by Calista Skye
She lowered her head and pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring the catcalls of a large, scaly-skinned Ratolian fellow with a pair of curled horns protruding from the sides of his craggy face. The ample curves of her soft body were always enough to attract attention here in the Bazaar. Attention she preferred to avoid.
As she ducked deeper into the crowd to speed away from Curly-Horns, she passed a merchant’s cart carrying a fresh harvest of ripe, orange sun-fruits. No doubt imported from the thriving garden planet of Anara. All the best delicacies were. Anara’s mild climate nurtured lush jungles, thriving oceans, and rugged mountains. The place was a paradise of abundance, and every once in a while, exotic fruits and other goods found their way to the Bazaar.
She stopped for a moment, gazing wistfully at the sun-fruit. Lana had neither the time nor the credits to indulge. That was a luxury reserved for wealthy off-worlders and corrupt city officials.
Disgusted, Lana turned away, crashing into the cart as she spun. A large, ripe fruit rolled off the top of the pile, and straight into the hands of…
“Hungry?” said a deep masculine voice that didn’t belong to the merchant. Lana lifted her head to greet the most gorgeous Kamaran man she’d ever laid eyes on. The same man she’d seen on Kira’s holocomm earlier. His strong, broad-shouldered frame and well-muscled arms suggested military. But he lacked the uniform. And he wasn’t dressed in the extravagantly tailored suit of a nobleman or city-official, either. He looked as though he belonged here, among the common people, but he carried himself with a confidence and poise that didn’t quite fit.
“No,” she said. “No, I was just looking.”
The man smiled at her, chuckling softly. “No need to be ashamed. I know the look of hunger. I’ve seen far too much of it around here.”
A strange comment for a Kamaran to make. She’d grown so used to their indifference. She assumed they lacked the empathy to see anything beyond the tips of their noses.
Lana looked up at the man’s eyes. Soft, piercing blue eyes. Penetrating her.
“You’re not supposed to notice things like that,” Lana said.
“Is that so?” He cocked an eyebrow, challenging her to explain.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.” Her skin flushed a soft rose color as her pulse quickened. Lana never got flustered. She wasn’t used to the feeling. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t. People usually get the wrong idea about me. Please,” he said, holding the fruit out to her. “It’s my treat.” The Kamaran palmed the credit sensor, appeasing the merchant who now watched the pair with great interest.
To her surprise, he had the credits.
“Take it,” he said. “I insist.”
“I don’t want anything from you.” She tensed, expecting his insistence. Her body prepared itself to flee as the adrenaline coursed through her veins.
Anyone willing to buy Anaran sun-fruit for a stranger was working an angle. Lana wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it.
“As you wish,” he said.
She tore her eyes away from the strong jawline and radiant blue eyes and backed away. The Consortium wouldn’t wait. And she still needed her parts for the nav system. She didn’t have time for the enigma. No matter how attractive it seemed.
***
Lana peered back over her shoulder as she turned off the main strip of the marketplace. Sakaj Namat’s shop hid deep in a back alley, so it was a manner of prudence to make sure she wasn’t being followed by anyone with questionable intentions. The Kamaran seemed harmless enough, but it was better not to risk it.
Her vision grew hazy as the memories came rushing back. Her father’s body, laying in a blood-soaked heap in the dry Tarksis sand, the victim of Kamaran treachery. He was a good man. A great man, even. The only one she had ever known.
When her mother’s condition deteriorated, he set out to help her any way he could. The genetically reactive serum that cured the Rend was difficult to synthesize. And with no qualified doctors on the planet, not to mention the necessary equipment, the only hope for a cure lied in securing it from a less than reputable source.
A trusting man who always saw the good in people, her father struck a deal with a Kamaran noble who promised him a dose. He hesitantly accepted the terms, going against everything he stood for to provide a diversion while the noble diverted payment for an ore shipment into his private coffers.
The noble provided Alec with the serum as promised. But they never bothered to tell him that the concoction was incomplete, lacking the extract of an Anaran moonlily. Without the extract to potentiate it, the serum was fatal.
Details like that didn’t matter to the gangsters.
Alec’s mistake cost Lauren her life.
The Imperials thought that with nothing left to lose, they would have a new pawn to play with. Someone to help siphon the wealth of the planet into their hands.
The viscount misjudged him. Alec refused to be his puppet. And the viscount had him slaughtered to ensure his silence.
It had been seven years, but it was a lesson that Lana never forget. Never trust a Kamaran. The policy had served her well as the size of the occupation force grew on Tarksis, and it was a philosophy she would live by until her dying day.
She chastised herself for her weakness as the memory replayed in her mind. She had to be strong for Tanner’s sake. But the floodgates were opened now, so she dealt with it the only way she knew how: She let it in. Let it run its course.
One day, they would pay for what they did.
She collected herself and pushed open the flimsy wooden door leading into Sakaj’s shop as the comforting smell of dusty books rushed up to meet her.
“Lana!” he shouted a little too excitedly, knocking over the circuit he’d been tinkering with as he raised his arms and rushed to her in greeting.
