by Lexa Luthor
"Will the High Commander return him to Serrato Corps?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask." Charlie hoped that Victor would meet his end after Kal was done with him. "But I could really use your help."
Raine shook her head, then asked, "What could I possibly do that several Kalmar soldiers can't?"
Charlie lifted an eyebrow and replied, "Fly a ship." She had another plan in mind for Raine, but it required getting her hands on a certain piece of special tech. For now, she kept that to herself until she heard back from her contacts.
"You need a ship first before I can fly it," Raine teased.
"I'm working on that," Charlie assured her. "I don't think the exchange will take long. I'll pick a halfway point between here and Serrato."
Raine stayed silent for a few moments, then said, "I can't ask Chris to man the stall alone after the last trip. But I can leave it empty for a few days."
"I can give you stills to cover the loss in business," Charlie offered and frowned when Raine shook her head.
"A few days won't ruin my business." Raine appeared certain of herself and grinned at Charlie. "Are you sure you want to go to outer space in a small boat with a handful of Kalmar?"
Charlie laughed and joked, "We'll have to take extra barf bags."
Raine returned the laugh and agreed with her friend. She stood from the chair and went to the dresser, her limp more noticeable now that her brace was off for the night.
Charlie returned the chair to the table and paused; her shoulders slackened after a worrisome talk. Still, she had another concern and neared her friend next to the dresser. "There's also an infiltrator on Kander that's helping Serrato Corps."
"Or infiltrators," Raine said, peering over at Charlie. "They could also be the ones stirring up the revolt."
"Maybe when we go to New Earth, we can look more into it." Charlie tensed after having blurted out what came to mind rather than thinking it through. Why am I getting myself anymore involved in this?
Raine huffed and eyed Charlie with a doubtful look. "Like you of all people poking around and asking questions wouldn't set off alarm bells around New Earth." When Charlie opened her mouth, she held up her hand and said, "Let's just focus on the kidnapping mission first."
"Right," Charlie whispered, knowing Raine had a good point. She and Raine finished getting ready for bed. Both were happy to crawl under the blankets and furs. Already the fire in the sitting room was fading, and darkness settled over the loft for the night. Gazing out the tall windows on either side of the chimney, Charlie stared at the twin moons that were slivers beyond the limbs of the black trees.
Next to her, Raine was breathing heavily. Her friend's presence was a minor comfort, but Charlie longed for her lover's warm, strong body. Tomorrow she expected to see Kal again so they could discuss both the ship offerings and Charlie's price for the job. She also wondered how many more days Kal had left of her rut. Most Alpha's rutted for five to seven days, and today was Kal's fourth.
As Charlie closed her eyes, she focused on the gentle pull in her chest that she'd first noticed about the same time Kal's rut would have started. It was less demanding than it had been when she found out Kal was rutting, but it was constant and solid inside of Charlie. She wanted to ignore it, but its needy presence followed her every heartbeat. Giving into her weary state, her mind whispered, Goodnight, Sumner.
* * *
Charlie sent out multiple messages during the walk to Tarrak from Starlight Farm. Her first one was to Starr, hoping she could convince her to return to the quadrant and help with the kidnapping mission. It was a huge risk for her friend, but Charlie needed her or else Victor might not believe that she could deliver Starr to him.
Her second message was to an old mercenary friend who had connections with bounty hunters. She was curious to learn whether Serrato Corps had placed the reward on her head. According to Victor's threat, yesterday had been Charlie's last chance to return Starr to Serrato Corps, the offer expiring with a guarantee of her death.
The last message was a brief one to Kal that asked when they could meet today. Charlie had already worked out a firm price for the mission. When they entered the market, Charlie's techbit dinged with a message from Kal.
This afternoon. I'll be in my office.
It was a simple response with nothing underlining it. Charlie sensed her lover's formality, so she replied with an agreement. Tucking the techbit away, she noticed the market was strangely quiet. But it was still twenty minutes before sunrise, and they had a few things to organize in the stall.
