“Whoa wait a second Stella. You sure you want to get into this if Krell is involved?” said Tan.
“The kriff I do,” said Stella her voice rising to a shout. “Someone placed a hit on us and I don’t take kindly to threats on my life. We’re going to Hotel Black so suit up.” She turned on her heel and strode out of the room.
Tan sighed, looking at Den apologetically, “You couldn’t have waited until morning?”
“What are you talking about? Who’s Krell?”
“An ex-boyfriend,” muttered Tan, “Best not to bring him up around Stella, though I guess it’s too late for that now.”
“I see,” answered Den, though he very much did not. “Why doesn’t she just ask him for help if she knows him?”
Tan shook his head wryly, “Have you met Stella? C’mon, let me show you how to suit up.”
5
Hotel Black
Den followed Tan upstairs. Tan passed their rooms and went to a closet at the end of the hallway. He pulled it open and to Den’s surprise, he saw that it was filled with black uniforms. Tan stared at him for a moment then pulled one out. “This’ll probably fit you. Try it on.”
Den took it reluctantly and went into his room. What was Stella planning? Unease danced across his nerves and he tossed his clothes on the bed before stepping into the body suit. He pulled it up and had to tug hard. It rubbed against his skin uncomfortably. Once in place though, it lay against his body like a glove and moved with him easily. He stepped back out into the hallway holding his clothes self-consciously.
Tan glanced it over and unfolded the collar, so it stood straight up, riding against the underside of his chin. “Good,” he declared, patting Den on the shoulder. “Now go put your pants back on, you’ll want your belt and pockets.”
Den tried to readjust the uncomfortable collar but gave up quickly. “So why do we have to wear the suits?”
“You’ll be thankful for it if you ever get shot. It’s laced with regen cream. Anything, not life threatening will automatically be sutured up, very expensive.”
“Cool,” said Den with a new appreciation.
He pulled his pants back on and Tan handed him his gun belt. “Keep the safety off,” muttered Tan. “Who knows what’s going happen tonight with those two together.”
They walked out to the car and found Stella and Akatski already waiting for them. Both were wearing similar black suits beneath their combat gear. Stella had guns strapped to each thigh and one beneath each arm, while Akatski had a pair of massive pistols that looked heavy enough to stop a car. Beside him, Den heard Tan sigh.
“Get in,” growled Stella, before slipping into the driver’s seat. Akatski grunted in acknowledgment and they all followed suit.
Den felt his pulse begin to race as Stella grounded the car in the parking lot in of a huge, black tower standing on the outskirts of the city. It dwarfed the other structures around it and looked more like a fortress than a hotel. Apprehension filled him. Whoever owned this had to be someone powerful. Looking up at it, he felt naked.
Stella jumped slamming the door with a crash. She started walking without waiting to see if they followed. Akatski fell into step beside her and Den followed Tan, looking around cautiously. Though the area around the base of the tower was empty, he had the undeniable feeling that they were being watched. They passed beneath the glare of its lights, and then Akatski was holding the door open for Stella and they were inside.
“Stellamina Throm,” boomed a suave, male voice.
Den looked up and saw an impeccably dressed man walking down the grand stairs leading to the second floor. He glanced towards Stella and saw an ugly flush creeping up her neck.
“Krell,” she spat.
The man smiled down at her. “I always knew you’d come back to me Stellamina, my star.”
“Shut the up Krell,” said Stella, “I’m not here for you, but I could always change my mind.”
Krell smiled and Den saw several men dressed in black step into the main lobby. All of them were armed. “Then what are you here for Stella? And dressed for war, it looks like.” Krell’s white teeth flashed. “Don’t tell you dressed up just to impress me.”
Den could hear Stella grinding her teeth. “Don’t flatter yourself, Krell. There’s a man staying here named Theon. He put a hit on us and I just finished cleaning up what was left of his friends.”
