Gwyn devoured the last bite of gordita. “Agreed. Gran will understand.” She wiped her hands on her cargo pants. “I’ll go call Rodí and tell him we’re on our way. Let’s see if we can get this expedited some.” She motioned to the dirty dishes. “You guys got this?”
“Think it’s Jericho’s turn.”
Jericho squinted and showed his filed teeth at Adrik.
Adrik returned the look. “I’m not scared of you, Tío. It’s your turn.”
Gwyn kissed the top of Adrik’s head. “Y’all figure it out. I did the cooking.”
Jericho pulled out a coin. “I’ll flip you for it.”
Gwyn rolled her eyes as she followed the hallway to the cockpit.
Rodí waited on the platform and watched as the Pleiades made its final descent. She landed with a slight bounce. The engines stopped, and the cargo bay door opened. Rodí met Gwyn half-way across the platform. He hugged her tightly. “I can’t wait to see it. My client is practically foaming at the mouth over this one.”
“He has a good reason. It’s gorgeous. Let’s go inside. Jericho was able to restore its original patina on the trip over here.”
Rodí frowned. “Restoration?”
“Don’t worry. It still looks antiquated, and the restoration was minimal. It had some cracking and vegetation growth from years of storage. But, well, just see for yourself.”
They entered the ship. Adrik stood next to the invisible artwork. He pressed a button, and the Donatello sculpture materialized.
He gasped. “It’s magnificent!” Rodí gently touched the bronze surface. “The detail.” He circled the David, stopping every few inches to examine it more carefully.
Gwyn smiled.
He whistled and made another circle around the statue. “It was definitely worth the risk. I wonder if I could get a few more thousand units from the buyer?”
Gwyn shrugged. “I think you can get whatever you want for it, but I’d be careful sticking it to Lizben. You don’t want him on your bad side.”
“True.” He contemplated the price. “Next time, we’re making more.”
The inner door whooshed open, and Jericho walked through. “Rodí, my boy. What you think?”
Rodí shook Jericho’s hand. “It’s perfect.”
Jericho studied the nude and wrinkled his face. “I don’t know. It’s not my kind of art, but if you have a collector. I’ll bring it to you all day long.”
Rodí laughed. “I have someone coming to unload him. I know you have to get to Mirada, but can you stay the night?”
Gwyn shook her head. “No. We need to get going. Maybe next time.”
“Shame.” Rodí pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow.
“You know. I wouldn’t mind meeting your buyers.” Jericho patted the statue. “I could use an escape from these two lovebirds, too. Maybe I can stay a night or two with you and then go visit Mom.”
A huge smile crossed Rodrigo’s face. “Perfecto. You are welcome anytime, Tío, and once this is done, I’ll spend a couple of days with you at Gran’s. I could use a visit.”
Gwyn motioned for Rodí’s men to board. “The merchandise is here.”
Together they worked to pull the Donatello statue from the Pleiades using compact grav-lifters.
Rodí and Jericho followed them out the door.
Gwyn and Adrik stopped short of going outside. “Well, let me know how it goes, and don’t forget to transfer our units into my account.”
“Of course.” Rodí patted Jericho on the back.
Adrik cast Jericho an anxious glance. “Behave. Jericho.”
Jericho threw his head back. “Never.”
Chapter Four
Babylonia nursed a glass of orange juice, beneath the shade of plumerias. “I’m feeling better, Uri. Really.” Her red hair was pulled back in a low knot that sat at the top of her neck, but little stray wisps of hair floated around her face in the breeze. She tucked a long strand of her hair behind her ear and placed a hand on top of Uri’s. The bruise on the side of her face had lightened considerably. “Uri, I can’t thank you enough for getting that artifact out of there. And for rescuing me.”
“There’s no need.”
She cast a glance toward the crystal blue water. “It’s beautiful out here.” Waves ebbed in and out of the beach. “I can’t believe you never told me about this place.”