Raine went over everything with Charlie, and numerous times Raine reminded Charlie to be patient, especially with Alphas. She instructed Charlie to keep her lectra gun hidden in her jacket at all times. Raine was authorized to carry and use a gun, if necessary. It had taken Raine a lot of effort, agreements, and pulling of strings to be allowed to carry an advanced weapon. Some part of Charlie wondered if Dorlon had helped Raine, but she decided to ask another time.
By the end of the crash course, Charlie wanted a stiff drink—even a tiny shot of the Kalmar's mkin alcohol. Instead, she took some of Raine's herbal drink from an old, dented canister, and it warmed her inside. When a few early customers arrived at the booth, Charlie stood aside and watched how Raine and Chris handled them. She noticed that Raine took care of the Alpha while Chris helped the Omega.
As the morning wore on, more people arrived at the market, which was the central focus of the city. Charlie was pushed into helping a few people, trying to sell a tablet here or there. Just as she thought she had her first sale, the Omega was pulled away by her mate.
Raine gave her an encouraging smile, patted her on the back, and went to attend a new customer.
Charlie stood to the side again and watched the people, including those on the street. She noticed one curious person who appeared to be human instead of Kalmar. Just as the burly man passed the stall, Raine nudged her to handle a new prospect at the table.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Vuk," Charlie muttered under her breath as she fished around in her jacket for the techbit ringing for attention. Beside her, Raine shot her a glare, but she glanced at the name on the screen. "I have to take this, Raine. It's Starr." She didn't wait for a response before she stepped away from her friend and the stall.
"Hey, Starr," Charlie greeted in Jero when she answered the transmission. She peered back at Raine's stall that was busy with three customers.
"Charlie," Starr said, features stern on the screen.
Charlie crossed the street, found a nook between two buildings, and hid in it, away from onlookers. "You got my message about the mission?"
"Yes. I already talked Magnar into bringing me back to the fifth quadrant."
Charlie was relieved. She had planned to contact Magnar next, but already having Magnar's agreement saved them time. I'm going to owe her again. She tried not rolling her eyes and focused on her conversation with Starr. "How far are you?"
"It'll be a few days."
"All right. I'm working on getting a ship." Charlie paused and bit her bottom lip. "Are you sure about this?"
Starr folded her thick arms and leaned back in a chair. "It's not at the top of my list, but you won't be able to draw him out without me."
Charlie agreed; she had to show proof she had Starr captured and ready to hand over to Victor. "I know, and I'm sorry to bring you into this."
Starr shook her head and said, "I wouldn't be free right now if it wasn't for you."
"You also wouldn't have been captured if I—"
"Don't even finish that sentence." Starr narrowed her eyes in warning, then leaned closer to the screen. "Listen, Magnar told me the bounty went out about three lumens ago."
"Shit," Charlie whispered. "Does she know what the bounty says?"
Starr shook her head. "She's trying to get her hands on a copy to see if she and her team are on it too." She hesitated as her eyes darkened with w
orry. "You need to be extra careful, Charlie. There could be bounty hunters already in your quadrant."
Charlie reached into her leather jacket and fingered the hidden lectra gun, but it wasn't enough to ease her nerves. "I'll be fine, promise."
Starr had a furrow across her brow but nodded and reached toward the screen. "I'll keep in touch about our location."
Charlie thanked her and exchanged a goodbye. As she pocketed the techbit, she noticed the same hulking guy from earlier coming down the street. This time, she had a better view of him from her hidden spot and was able to study him.
He was a male human, if his matching, new clothes were any indicator. From his attire, he wasn't an Earthling from Kander. His body was muscular, and his thick biceps were exposed by his sleeveless shirt. He was about a foot or two shorter than some of the Alphas on the street. A glint of metal shined at his hip, revealing a double-edge battle axe that, at least in Charlie's case, required two hands.