Krell clicked his tongue and shook his head disapprovingly, “Stella, Stella, Stella, when will you ever learn to make friends? Not everyone is out to kill you, you know.”
“Tell me where he is Krell.”
Krell raised his palms, “I don’t greet all of my guests personally. I don’t even know if your Theon is here. Besides, even if he is, he’s an honest guest paying for my hospitality. Why would I give someone like that to a woman of your reputation?” He curled his lip in distaste. “It might be bad for business.”
Stella’s hands twitched towards her pistols. “The man placed a hit on me. That makes him mine. You know that.”
Krell’s face hardened, “There is nothing here that is yours Stella.” he hissed. “You made that abundantly clear when you left. If you want to speak business, then step into my office.”
“Fine,” growled Stella, “Akatski.”
“No,” cut in Krell. “I know the reputation of your Red Knight. I won’t be enclosed with that monster anywhere. Bring someone else if you must.”
“Fine,” sneered Stella. “Come with me then Den.” She held out a beckoning hand.
Reluctantly, Den forced himself to step forward on wooden legs. “Is he alright? Or are you scared of him too?” taunted Stella.
Anger twisted Krell’s harsh exterior, but he controlled it. “Follow me,” he grated, nodding towards one of his men in the hallway. The man followed them into an office behind the receptionist’s desk.
Krell and Stella sat down while the man and Den stood watching each other. “Now tell me why I should give this Theon to you,” said Krell coldly. “What are you going to offer me?”
Stella slammed her fist down on the desk, “He listed a bounty for us Krell!” she shouted. “He is mine! He crossed the line.”
Krell stood so fast Den barely had time to blink. His hand gripped Stella under the chin, pulling her out of her seat. “I thought I made it clear. Nothing here belongs to you Stella,” he snarled. Stella’s hands jerked towards her pistols, but Krell was faster. He twisted his wrist, and a knife extended from a hidden sheath, just licking the underside of Stella’s chin.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
Stella’s eyes blazed, but her hands slowly dropped back to her sides. “Very good,” said Krell. With his other hand, he jerked the pistols from her belts one by one and handed them to his underling who tossed the useless weapons into the trash before pointing his pistol at them. Krell threw Stella back into her seat and she stared at him her hands tightening into balls of helpless rage.
Krell’s associate waved his gun at Den and he felt his cheeks heat as he handed over his pistol. Its weight felt leaden as it left his fingers.
“Now,” said Krell pressing his fingers together. “We can talk.”
“Bastard,” said Stella her voice shaking with anger. “Touch me again and I will chop your kriffing balls off like I should have a long time ago.”
Krell eyed her cruelly with a smirk. “Power has many mistresses Stella. You of all people should understand that by now. You should have been satisfied with what you had.”
“Taking what others give is for the weak.”
Krell’s lips tightened, “I had hoped that you might return to me eventually Stella, but I can see that that is no longer the case.” He turned to his bodyguard. “Garron, what do you do with a rabid dog?”
His associate shifted, “You put it down sir.”
“Very good, I think it’s far past time we put this bitch out of her misery.” Krell stood and reached for the door,
“Don’t you walk out on m
e Krell!” shouted Stella.
Krell turned back, giving them one last condescending smirk before the door closed behind him.
As Den watched Garron began to swing his gun towards Stella, a smile creeping over his lips.
Without hesitation, Den leaped throwing his weight across the room towards the pistol. Garron’s eyes widened and Den watched the pistol shift, wavering in indecision between Stella and himself. The movement was small, but it was enough. Stella dove the opposite direction and Den felt the wind of the bullet as it passed between them. Then he crashed into Garron’s arm, wrapping both arms around his hand on this pistol. The gun went off, spraying wood chips into the air as it spat bullets through the desk.
Garron yanked his arm back, but Den refused to let go, pushing off the desk with his feet and knocking both of them into the wall. The impact jarred his focus and before he realized it he felt Garron’s arm starting to slide through his fingers. A moment later, a ham like fist wrapped itself around Den’s neck, and he felt himself thrown bodily across the room. Pain exploded in his back as he crashed into the desk chair before rolling to his knees, but it had been enough.
