by Dana Kelly
“What’s your name?” she asked. “Please, tell me your name!”
“I…!” With an agonized wince, his body tensed. “I’m…” After a moment, his muscles relaxed, and he was gone.
Slowly, Torsha stood, and she trembled. “It was an accident.”
Mike approached and affectionately squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Torsha.”
“What have we done?” She stared at the slain man.
“We took back the ship.”
She shot him a woeful stare. “Mike!”
“I’m sorry this happened. I’m sorry for all of this.”
“I know.”
He drew a deep breath and nodded. “Do you need a minute?”
“Yes please,” she breathed, and she blinked tears down her cheeks.
“I’ll be right back.” He exited the room and paused after a few steps. “I’m going to give Captain Aguirre a status report. Will you be okay on your own for a few minutes?”
Torsha nodded, but as soon as Mike had moved out of earshot, she whispered, “No.”
Chapter 13
New Blood
April shivered as she sat in the darkness, staring at what she could see of Ergo’s operating table. Tied to the arms and legs of her chair with bare copper wire, her wrists and shins ached. Cryogenic fluid pooled under her boots, dripping onto the passageway beyond with gradually decreasing frequency.
“What happened to everyone in the pods?” asked Malmoradan.
Solemnly, Ky shook his head. “They’s dead. All of ‘em. Soon as Blacktusk finished tyin’ me up, he set his goons loose on my shuttle. Told ‘em to ‘enjoy themselves.’ Damn shame what happened.”
Shona frowned sadly. “How many were you transporting?”
“Twelve,” said Ky. “Most painful thing about it is I almost finished negotiatin’ proper delivery fees for more ‘an half the folks what perished.”
“For just a moment there, I almost thought you were human,” said April.
Ky nodded her way and winked. “I’m all human where it counts, missy.”
“You’re disgusting,” said April.
“Sorry to interrupt this enlightening exchange, but what’s the deal with Orin?” asked Malmoradan.
“He’s conflicted,” said April. “Blacktusk wants to keep Orin happy, so he won’t kill us outright, but I think he’s planning to leave us behind when he heads back to his battlecruiser. We might be able to exploit that, I’m just not sure how.”
“Why would Blacktusk leave us behind?” asked Shona.
“Ya’ll ain’t worth tryin’ to ransom,” said Ky. His dry laughter turned into a fit of coughing. “Guess I ain’t either.”
“No, Orin’s smart,” said Shona. “Even if he can’t remember everything, he’d figure it out. No way he’d let Blacktusk leave us here to die.”
“That kid’s in a highly impressionable state, tailored to be extremely receptive to all of Blacktusk’s suggestions,” said Ky. “All that prick’s gotta do is tell Orin someone else is comin’ for us, and since that ain’t exactly counter to Orin’s nature he’ll believe it. No reason not to.”
April looked resolute. “You’re wrong. Orin is starting to have doubts about Blacktusk’s allegiance. He’s bloodthirsty, and it isn’t sitting well with Orin at all.”
“Can he snap out of it?” asked Malmoradan.
April shook her head. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
“He ain’t gonna snap out of nothin’,” said Ky. “Yorick is mental napalm, so if ya’ll are puttin’ together a darin’ escape plan, don’t count on Orin’s help. There ain’t nothin’ left of the guy you knew.”
April shot him an angry look. “I refuse to believe that.”
Ky cradled his stump against his chest. “Oh, that’s just fine. While ya’ll are in the business of not believin’ plain-as-day facts, maybe ya’ll can believe us out of these chairs. In the meantime, I’m just gonna sit here and close my eyes. Let me know how that goes, though.”
“Escaping these chairs won’t be a problem,” said Shona.
Ky glanced her way. “Why’s that, pray tell?”
Shona leaned back in her chair. “It just won’t be.”
“Supposin’ it’s true, it still don’t matter,” said Ky. “Ain’t no way we’re gettin’ past the guards without any weapons. April, hear me when I tell you Orin ain’t comin’ back, and without his help, we ain’t never leavin’ this rock.”
“Orin and I haven’t lost our connection,” said April. “He’s still in there somewhere. I can bring him back. I know I can!”