What a meathead, Charlie thought and continued watching him. She was curious where he came from and why he was here. The meathead neared Raine's stall, stood there, and surveyed it for a minute. A moment later he approached Raine and started talking to her.
Charlie narrowed her eyes and reached for her techbit, preparing to take a photo of him for later. But she felt a cold stare and froze until she looked over her right shoulder to see who had found her.
"There she is!" A female human called in Jero, indicating Charlie in the hiding spot. "Max, she's between those two buildings!"
Wide eyed, Charlie cut her gaze to the meathead and paled when he started toward her. "Vuk!" She shoved the techbit back in place, then followed her gut and ducked into the streets rather than run down the tiny alleyway that might be a dead end. Charlie heard Raine yell for her, and she took off to the right, closer to the female human who had spotted her first. She liked her chances of getting past the woman than the meathead, Max, who was barreling through people in the busy street.
Charlie rolled around an Alpha, who hollered at her, then pushed through two more Alphas. Behind her she heard the woman and Max yell for her as they gave chase. They were bounty hunters looking to cash in on Charlie or her head. Hopping off the sidewalk, Charlie dodged an Alpha towing a handcart, then danced around an Alpha and Omega walking a horse.
Glancing over her shoulder, she realized the woman was gone but Max was still on her tail. She cursed and decided she needed a better plan than just running through Tarrak. She knew bits and pieces of the city, but now wished she'd had a proper tour of it. There were also too many people around for Charlie to use her lectra gun. Charlie went right at the fork in the road, then cut down a residential street. Overhead lines ran from side to side with clothes hanging out to dry.
Luckily, the street was quieter than the market. Charlie was able to run faster and put distance between her and Max. Her pounding boots matched her raging heartbeat as she worked out a plan to deal with the bounty hunters. If she could locate Kalmar soldiers, they would help her. The best locations would be the Great Tower, the harbor's port, or maybe the temple. But right now, Charlie had lost her bearings and needed more time.
To her left, she spotted a niche between two homes and tucked into it. She tore free her lectra gun and peered around the side, aiming for her pursuer. Charlie pulled the trigger and hit the ground at his feet after he jumped over a fallen barrel.
"Fuck!" Max stumbled back and tumbled behind the barrel for protection.
Charlie continued firing on him until he returned a few shots. She pushed back into the alcove and looked at the local people down the street. She hoped they hid before the reckless gunfire hurt them. Kneeling, Charlie crawled around the corner and held the trigger, sending repeated lectra shots at Max. If nothing else, she was certain their shootout would get everyone's attention in the city.
Max howled and cursed, then fired above Charlie's head and caused chunks of stone to fall off the building. He laughed at Charlie's desperation to jump out of the way, then he took the opportunity and shot at her again.
Charlie howled in pain after a lectra shot cut into her right leg, burning through her jeans. After falling onto her stomach, she gritted her teeth, hissed, and rolled onto her back. She dug the Grasshopper gun from her pants' pocket, then turned to her side and pulled the trigger.
The Grasshopper screamed its sound wave through the air and sent Max flying backward, slamming him into the cobblestone street. He groaned once before going still, unconscious for the next fifteen or twenty minutes.
Whimpering, Charlie peered down at her injured leg, which radiated searing heat. At the center of the hit, the flesh was melted and twisted with blood and sticky skin. Lectra burns were some of the ugliest hits, but Charlie could tell Max was trying to slow her down, not kill her. She returned the Grasshopper to her pocket, then collected her lectra gun. Climbing to her feet, Charlie limped a few times, then forced herself to move faster. She still had to deal with the other bounty hunter.
Cutting down a side street, Charlie hoped she was headed toward the Great Tower. She managed a weak jog and stumbled every few yards, then was forced to stop at a four-way intersection. She leaned against a building's corner and bent forward, gasping from exhaustion and pain. Lifting her head, she gazed at an unusual structure at the end of the next street. Its round bell tower and domed roof rose above the homes as if to watch over the people. Charlie was certain it was the temple dedicated to Kalatas.