With a shriek, Stella launched herself at Garron lashing out with a boot and sending the pistol flying across the room. Garron’s curse was replaced by a surprised gurgle as Stella followed up her kick with a punch that collapsed his windpipe. Garron stumbled backward, clutching at his throat, but Stella wasn’t finished. Reaching into his belt she ripped out the knife hanging there and slammed it through the side of his neck.
A mangled scream tore its way from Garron’s lips and he fell to his knees. Stella pulled Den to his feet. “C’mon,” she snarled. “It’s time to get out of here.”
Gunfire exploded in the hallway as they burst through the door and Den saw four of Krell’s men lying on the ground smoking craters the size of his fist punched through their chests. Tan was hiding behind the receptionist’s desk while Akatski stood in the center of the lobby pointing one of his cannon-like pistols towards the second floor. The momentary stillness was broken as a grenade flickered in the light of the lobby’s chandelier in its tumble towards the ground.
“Take cover!” shouted Akatski.
Den and Stella dove back into the office, but instead of moving, Akatski’s arm pistoned forward. There was a crash and then the explosion plastered Den and Stella to the wall. Den felt his hearing come back in slow, gasping heaves. He looked at Stella. Blood was running from her chin where she’d slammed it against the desk, and more ran down her neck from the cut of Krell’s knife. She flicked it away in disgust, climbing to her feet. They looked into the hallway. The explosion had taken out the far side of the lobby.
Confusion filtered through Den. The grenade had fallen from above… Then he realized what Akatski had done.
“Nice throw Akatski,” said Stella approvingly.
He’d deflected the grenade by throwing his pistol. Den found himself staring in awe.
“It’s time to leave,” said Akatski. He grabbed both of them by the shoulders dragging them towards the door with calloused hands.
“I’m not leaving until we get Theon,” protested Stella, fighting against Akatski’s arm uselessly. Gunfire skittered across the ground at their feet and Akatski tossed them towards the door.
“We’re leaving now,” he said.
Stella didn’t argue anymore, pushing through the door behind Den. Tan fell out behind them. Akatski drew his other enormous pistol and Den watched in stupid fascination as he fired. Each stud tore holes the size of his hand through the floor above them. He heard muffled screams and then the firing stopped.
“We’re clear,” said Akatski. “Get back to the car.”
They broke into a run, Akatski in the rear. More gunfire spat out of the second story windows as they raced towards the car. Fear gave wings to Den’s feet and he sprinted towards the car, expecting to feel a hot searing pain punching through his back at any moment.
Behind him, he heard Akatski’s cannon bark two more times and the rate of gunfire slowed. They made it to the car and threw themselves inside. Stella took the driver’s seat, while Akatski backed in slowly, still firing. As Den watched a head popped up in one of the windows and Akatski took it down almost instantly, before reloading with the smooth efficiency of a machine.
Stella lifted the car off the ground as the hotel fell silent. Akatski pulled his door closed and sat back. Den watched him cautiously, while Tan heaved a sigh of relief. Akatski wasn’t even breathing hard. He took out a kit and began cleaning his remaining pistol even as Stella flew them back towards headquarters. Den looked at the pistol again. How could the man hold such a weapon steady? The barrel was the size of his forearm and Akatski wasn’t even that built. He had to have arms of steel. Akatski gave no sign of what he had just done, though Tan lay limply in his seat.
“We could have taken them,” snapped Stella angrily.
Akatski didn’t even look up. “Krell was baiting you.”
Stella’s jaw bulged, “What does it matter? We were so close!” The car swerved as she turned back to glare at Akatski.
Akatski ignored her and Den watched Stella’s hands tighten spasmodically on the steering wheel. “Burn you, you kriffing statue,” she shouted. “I’m the captain dammit! You’re supposed to listen to me!”