Ky laughed to himself, leaned back and closed his eyes. “Keep dreamin’.”
“You’re a real son-of-a-bitch,” said Malmoradan. “You know that? I’m not sure why it took me so long to realize it.”
“It’s ‘cause Cassie ain’t here. Ya’ll get the pleasure of the unfiltered me. See?”
“I’m guessing she is worth trying to ransom?” asked Shona.
“Got that right,” said Ky.
They heard footsteps stomping and splashing closer, behind a swaying cone of light. A moment later, Broose appeared in the doorway. With his electric lantern in hand, he stopped at each chair, pulling forcefully on his prisoners’ limbs. With a cruel smile, he took stock of the blood now seeping from their bindings. “That’s good. That’s real good,” he said.
April hissed quietly, gingerly working her bloodied wrists and shins into less painful positions. Tears gathered in her eyes as she tried her best to breathe evenly. Her lips trembled as she exhaled.
Shona chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Nope.”
“Shona, don’t,” said Malmoradan.
“Don’t what?” sneered Broose.
Shona clenched her fists, curling up chunks of her armrests’ padding. “You made April cry.” She lunged forward, swiveling her arms, and she burst the wires holding them in place. Stooping over, she pulled apart the bindings that sliced through her legs. Blood flowed along her boots, crystalizing where it dripped into the cryogenic fluid. Rising to her feet, Shona struck Broose under his stony jaw. Blue shards rained down as she pummeled him senseless.
With terror in his eyes, Broose cried out as she bore him down and drove her knee against his neck. He fumbled for his sidearm, but she snatched it away. Gritting her teeth, she primed his plasma pistol and pressed its barrel against Broose’s forehead.
“Shona, stop!” barked Malmoradan. “Control yourself!”
Forcing a deep breath through her nose, Shona knelt a moment longer. “All right,” she whispered. She deactivated the weapon, stood up, and pocketed it. With a huff, she picked up the lamp and set it on a nearby counter.
“You should’ve tied me up,” said Broose, and he scrambled to his feet. Blood oozed from a dozen fissures in his skin. “You can keep the gun because you’re dead! All of you are dead!”
Shona exchanged looks with Malmoradan.
He slowly shook his head. “Listen to me, baby girl. Orin won’t let Blacktusk kill us.”
Puffing her cheeks, Shona nodded. “He might,” she said, and she ripped the operating table out of the deck plating. Mounting bolts and ribbons of metal sailed through the air as she spun around and smashed the base of the table into Broose’s head, sending him back down and crushing his skull.
Fatherly disappointment kindled in Malmoradan’s eyes. “Shona, get us out of these chairs. Quickly, please.”
“Well, I’ll be,” whispered Ky.
“What about him?” asked Shona.
“Not a chance,” said April. “Ky’s planning to curry favor with Blacktusk by betraying us at the first opportunity that presents itself. The only hide he cares about is his own.”
Ky chuckled. “She ain’t wrong.”
“Sorry, Ky,” said Shona. “It’s nothing personal.” She punched him out cold and set to freeing her friends.
◆◆◆
Drake paced back and forth inside the warthog, stealing glances at Casey as she sat i
n the far corner, her wrists and ankles bound with her own cuffs. He paused, took a deep breath, and managed a sloped smile. Clearing his throat, he approached her and stopped a few paces away. He stared at her.
“What?” asked Casey.
“You’re very pretty,” said Drake, and he hunched over to tug at Casey’s hair. “Is it always this black, or do you dye it?”
“Neither,” said Casey.
“Huh?”
“It’s a wig,” said Casey.
Drake looked puzzled and he pulled firmly. “No, it’s not.”
Casey seized the moment to head-butt him squarely in the nose.
Staggering backward, Drake landed hard on his tailbone. Cupping his bloody nose, he shouted, “Stupid bitch!” Surging to his feet, he charged Casey with his fist raised high. He winced in pain, however, as Blacktusk caught Drake’s forearm in his vicelike grip.
“She is not the stupid one,” said Blacktusk. “She sees us as the enemy, and you foolishly presented her an opportunity to attack. Consider this—how much can we possibly ask for her safe return if she is already broken when we make our demands?”