“Hi, Sakaj.” She opened her arms and embraced him.
“Always a pleasant surprise,” he said, beaming. “Hope they’re giving you some time to rest every now and then. Business is business,” he spat. “Wretched Imperial bastards. Business is people Lana. Never forget it.”
“You’d never let me if I tried.”
“You got that right,” he said. “Never forget what’s important. It’s the people, Lana. Got to take care of them, or there’s no one to do business with. All the Tarkanium in the world won’t do you a lick of good if you’ve got no one to appreciate and share it with. Speaking of which…”
“No, it’s just me and Tanner. And we’re doing just fine.”
“I know it’s none of my business, Lana. I just want to see you happy. You’ve been through too much. You need someone to help you take the load off. Your father told me to take care of you, and…”
“I can take care of myself,” she said, a bit more defensively than she intended.
“That you can, my girl. That you can.” He pulled the door closed behind and led her past the rows of dust-covered tomes that were no interest to the gangsters or the military. Sometimes she wondered how he managed to keep his shop open at all. But she already knew the answer. It was the reason she was here. Sakaj Namat was a trader of information.
“So, what can I do for you?” he said. “As much I wish you’d pay me a social call every once in a while, something tells me you’re not here to just to chat.”
“Can’t get anything past you, Kaj,” she teased.
“You’ve got your mother’s tongue. Well, before…” His face drew into a frown and his eyes grew distant. “So what do you need? There’s a transpo full of new recruits unloading at the depot right now.”
Lana scowled.
“But you’re not interested in dating them. I understand, Lana. I’ll mind my business. But you deserve to be happy.”
“Maybe you’re right, Kaj,” she humored him. He looked like he could use a spot of hope. “But not today. Actually, I was wondering if you knew where I could get a new set of nav sensors. Kira and I are headed out into the Gamma qu
adrant.”
“Gods, Lana. Why? Why would take a job like that?”
“You know why. The Imperials are stingy bastards, but they’ll pay well for a job like this. And…Tanner. Besides, I can handle it.”
“I worry about you, Lana. I know you can fly, but Gamma isn’t safe. Isn’t there some other way?”
“Like making a deal with a Tarksian viscount? You mean that way?”
“No,” he shot her a pained look. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just wish that things had been different. You don’t deserve all this.”
“I’ll be fine, Kaj.” She touched his arm reassuringly. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
Sakaj shook his head. “Nav sensors, nav sensors. Maybe if…no. But I could…no, that won’t work either. If I’d known you needed them, I would have grabbed a set last time they brought in a parts haul. But I don’t think anyone here has what anything better than a standard set. Nothing that’ll help you with the Dennegar belt.” He looked at Lana disparagingly. “You can still turn them down.”
But she knew it wasn’t an option. If she passed up this shipment, the Imperials weren’t likely to offer her a haul of this caliber again. And she didn’t know how long she had before the Rend took Tanner. It was a risk worth taking.
“I know,” she said. “Thanks, Kaj.”
“You’re going anyway.”
“You’ve known me for too long.”
“You’re just like your father.”
“I can only hope.”
***
Lana closed the shop doors behind her as she stepped back into the alley. No nav sensors. Just her luck. The Endurance still had its standard issue set, though, and that would have to be good enough. Getting through the Dennegar belt without the upgrades wasn’t impossible. Reckless, maybe. But not impossible. Perhaps she had more in common with her father than she realized.
As she made her way back towards the heart of the Bazaar, she glimpsed the Kamaran man from the fruit cart. She ducked back into the alley. No need to repeat their awkward encounter. She’d already suffered enough for one day, and the blazing Tarksian sun was barely above the horizon. At least Kira wasn’t here to goad her into talking to him again. I told you your prince would come. You can’t run away from it forever.
Maybe Lana would avoid mentioning the incident at all.
She peeked back around the corner, scanning the area to make sure he had gone.
And she didn’t hear her attacker approach until he was already on top of her.
“There now, pretty, ssssshouldn’t be alone out here. Not ssssssafe, you know. Dangeroussss people about.” The curly-horned Ratolian gripped her arms, his rough, scaly skin cutting into her as he forced her to the ground.
His hand hit her mouth, muffling her scream as he pinned her beneath his knee. “Lovely planet, thissss. Tarkissss. Lovely womensss. Fetch a fffine profitsss.” He bent her arm up behind her back as he shoved her face into the ground.
Lana writhed, searching for escape as he dug into his satchel for a rope to bind her hands. She felt his grip loosen. Sensing a moment of opportunity, she kicked up hard, but fell short of her mark.
“Sssstay!” the Ratolian hissed, slamming her back to the dirt as he snatched her wrists and tightened the rope around them. She closed her eyes and flailed against him, fighting with every ounce of strength she could summon.
But she knew it wouldn’t be enough. The acrid taste of fear surged through her.
Lana pulled back hard, driving the back of her head into the horned devil’s nose.
He bellowed and rocked backward.
“Sssstupid bitch!” he cried, raising a sharp talon.
Lana froze. She closed her eyes and prepared for the end.