Charlie gathered her strength, pushed off the building, and continued toward the temple. She grunted at a few Alphas who backed away from her, uninterested in helping a human. In the distance, the white-washed, stone temple grew taller and beckoned her, as if reeling her to it. After another block, the street ended at the temple's grounds, which were similar to the Great Tower's landscape. The lush grass swept toward the structure, then transitioned to delicate moss that had crept up the side of the temple. Even with its cold stone face, it was inviting to Charlie, and she limped to the open doors.
The stepping stones guided her to the entrance, but she hesitated and scanned her surroundings. A few Kalmar were walking by the temple grounds and noticed Charlie. There was still one bounty hunter in the city searching for her. But she had no idea where the bounty hunter went or why she had separated from Max. However, staying in the open wasn't in her best interest, so she slipped into the temple, hoping she was allowed in.
Charlie entered the heart of the ancient round temple that held simple beauty. The building was constructed from the same white marble as the Great Tower's throne. Black veins in the marble spread out like lightning bolts bursting along the walls, traveling left and right until they met on the opposite side. Charlie was standing at the highest level; there were nine small steps down to the empty main floor. Each step wrapped around the entire structure and reminded Charlie of the ancient Greek theatres. But what both fascinated and bewildered her was the floor. Soft-looking grass covered every tiny space.
Charlie was tempted to walk down and touch it until a quiet sound drew her attention to the opposite side. A single door creaked open, and a lithe form slipped into the sanctuary, closing the door behind herself.
"Turen." It was an Omega by her tender voice. She floated down the steps and glided across the green span that separated them. Her robe was similar to the one Lennox wore, except it was an emerald shade. Once close enough, she offered a smile and said, "Welcome to the Temple of Kalatas." Her eyes traveled over Charlie and halted at the leg injury. "You are hurt."
Charlie limped down the steps, dragging her burned leg with her free hand. She stood on the last step and said, "Ja, and I need help." She looked sidelong at the entrance and pulled out her techbit with her left hand. She still carried the lectra gun in her other hand. "I need to call Kal," she muttered while tapping the screen.
"She's already on—"
"Drop it!"
Cursing, Charlie froze and glared at the female bounty hunter
who entered the temple.
"Drop your gun and techbit," she ordered in Jero, smirking. "Or I'll burn your hands off. Serrato Corps didn't say anything about keeping all your limbs."
Charlie gritted her teeth and calculated her options, which were next to nothing. The bounty hunter was close enough that if she even twitched the hit would strike her. She was foolish to come into the temple and get the priest involved. If she could buy time, then maybe she could come up with a plan. "All right." She held both the techbit and gun up to show she wasn't using them.
"Toss them far enough away," the bounty hunter ordered.
Biting her lip, Charlie formulated a partial plan in her head. "I'll toss them and come with you if you keep the priest out of this." She watched the bounty hunter's grey eyes cut to the priest then back to Charlie.
After a nod, the bounty hunter ordered, "Tell her to back off. Over there but in view." She pointed to the left with her freehand.
Charlie agreed after determining the bounty hunter just gave away the fact that she couldn't speak Kalmarese. She looked over her shoulder at the priest and said, "I need you to go over to the side where she was pointing."
"What is she going to do?" the priest asked.
"Spare you, as I asked her," Charlie replied, then sensed the priest's hesitation. "Krafka." She sighed when the priest took small steps away from her. She turned back to the bounty hunter and said, "I'm putting my stuff down now." At a slow pace, she started to kneel and asked, "You have a name, kid?" From the long silence, she wondered if she'd get an answer.
"Clio."
Charlie tossed her weapon and techbit, grateful that the grass cushioned it. "I'm sure you know already that I'm Charlie." She inched back up, hands open and out.
"The washed-up Galaxy Master," Clio taunted, her eyes bright with mischief.
Blowing out a breath, Charlie narrowed her eyes at Clio, who had to be in her late teens or early twenties. "There's a difference between washed up and antisocial."
