough space to watch Brody stride ahead of me. Keeping his pace proved a little more difficult. Jurranian females never wore their hair down in public, so my organic veil was a new obstacle to overcome.
He descended the stairwell two steps at a time and would whistle when the area was clear for me to follow. My heart swelled on the verge of bursting. He could have abandoned me and met these people who could possibly bring us to the human colony. I’d never have known the difference. The Ko would have eventually caught and killed me and he would have been safe on some ship with a future. Instead, he’d returned.
What a fool.
Another person willing to sacrifice their life for me.
I came around the stairwell corner and he waited for me at the bottom by the door. This was the main level with the repair shop and a lot of eyes peeled for a human disguised as a Jurranian. “Brody?” I placed my hand over his as he reached for the knob. “If we’re discovered and the Ko come, you have to promise me—”
No Refuge (Known Universe) Page 3