The ensuing silence was deafening. When they finally got back to headquarters, Tan and Den stumbled out, happy to be away from the silent war between Stella and Akatski. Den walked up to the front door, and he was just about to open it when Tan pulled his hand back.
“Hey Stella, did you see this note?”
“What do you want Tan?” she snarled pushing past them.
Den followed her eyes and watched them darken with anger, “What the kriff is this? Are you trying to be funny?” she ripped the note off the door.
The words flashed into the air:
I very much enjoyed making your acquaintance today Captain. Better luck next time. I’m sure we shall meet again soon.
It was signed Theon.
Fear filled Den’s chest. Who was Theon? The sound of Akatski’s footsteps came from behind him and Stella slapped the note against his chest.
“What the hell is this supposed to mean?” she snapped. “What the hell does this Theon want with us? Where was he dammit?!”
Akatski read the note. “I guess we’ll find out soon,” he said stolidly.
“We’d kriffing better.” Stella pushed past all of them into the mansion. Akatski followed, but Den hesitated and so did Tan. They exchanged glances, then Tan shrugged and walked in too. Den looked back towards the car one last time and stared out into the night. He wondered if any other bounty hunters were out there waiting for them to fall asleep.
What the kriff did it matter anyway, he chided himself. They had Stella and Akatski. If anyone did come they would be in more danger than him. He followed Tan inside and closed the door.
6
The Smoker
Den didn’t see Stella the following day, or the day after that.
The third evening he was sitting alone in his room when he heard drunken singing coming from down the hallway. The singing was followed by a bout of hysterical laughter that cut off abruptly with a thump. Unease filled him. Akatski and Tan had been making themselves scarce as well for the past few days. When he fell asleep that night he was still feeling uneasy.
Near midnight a blood-curdling scream woke him out of his dreams. He sat up with a curse. What the hell was Stella’s problem now? Shaking the sleep out of his eyes, he reached for the pistol sitting on his nightstand and rolled out of bed. Padding to the door, he creaked it open and looked out to see Tan standing at his door as well. They both looked down the hallway. Another scream came from Stella’s room.
“Is she okay?”
Tan shook his head, “Dealing with Krell always puts her in a bad way. I wouldn’t go in there if I was you.”
A third scream split the night followed by a loud c
rash. “Just go back to sleep,” said Tan. “Maybe if you hadn’t told her about Krell none of this would have happened.”
Den stared at him in surprise, but Tan had already slammed his door shut. He went back to his room and sat on the bed but didn’t bother trying to fall asleep as Stella’s screams continued. What could have possibly happened to her that could still make her scream like that? He found himself unable to come up with any ideas.
Stella was a complete mystery to him. When the sun finally began to filter through his windows, his eyes felt like sandpaper. Stella had finally shut up around 4:00 am but the sun on Rocquamport rose at 5:00 and unluckily for him, Stella was too cheap to put shades on his windows. He sat up tiredly and began putting on his clothes swearing softly.
When he got downstairs Akatski was already at the bar making breakfast. He wondered how the man always managed to time it so perfectly. “You sleep?” said Akatski.
“Not really.”
“She’ll be back down today.”
Den shook his head doubtfully, “I don’t know.”
“She always is,” answered Akatski.
They were sitting in the living room at about five o’clock in the evening when Stella a finally came down. She looked even worse than Den felt. Her skin was a pale, waxy white and bags the size of golf balls hung under her eyes.
“I’m going out for a drink,” she rasped when no one spoke.
“You sure you don’t want to eat something first Stella?” said Tan half rising off the couch.
“Why the kriff do you care?” snapped Stella irritably. “You’re not my mother, besides, we have a job tomorrow, or did you all forget?”
Den stared at her in confusion before remembering the Albatross Rebecca. Was she still planning to do that job? She looked like she was barely standing.
“Are you all going to keep staring or are you coming?” growled Stella, stalking towards the door.
The Captain Page 4