“Well. I like to keep things low key. When people hear the words, Baron Uri Rankston, their opinions of me change. Suddenly, I can do no wrong, or am the most attractive person in the room. I just wanted you to get to know the real me. Without the title.” He took a swig of fresh pineapple juice.
“I guess I can understand that, but why would you want to live in a sandy dig site, when you could be here?”
Uri laughed. “Would you be happy here? Or would you rather be somewhere digging in the dirt?”
She looked back out to sea. “I don’t know. I’d like to try to be happy in a place like this.”
“You’d last a couple of months at most; then you would power up the Lady Serpentine and be off looking for another location to find more artifacts.”
“Perhaps.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “It is in my blood.”
Uri rested his hand on top of hers. “I understand. Why do you think I financed your dig?”
Babylonia’s eyes-widened. “You funded the dig?”
“Yes. I did. I knew there had to be proof that the Metreskan Dynasty ruled here. They are my ancestors. This is important to me. I chose you to run the operations because I know you’re the best. I had faith in you. And, I was right. You found the evidence.” He smiled.
“No. We found it.” She cast another glance toward the water. “Do you think the Militarian will find us here?”
Uri shook his head. “Not a chance. I have the best security systems on the planet.”
“I hope so.” Babylonia was silent. “Do you think I could have a look at the pendant? I’d like to do some sketches.”
“Sure. It’s in my safe.” Uri scooted back from his chair and led Babylonia into his office. He stepped behind his teak desk and pushed a button. The aerial painting of his plantation disappeared, and in its place was a wall safe. He turned the dial and opened the door. Inside was a purple box. He retrieved it and handed it to Babylonia.
She opened the box and gasped. “Uri. There’s nothing in here, but a washer.”
Uri paled and reached for the box. “It’s not possible.” He stared at the copper washer. “How?” He set the box on his desk.
“Did anyone know it was here?”
“Just my closest staff.” He collapsed into his chair.
Babylonia laid a hand on Uri’s shoulder. “An artifact like this is polarizing. It’s going to separate families. It always causes division.” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I’ve seen it before on other planets.”
Uri pushed the com button. “Julius, please report to my study.”
Silence filled the room.
Babylonia and Uri watched the door. It remained closed.
“Julius. Report to my study.”
The study door opened, and Lucinda popped inside. “Julius went to the market for me. I was running low on chayote and yucca.”
Uri cast a glance at Babylonia. “When did he go?”
“Very early this morning, sir. Took your Fiesta shuttle. He should be back around noon.”
“Okay. Thank you, Lucinda.”
“Is there something I can help you with?”
“No. You may go. I don’t want to keep you.”
“Oh. Yes, Sir. I’ve got lunch on the stove.” Lucinda left, shutting the door behind her.
Babylonia cocked her eyebrow, “She uses a stove?”
“Yes. She’s traditional, and I wouldn’t trade her cooking for all the synthesized food units in the galaxy.” A smile flashed across his face but disappeared just as quickly. He picked up the box in his hand. Anger colored his eyes.
“I don’t know. It’s possible. Let me check the trackers.” He opened a tablet and pulled up the three-dimensional view screen. It projected above his desk. “Lourdes, find the Fiesta shuttle.” The computer beeped and then showed a blip. “The Fiesta shuttle is in hanger three.” He turned off the machine. “That doesn’t make sense. Want to go for a ride?”
“Sure.”
The small open-air hovercraft cruised past pineapple fields and dodged past rows of date palms. The sun beat down onto their craft, and Babylonia squinted. “Glad to have these sunglasses. Don’t know how I’d manage without them.”
“You get used to the sun down here.” Uri pulled the hovercraft up to the shuttle hangers and threw it into park.
Babylonia untied the pink scarf from her hair and stuffed it into her pocket. “So, which one’s hanger three?”
Uri pointed to the shuttle hanger on their left. “According to Lourdes, she should be in there. According to Lucinda, it is gone.” A knot formed in his stomach. “I don’t know which I want.”
