Slow Burn Dark

by A. B. Keuser

  “Now, what is the NEU, and why does her shoulder concern them?”

  “New Earth United. They’re one of the terrafarms, but unlike the others which are held by corporations, it’s a commune. It’s the furthest one from town, and somehow, they’ve managed to talk a Senior Colari into giving them sovereignty.”

  “And the shoulder?”

  “They tattoo themselves.” She waved it away as though the information didn’t matter in the slightest. “What little I know—and believe me, it’s not enough to make a clear picture—is that they don’t like outsiders, and once you join up, you don’t leave.”

  “The benefits are that good?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Disappearing inside the terrafarm walls means I have no ability to do anything for or against you.”

  “Chad called them a cult.”

  She stared into the distance. “Maybe they are.”

  “And they’re on your back doorstep.”

  “And there’s nothing I can do about it. It would take the Colarium, an act of the Great Mother, or courting criminal prosecution to deal with them.” Henri glowered at the med cube’s facade. “You don’t leave the NEU… not without a complementary body bag.”

  “Some people might say the same for the Lazarai, but I’m standing here, and I have a pulse. I’d tell you to check, but I’m not real partial to people touching my neck right now.”

  The sideways glance she slid him was censurous. “Lizards have a knack for regrowing things when they’re cut off.”

  “Not heads.”

  Twenty-Two - Kathrynn

  Beta Five—a station known by too many other names to count—was among the oldest still in regular use. Situated in a part of the void that had neither a nearby planet’s protection, nor any seeming military advantage, it was a concession to those who couldn’t afford the exorbitant fees for commissioning a Colarium folder. A fuel, air, and water stop on the long trip from civilization to the so-called wilds….

  Kathrynn had no intention of following the prescribed path. And the woman she watched now was the key to the Great Mother’s plans.

  Her name was Maggie Zamora, she had a pattern of delicate scars across her hands,more trailing over her chin and cheek, and a gun strapped to her hip.

  A siren if Kathrynn had ever met one.

  But she hadn't met Maggie yet. The woman kept her distance from the temple. And Kathrynn watched her from afar. Two days had passed. Maggie had asked questions aplenty, and Kathrynn had assuaged the doubts she’d had over exactly why the Great Mother had sent her to find this woman.

  That was why she undertook a different, more gruesome task that morning.

  A terrified gurgle drew her attention away, and she let the old-fashioned curtain fall back into place as she turned to the aftermath.

  The table linens were clean—mostly--and she yanked them from beneath the remains of an uneaten lunch. She cleaned her blades methodically, each press of the cloth away from her an exhale, each pull back, an inhale. Someone behind her gurgled and sobbed.

  Water from a pitcher they’d meant to drink was sufficient to clean her hands as well, and when she was done, her heartbeat had returned to an acceptable rate.

  Pulling on her gloves, making sure there was no more blood on them, she looked over the room.

  The three men who still lived, stared at her with eyes so wide they might have popped out of their heads if she smacked them.

  “You’re safe from me,” she said, knowing it wouldn’t drive away their fears. “So long as you follow the Great Mother’s path, there will be no reason for that to change.

  Hefting her bag, she turned her back on them and stepped back into the dim corridors of the station. Those around her carried on with their lives, blissfully unaware of the proof zipped up inside the burlap lined canvas clutched in her hands.

  But before she could make her delivery, she had to wait for certain men to leave certain offices. And she’d never been one to slip into idleness.

  Stepping into the bar, she catalogued those few patrons who paid attention to her, and the dozen more who didn’t.

  But the only one in the space she cared to speak to sat, glaring at the information in her hands.

  “May I join you, Maggie?” She stood by the chair, gloved hand on its back, waiting. Best not to startle the woman with the gun.

  Maggie hid her surprise well, she forced what would have been a sowl into a smile.

  It was a look Kathrynn had seen before. What she was didn’t matter. What Maggie thought of her didn’t need to be true. She simply needed to convince Maggie she was what the woman needed… as long as she didn’t ask, Kathrynn wouldn’t need to inform her of her error.

  But she had to bring the woman around… slowly.

  “The Great Mother tells me you’re a folder.”

  When Maggie’s lips twitched, Kathrynn added, “And the Great Mother never lies.”

  “Then I know you’re not asking me a question.”

  “She sent me there to request your help.”

  “I already have a job.” Maggie ordered another round and sat back in her chair, settling in for what she assumed—correctly—would take a while.

  “The Lazarai are planning something.”

  “Aren’t you on the same side?”

  “I’m on the Great Mother’s side and it is beginning to look as though Archimedes Holzen no longer is. You and others like you might not need UPD-5 to travel the galaxy expediently, but the rest of us do.” She spun her tablet around and indicated the patch of blank space Archie had been obsessed with. “I’m sure you’ve heard the term Slow Burn Dark. Archie is fixated on this one. It’s deep into Colarium controlled space. Whatever he’s hiding there…. Or whatever he’s found, it could be disastrous.