And she heard the sickening crunch of bone as someone smashed into her attacker, throwing him from her body.
Lana rolled over. Endorphins surging through her as she scrambled to her feet.
The Kamaran.
He held the horned Ratolian high, his arm braced against his throat. A raging fury painted his once pacific eyes as he twisted the horned devil’s head.
The snap of his neck was quick. He fell limp and lifeless to the ground.
The look of rage faded from her savior’s face as he turned back to her.
“You?” she whispered. “Why?”
“You’re lucky I happened by.”
“Happened by? You were following me.” She regretted the words the moment she uttered them. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful.
“Don’t flatter yourself, princess. I was following him.” He pointed over to the broken body of the Ratolian.
“What?”
“They’re not good people. And that particular Ratolian was a slaver. I’ve been hunting him for days, and managed to track him here.”
Lana looked at the broken, crumpled body on the ground. She knew things here were bad, but slavers?
“Looks like I found him just in time. He probably had some pretty nasty plans for you.”
“So you’re what? Some kind of vigilante? That’s comforting.”
“Such sass. I’d think a thank you was in order.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Observant, too.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Who just saved your life. And you still didn’t thank me.”
“Thank you,” she said. “And you still didn’t answer my question.”
“The galaxy can be a rough place. It’s usually the worst for those who deserve it the least. I’m just doing what I can to help.”
“How noble of you.”
The Kamaran shook his head. “Unbelievable. No gratitude at all.”
“I said ‘thank you’. If you expect more than that, you’re no better than him.”
“I don’t expect anything at all – it leads to disappointment. But you seem to know that song already. And though I’m scintillated by the banter, I’m sure we both have more important things to do. You can call me Adaar. And you, miss…”
“Lana. Lana Riley.”
“Miss Riley, you should be more careful. There are dangerous people out there.” His eyes penetrated her again. “But we’re not all bad. The trick is to know who to trust.”
Without another word, he tossed her the sun fruit. Smiled. And walked away.
Chapter 3
Lana quickened her pace as she rushed through the massive open dome of the Depot’s central hub. By far the largest collection of structures in the city, the Depot was one of the few places on Tarksis constructed from the planet’s namesake metal. Its rich aquamarine hue would have made the place feel serene if it weren’t for the incessant roar of engines reverberating through the open air of the hub. Towering spires of blue tarkanium twisted skyward, supporting the fleet vessels and trade ships as they prepared for launch.
A handful of new Kamaran marine recruits still lingered, but Lana barely noticed them as she hurried toward the port that housed the Endurance. She was running late, and her contractor at the Consortium had made it clear that the delivery needed to go off without a hitch.
No pressure.
After her encounter with Curly-Horns and the strange Kamaran man, she was more than ready for a retreat to the blackness of space. As she rounded the corner to the dock where the Endurance sat ready for their departure, she spotted Kira waiting impatiently.
“There you are!” Kira’s face lifted into a smile. “Just in time, Riley. In your book, that’s late. Everything okay?”
“I know. I’m sorry,” said Lana, still out of breath from her sprint through the depot. “I got held up.” She leaned over the metal railing and peered at the giant clock in the center of the hub. “We should still be able to make schedule, though, as long as everything’s ready. The Consortium guys still getting the ship loaded?”
“They finished a few minutes ago. Even faster than usual. I didn’t even see the guys load it.”
Lana raised an eyebrow.
“
It’s not because I was admiring the scenery. I promise. I know this one’s important, Riley.”
Lana believed her. Despite her obsession with those painfully sexy Kamarans, Kira had a good head on her shoulders. She was dependable, and she’d never let anything important slip through the cracks.
“The soldiers all left already, anyway. Probably catching up on their rack time before training,” said Kira. “Though I’m sure they would have loved my company.”
“I’m sure they would have.”
“But you’d be lost without me, Riley. So here I am.”
“So you didn’t see them loading our cargo? No clue what the haul is?”
Kira shrugged.
Frigates like the Endurance didn’t have the cargo space for massive shipments of Tarksian ore, so transporting small loads was nothing out of the ordinary. The Endurance was small and light. Built for speed. It meant they couldn’t handle the massive shipments of raw materials that most captains made their living on. But it also meant that they got the high priority rush deliveries.
Still, it was strange that the Consortium didn’t at least tell Kira what they’d be hauling.
Kira seemed to read her thoughts. “I wouldn’t worry, Riley. Just some crazy rich person’s whim. Besides, we’re getting paid to go to paradise. I’ve always wanted to dip my toes in an Anaran ocean.” She stood up and smiled. “You look like you could use a break, too. Let’s get those nav sensors installed and get out of here.”
“Oh,” said Lana. “Yeah, about that…”
“Don’t tell me you couldn’t get them? Sakaj can get anything.”
Lana shook her head. “Not this time. The shipment went missing. And not the usual ‘gone missing’ that Sakaj would have gotten wind of.”
“Now that you mention it, I overheard a few of the officers talking while I was…”
“Ogling the new recruits.”
“Ogling. I don’t ogle. What kind of word is that?”