“I was only gonna mess her up a little,” said Drake.
Blacktusk’s expression darkened. “Do not lie to me.”
Drake’s chest sagged. “Aye-aye, Captain.” His arms fell to their sides. “Sorry, Captain.”
“I won’t be hearing any more outbursts, will I?”
“No, Captain,” said Drake. “I’ll keep my cool.”
“Good.” Blacktusk walked over and crouched in front of Casey. “If you attack my men again, I will bind you as thoroughly and painfully as possible. Please understand that I do not wish to do this, but I will if you force me to. Do we have an understanding?”
Casey glared at him in response.
“I will take that as your tacit agreement.” He stood up, locking eyes with her.
April intruded on Casey’s thoughts. Shona lost control, and Broose is dead. The whole lab is a mess. On the plus side, we’ve got most of our gear back, and a plasma pistol.
Are you hurt? asked Casey.
Malmoradan and I have superficial wounds, but Shona’s got some pretty deep cuts on her shins and forearms, thought April. We glued and bandaged her, and her dressings are holding, but she’s lost a lot of blood.
Keep an eye on her. Tell her to take it easy, thought Casey.
“I no longer have your undivided attention,” said Blacktusk. “Why would that be?”
“I’ve got a headache,” said Casey.
Blacktusk chuckled. “Indeed. As would I after headbutting Drake, but that isn’t it. You’re communicating with your binary.” With a polite smile, he crossed the deck and paused at the exit. “Drake.”
“Aye, Captain!”
“Broose has spent too much time with the others. I fear he may have indulged his more pernicious appetites. Rally a few others and check on him for me, will you? You know how moody he can get.” Blacktusk cast Drake a sidelong glance. “I’ll send someone to guard Ms. Cartwright in your place.”
“Aye-aye, Captain,” said Drake, and he followed Blacktusk out into the hangar bay.
You’ve got five minutes, thought Casey. Drake is on his way, and he’s bringing friends. Get to the upper deck. Ky’s got hidden compartments on either side of the crew quarters door. You and Malmoradan should be able to squeeze into one, and Shona can take the other. I’ll be there as soon as I can, but it’s up to you until then.
Up to me?
Use your phantasms, thought Casey. Keep them on the lower deck for as long as possible.
April projected waves of fear and doubt. You know what happened with Blacktusk! I’m rubbish in a pinch.
You can do this. I know you can.
I… Please come quickly, thought April, and she vanished from Casey’s mind.
Taking a deep breath, Casey leaned back against the bulkhead. Her eyes flitted to the calico ocelini as she appeared at the warthog’s threshold. “What, no gun?”
“Excuse me?”
Casey nodded toward her captor. “You’re unarmed. How are you supposed to guard me if you’re unarmed?”
The ocelini regarded Casey skeptically. “My shotgun’s just outside, and you’re in cuffs. I don’t think I need to worry about that.”
“What’s your name?”
“Misaki, but most everyone calls me Saki.” Her ears swiveled forward as she smiled. “You’re Cassiopeia, right?”
“My friends call me Casey. You haven’t been doing this long, have you?”
Misaki regarded her warily. “Doing what?”
“The whole… piracy thing,” said Casey.
“Almost a year,” said Misaki. “I don’t get a very big share yet, but Blacktusk takes care of us. No one goes hungry.”
“How do you live with yourself?” asked Casey.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“All the people you kill,” said Casey. “How do you sleep at night?”
Crossing her arms, Misaki laughed wryly and leaned against the bulkhead. “Don’t believe everything you see on the news. Most of the ‘dead’ are people Blacktusk’s recruited from other crews. We use the heads-on-pikes thing as a scare tactic and to make sure the body count matches up, but they’re just props. I set up the ones on the Champion, myself.”
“You can’t fake DNA records,” said Casey.
Misaki squinted playfully. “We’re not the ones faking them. Maybe you should do some digging when you get back in the saddle. I bet there’s a mystery to solve.”
“What about the people you actually kill?” asked Casey. “The ones you don’t fake. Like the mphuno you left on the boarding ramp.”