  “I know I don’t have to tell you how bad the absolution conflicts hit the Colarium. I imagine you have a good idea of how badly it hit those on the other side of the rift. If Archie starts back up again with a full scale incursion… countless lives will be lost. And we’ve already lost too many. The Great Mother does not thrive on conflict. That is the provenance of men and misguided ones at that.”

  Maggie paused. Studied her.

  “I lost family in the last war. I don’t want that to happen again.”

  Kathrynn stopped herself from admitting she knew. “You’re looking for answers, I assume for Sophia Refuti. I have answers. Not all of which you will like.”

  “And what will those answers cost me?”

  “A slight detour—one that will help you in answering your employer’s questions. And an… opportunity to meet with her.”

  “Tell me.”

  “The Lazarai are hiring her miners. The ones you’re looking for. The pay they’re offering has gotten them more labor for fewer questions. While I don’t know what they’re mining, I know where they’re taking their new workforce.”

  “They requested those with experience in excavating UPD-5, so we both know they’re headed to Sukiyaki.”

  “We don’t know that at all… in fact, I know they aren’t.”

  “There’s nowhere else in the galaxy you can find enough UPD-5 to warrant this kind of work force.”

  “Or maybe there is, and no one else had found it before.” Kathrynn leaned forward, lacing her fingers together so she wasn’t tempted to reach out for Maggie’s hand. “Take me for a trip. If I’m wrong, I’ll compensate you for time lost.”

  “And if you’re right?”

  “Then we both know Sophia will do more than compensate you. She might even give you the opportunity to stop running from your past.”

  Maggie stiffened, and then glared. Her eyes searched Kathrynn’s and a moment later, her face relaxed. “I know what you are.”

  She thought she did.

  “I’ve heard rumors.” Maggie said, stripping off her own gloves, a dare in the gleam of her eyes. “And you are exactly what I expected…. There’s nothing quite so beautiful as an angel of death.”

>   Belief kept that misguided statement from slicing at Kathrynn like a lie.

  “I think you and I are going to be very good friends.” Maggie took her hand, still studying her.

  Kathrynn smiled as the woman twined their fingers together. Maggie would make a perfect addition to those she’d use to cut out the rot that had taken hold of Ludo.

  Letting go, Maggie shifted in her seat, throwing one leg over her other knee. “I’ll help, but I need to make sure my employer doesn’t know about this. She works securely within the legal lines of the Colarium, and I won’t let my actions harm her in any way.”

  “You’re a good friend. I hope I can count you among one of mine someday.” Kathrynn looked toward the door through which three more harvesters had just entered. “Finish your work. I’ll meet you on your ship when you’re done.”

  “How will you know which berth?”

  “The Great Mother guides me more forcefully than she does others.” She glanced toward the door and the trio of miners who followed the rest of the crush and smiled at Maggie once more. “I’ll let you have your meeting in private.

  Maggie didn’t look behind her, her eyes didn’t leave Kathrynn as she stood and turned away.

  She stopped at the bar, waving the bartender away, and watched as the others made their way to the folder. Whoever they were, they knew Maggie… they were afraid of her.

  Kathrynn watched the meeting from a distance, her back to them, but her view unobstructed through the mirrored bar back.

  There was nothing in their posture that told Kathrynn the other woman would need help, so she didn’t stick around to give it. She slipped out a dark side door.

  It was time to pave the way for herself.

  And she had one more job to do before she could rejoin the woman who could show her what the Great Mother wanted her to see with her own eyes.

  The station was a mess of military, modern social dead weight, and the meager remains of what had once been a prosperous middle class. And at the heart of it all… the corruption that had sent the station spiraling toward destruction.

  Overseer Schmidt would never admit to it, though.

  He blamed it on the “unseen criminal elements.”

  But he didn’t have that excuse anymore.

  When she entered his office unannounced, he smiled at her like she’d been invited. “What is the dreaded red sister doing on my station this time?”

  She returned the smile and sat, placing the heavy bag at her feet before leaning back and studying him in a long glance. “It won’t be yours for much longer.”

  He stiffened, looking from her to scan the monitors surrounding him. “Who’s going to take it from me.”

  “The Colarium… but don’t worry, they aren’t giving it to someone else.”

  Staring at her for a long moment, he shook his head. “No. They are not dismantling my baby.”

  “Everything has to die. If you don’t accept that, life turns to bitter ash without your intending it to.”

  Eyes narrowed, jaw set, he cursed her foretelling. “Is that why you’re here?”

  “No. Today I’m here for a favor.”

  He brightened and she could only guess what he was considering asking for in return.

  But she didn’t give him an opportunity to make a counter offer… not until he knew what she was asking for.

  “I need you to turn a blind eye while I dig through some information.”

  “That could cost me this job long before your predicted demolition.”

  “It could, but so could a whisper in the right ear outing you as a Lazarai plant.” She knew he understood it wasn’t a threat, but a fact. “I’m not going on the nexus, so the only one who might catch me is you… or your security crew. And I don’t need that kind of attention today.”

  “What do you need?”

  “That’s between me and the Great Mother. But I can tell you it will in no way compromise the safety of this station, or anyone on it.” When he hesitated, she added. “Or your cover.”