They jog-walked to the door and went through. Inside, the hanger was nearly empty. Rows of fluids and tools lined the shelves along the walls. In the center of the floor, was a bundle of wires housed inside a plastic casing. Uri picked them up. “He’s taken the tracker out of the shuttle.” He through the wires against the wall and the casing shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.
Babylonia rested a hand on his back. “What do you think he’ll do with it?”
“That pendant is priceless, and a lot of people are looking for it. He’s going to sell it.”
“Black market?” Babylonia smiled.
Uri scrunched his face. “To be certain. There’s a large trading market near Mirada. Why didn’t I see this?” He hung his head.
“How could you have known? You kept it out of the Militarian’s hands. Hid it on your island. It should have been safe.”
Uri kicked the floor. “Caracho! It’s gone. Everything we’ve searched for. The proof of the Metreskan Dynasty. Proof that they were the world builders.” He sighed and turned away.
Babylonia stepped in front of him. “No. It’s not. It’s not gone. We’ll get it back. We can get it back, Uri. Don’t lose hope.”
“How?”
Babylonia grinned. “I have connections.”
“You surprise me, Babylonia. I thought you were legit.”
A wicked smile flashed in her eyes. “I am, but my friend, Gwyn, is the best smuggler in the sector, and she can get anything into her hands. We just need cash flow.”
“Cash isn’t a problem. I have enough units to start my own planet.”
Babylonia pulled Uri against her. The heat between them was like molten lava. “Don’t worry, Uri. We’ll get it back and to the council. Things are fixing to change around here.”
Uri folded her into his arms and kissed her. He whispered into her ear, “Thank you.”
Babylonia shut her eyes. “My pleasure.” She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, then kissed him again. “I’ve been dying to do that.”
Uri ran his tongue across her bottom lip. “Me, too.”
Babylonia pulled from him but held his hand. “Let’s get back to the house, and I’ll make the call.”
Uri stepped back and dropped her hand. “Okay.”
Chapter Five
Gwyn’s voice echoed in the tower. “Starship Pleiades to Rankston Plantation. We are on approach. Lower your shields.”
“Copy that, Pleiades. Shields will be down. Three. Two. One. Down now.”
The island came into view as the shields shimmered. Gwyn flew over the plantation and landed on the tarmac. The Pleiades landed with a slight bounce.
Gwyn slipped the headphones from her ears and hung them on the hook to the left of the throttle. “You ready for the best food this side of Tortuga?”
Adrik rubbed his stomach. “Better than Gran's?”
Gwyn shrugged. “Different. Island food is unique, and Babylonia told me that Ms. Lucinda cooks everything by hand. No synthesizers.”
Adrik pressed his lips together and whistled. “You are speaking my language, girl.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let's get out there. I'm ready for some chow.”
Gwyn shook her head and laughed. Her long hair swayed against her back. “I agree completely.”
The Pleiades com beeped. “Gwyn, you there?” Babylonia's melodic voice drifted over the waves.
“Yes. On our way.” She grabbed her duffle and slung it over her shoulder. The pair exited the ship hand-in-hand. Babylonia and Uri waited. The hot sun bounced off the black tarmac, but the breeze was constant off the surrounding waters.
Babylonia pulled Gwyn into a tight hug. “I am glad to see you.”
“It's been too long. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”
Babylonia frowned. “Me, too.”
Gwyn motioned to Adrik. “You remember Adrik, right?”
Babylonia stepped toward him. “How could I forget?” She winked.
Adrik chuckled. “You are such a flirt, Babylonia.” He gently kissed her cheek, and she stepped back next to Uri.
She laced her arm through his. “Now. Let me introduce this wonderful guy. Gwyn. Adrik. This is Baron Uri Rankston.”
Uri shook Adrik's hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Adrik nodded. “Same.”
Uri draped his arm over Babylonia's shoulders. “Let's take the hovercraft to the house. We'll talk about the artifact over dinner. Lucinda's made some jerk chicken, pineapple coleslaw and coconut key lime pie for dessert.”
Babylonia caught Adrik’s eye. “I seem to remember you like to eat, Adrik.”