“Sometimes people try to be heroes, and accidents happen.” Misaki shrugged. “What do you care, anyway? You tried to ambush us—not that should I expect anything less from the IPF. Barbarians with badges, that’s what you lot are. If it weren’t for Orin, we’d all be dead.”
Casey shook her head. “If it weren’t for Orin, none of us would even be here.”
“That’s true,” said Misaki, and she chuckled.
“Why did Blacktusk separate me from the others?”
“That’s how he always starts it. He separates the captains from the rest because captains never join, and they sometimes inspire their crew to hold the line. Don’t worry. When it’s time for chow, he’ll ask your friends to join our crew.” Misaki smiled. “No offense, but they’ll probably say yes.”
“None taken. What happens to me?” asked Casey.
“He’ll ransom you back to the IPF. They always pay, so you’ve got nothing to worry about there either.” Misaki leaned in with a wink and sang, “Unless you wanted to joi-oin.”
“Maybe next time.” Casey took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Thank you, Misaki. You seem decent enough. I apologize for what’s about to happen.” She scooted up slightly and started hitting the back of her head against the bulkhead.
“Don’t do that,” said Misaki. She pulled Casey away.
Casey scooted right back and resumed hitting her head.
“Come on,” said Misaki, and she pulled Casey halfway across the warthog’s deck. “Blacktusk doesn’t want you hurt!”
“I wonder how long you can keep this up,” said Casey, and she scooted right back.
“Why are you doing this?” asked Misaki.
“Because a guard should always establish authority over their prisoners, and the best way to do that is with a proper sidearm,” said Casey.
“So, if I get my gun, you’ll stop hurting yourself?”
Casey smiled. “Yes.”
“Thank you,” said Misaki. She walked to the edge of the compartment and grabbed her shotgun. Daisies and bunnies decorated its forestock. “You got some screws loose, lady.”
Casey laughed as she scooted over to Misaki. “Oh, you have no idea.”
Misaki startled as she turned back around and discovered Casey seated at her feet. “What are you
doing?”
“Something I hate,” said Casey. She stared at the barrel of the gun. With a look of dreadful determination, she fell on her back, kicked up her feet and hooked them against the butt of the shotgun. She yanked the weapon forward, forcing Misaki to pull the trigger.
Misaki’s ears rang. She stared aghast at the gaping hole in Casey’s lifeless body. “Oh my god,” she whispered. Terrified, she turned around and glanced at her swiftly approaching associates. “Blacktusk’s going to kill me.” She shook as she placed her shotgun in Casey’s hand and pushed several crates into place, blocking direct view of the scene from below. She lowered herself onto the hangar deck.
“Everything okay?” asked the sudasau female. “I thought I heard gunfire!”
Misaki grinned nervously. “Oh, hi Shulana! Ostonk. Mayfield. What’s up, Laz. Nope, no gunfire. It’s just that the prisoner’s fast asleep now, and it occurred to me how much I could use a smoke break. I knocked over a couple crates on the way out, is all.”
“It didn’t sound like crates. It sounded like a gun going off,” said Shulana.
Misaki turned around and knocked over one of the containers. It struck the shuttle’s deck with a loud thud. Facing Shulana again, she raised her hands. “See?”
“I remain unconvinced,” said Shulana. “However, a smoke break sounds smashing. You guys want to break into the BICOM shuttle with me?” She pulled a box of Black Ties from her sleeve’s cuff and tapped out a cigarette. She placed it between her lips and looked expectantly at her partner. “Ostonk!”
“What?” asked the sudasau male.
“You’re the man with the fire,” said Shulana.
“Oh yeah,” said Ostonk. A moment later, he produced a trench lighter and lit Shulana’s cigarette.
“Sounds like fun,” said Misaki.
As she lit up her own cigarette and led her associates away, a flash of prismatic light filled the warthog’s confines. Every bit of Casey’s remains—even the blood spattered on Misaki’s clothing—vanished. Casey reappeared an instant later, several paces off from where she fell, completely restored and completely naked. Taking a moment to get her bearings, she gathered all her gear and clothing. She quickly dressed, collected her restraints, and picked up Misaki’s shotgun. Keeping to the shadows, she slipped out of the warthog and made her way toward Ky’s shuttle.