  “I’m not that callous.”

  Smiling, she placed her gloved hand on his. “The Great Mother may have given me license to act as her blade, but I would never risk innocents.”

  “And what about those of us who aren’t so innocent?”

  “You’re safe from me too.” And then she smiled a little more sharply. “For now.”

  The overseer had known her too long. He understood what was teasing and what wasn't. Most of the time.

  “I can get you your free time in the system. For a trade.”

  She’d known it was coming, but she still cocked a brow at him. “The Great Mother’s plan is not reason enough to do this for me?”

  “You and she both know me better than to think that.”

  With a dark smile, Kathrynn hefted the bag she’d been hiding onto the man’s desk. “Luckily for you, the Great Mother has me on a tight deadline, so I dealt with your problem beforehand.”

  When he opened the bag, he went ashen and she doubted the reaction was due to the three severed heads therein. “Some say people like you are witches.”

  “There aren’t any people like me. Haven’t been for a long while. And who knows if there will be anytime soon.”

  “I hope not.” He took the bag from the desk, placing it in a locking cabinet in the corner.

  She could have told him his concern would be better placed with her, not them, but even those used to death were often spooked by severed anatomy.

  “When do you need the time?” his voice wasn’t as loud as it had been before.

  With a placid smile, she gestured toward the door. “Now. Your console would be best.”

  He wasn’t stupid enough to mistake the threat that existed in the bag she’d handed him. The heads of the crime syndicate’s leaders shouldn’t have been possible to get. Not all of them. And he’d know that if she wanted to look for his transgressions, her blades would drip with his blood too.

  With a glance at the cabinet again, he nodded and left her to work in peace.

  Twenty-Three- Sophia

  “I don’t like it.” Banks said as they stepped through the doors to Senior Colari Harris’ office.

  “When have you ever liked anything involving a politician?”

  He didn’t say anything else as a familiar face peeked out of the office and then, Paige joined them.

  In the official Colarium uniform, her rank pins marking her as a commander, Paige looked like a completely different woman. Without a wig, her closely shaved head and the deadblock behind her right ear drew Sophia’s distracted attention.

  “Sophia,” she said, holding out her hand as though they were old friends, and pulling her into a hug once she’d taken it… as if they were possibly something more than friends. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to work with us.”

  She smiled instead of mentioning that she didn’t have much of a choice.

  “I have a problem, you led me to believe that Senior Colari Harris might be willing to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

  Paige didn’t smile. Her expression was so flat, Sophia couldn’t decide if she was still present. She didn’t know the full capabilities of a neural circuitry pack.

  “I think we can work that out.” Blinking as though to clear away dust from her eyes, Paige asked. “What can we do for you?”

  Banks grumbled and muttered under his breath, “If you do this, he will own you.”

  If she didn’t do this, her brother would be dead. “I need a folder, and possibly a pardon.”

  After a momentary pause, Paige’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “Are you planning to commit treason?”

  “It’s not for me.”

  Paige’s gaze slid to Banks, and Sophia let her think it.

  She wouldn’t say anything against him if he denied it, but she knew he wouldn’t. So long as neither of them admitted to anything, there was nothing that Paige or her boss could do… legally.

  “I’ll agre
e to that, on Harris’ behalf. But I need to know where you’re going.”

  Clenching her jaw, Sophia considered her options. She could refuse and lose any hope for cooperation. She could lie, but the folder would report the deviation from their stated destination. She could ask for a blind eye. Or….

  “My brother is on Sukiyaki attempting to claim a bounty I did not approve for collection. I did not, and still do not, believe it to be legitimate.”

  Paige smiled, a mere twitch of her lips. “The man with the necklace scar.”

  “One and the same.”

  “Who is he?”

  “No idea.” She’d practiced that lie. “I didn’t bother to look into it beyond the fact my brother has gotten himself into trouble and I need to pull him out of it. Sadly, that’s a common occurrence.”

  If Paige knew she was lying, she didn’t show anything beyond her sliding glance to Banks. Maybe she thought he knew more than she did.

  “I’ll have a folder sent to your private hangar. As soon as I can get the request through, you’ll be able to leave. I’ll clear you for immediate departure. When your pilot asks, you’ll have the next slot.” Paige glanced toward the door she’d come through. “As for that pardon… I suppose we’ll have to see how the dust settles once you’ve retrieved Giuseppe, won’t we.”

  Swallowing the bile that threatened at her throat, Sophia nodded. “Thank you, what do you need from me?”

  “We can come to an arrangement as to that once you’ve returned.” Paige motioned to the door.

  Sophia didn’t thank her again. She let Banks lead the way back through the glittering halls, and waited for his recriminations.

  To his credit, he waited until they were halfway to her hangar. “They’re never going to let you go… you know that, right?”

  “Better to be in someone’s pocket than let Geo die.”

  He stared out the window, scowl contorting his face in the reflection. “Are you sure about that?”

  The question didn’t sting half as much as how quickly the answer sprung to mind. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”