“You remember correctly, and I am willing to try everything.”
Uri chuckled. “Then you are in the right place, my friend. Lucinda’s going to love you.” He clapped Adrik on the back.
Gwyn linked arms with Babylonia, and they started toward the hovercraft. The men followed.
Babylonia handed Gwyn a scarf and a pair of sunglasses. “Trust me. You'll want these. It'll keep your hair straight, and the sun is harsh on a spacer’s eyes.”
Gwyn tied the scarf in place, and slid the glasses over her eyes. “What do you think, Adrik?”
He winked. “Sexy as caracho, girl.”
Gwyn blushed. “Maybe I should get some of these? What'd you think, Babylonia?”
“You look beautiful, but you don't need to get some. I got these for you. I could never pull off those red-rimmed sunglasses – at least with my red hair. Pink maybe, but not red.” The girls chuckled.
“Well, thank you, Babs.”
Babylonia gently poked her in the ribs. “Shhh. I haven’t gone by that in years.”
Gwyn hugged her. “You’ll always be Babs to me.”
Uri sniggered and pushed the ignition. The hovercraft vroomed. Gwyn grabbed hold of the side of the craft as they pushed forward through rows of palms.
Adrik watched as they wound through the pineapple groves. Men and women were hard at work harvesting the luscious fruit. The scent of the delectable pineapples filled the air and his mouth watered. “I’ve never smelled anything so amazing.”
Uri leaned over to speak to him, “Harvest just started. The eyes of the pineapple fruit are perfect for picking. Each night the plants are flown to the mainland and sold to vendors that carry the fruit all over this quadrant. We were lucky that Mirada had such a steady tropical climate. Growing seasons are longer, and more often. We can even grow crops that might never have grown together on other worlds.”
Adrik nodded. “Leads to larger profits, no doubt.”
“Yes, that's true.”
“It’s easy to see why the Militarian have been so interested in Mirada. They like anything lucrative. They are going to fight hard against giving the Metreskans back their planet. How much of the revenue goes in taxes to the Militarian?”
Uri scowled. “Nearly fifty percent. They take and take. Our people have suffered greatly at their hands. So many of us are poor.”
“Well, at least you've been blessed.”
“I've been lucky. Make no mistake.”
Adrik watched as rows of workers gathered around long tables for lunch. The pungent smell of jerk chicken drifted on the air. “It seems you've been able to help others.”
“Yes. My father's father started this plantation before the Militarian stepped onto our world. He had the foresight to hide our island before they took control. The Militarian has searched for it, but so far, we've been fortunate. My tech is superior to theirs.” Uri pulled up to the back of the plantation house and parked the hovercraft. “Hopefully, it stays that way.”
Adrik helped Gwyn out of the back, and they followed Uri and Babylonia into the house.
Lucinda met them in the dining hall. “Just in time for lunch. Have a seat.”
They gathered around a table, laden with an abundance of food. Uri waited for his guests to sit, then sat down. “I want to thank you again for coming here. I would have rather welcomed you to my home under better circumstances, but I am thankful you are here and willing to help.”
Gwyn grabbed Adrik’s hand. “It’s no trouble, Uri. We’re going to get the pendant back. I’ve already put out feelers into the off-world auctions through Rodrigo, and there has been some chatter it’s going up for sale in a few days. We’ll be ready. In the meantime, we’ll get to know each other.”
“Thank you, Gwyn, Adrik.”
Lucinda carried a tray full of hot rolls into the room. “You better eat, before it gets cold, now. Go on.”
Uri laughed. “You heard the lady. Dig in.”
Adrik grabbed a chicken leg and tore into its flesh. He coughed and heat radiated into his face.
Uri laughed. “It’s got a kick to it. If you’re not used to the spice, it may get you.”
Adrik wiped his red lips with a napkin. “No, I’m just getting used to spicy food.” He chugged his glass of tea. “But I like it!” He took another bite.
The Outer World Chronicles: Books 1, 2, 3 Page 11
