by Casey Lea
“Access achieved,” Pertwing announced and visuals sprang into life around Darsey. She steadied herself on the wall with one hand, while the other flipped through information.
Interesting. The kres were attacking in force, because they thought this was the main Alliance system, complete with home planet and universal passage point. Why on earth did they think that?
Darsey searched deeper and her hand rose to her throat when she found the answer. Wing had given these co-ordinates to Raptor, his fellow Shadow, who was also the Arck’s head of security. Either Raptor had helped set this up, or he and the Shadows had betrayed Wing to protect the kres fleet. God, she hated politics.
Whatever the truth, Sharpeye had clearly taken the bait and now they were at war. So what did Wing plan to do about it?
Darsey beckoned and the ambush briefing scrolled in front of her. Good. Yes, very good. Excellent, in fact. The Alliance had fewer ships than the Empire, but their vessels were more powerful. It looked like Wing and, oh, yes, there was his seal, Free too had found a way to use that fact. Together they'd designed an energy web that could be infused with most of their ships' power to trap and then short circuit enemy vessels. It would leave the rival ships helpless, but their crews uninjured. Perfect.
Until she came along.
“No,” Darsey breathed, her hands shaking as she checked the web schematics. She had to fix this. She looked for the anchor points that the Nexus and Grace needed to feed power through and they were both far distant, back where the two Alliance ships had been hidden. That she could fix.
“Get me a link to Wing,” she ordered and her com vibrated obediently. However, instead of her husband the image that appeared was Pertwing's avatar. The tiny blonde kres wriggled apologetically.
“His com refused our call.”
“Try an urgent tag.”
“I did. He still won't talk to us.”
Darsey closed her eyes and squeezed her hands, before inspiration struck again. “Try Free.”
“Connecting.”
Pertwing disappeared, to be replaced by a shaky close-up of dark gold eyes and darker furrowed brows. “Dee,” Free acknowledged, just before his oversized image tilted sideways. “More power to inertia damping. What?”
“I've a way to reset the trap. Send out camouflaged slivers to collect the anchor points and bring them to the ships, instead of trying to get the ships to them.”
Crinkles appeared under Freefall's eyes and the view slipped enough to show a dimple too. “Nice plan, chick. The brain still works. Wing and I had the same idea. The slivers are near back. Hold tight, this will soon be done.” He disappeared and Darsey's smile vanished too.
“Oh. Great. Good thing I was here to save the day.”
The room rocked and Darsey went with it, sliding from side-to-side in an effort to zigzag to the bed. She made it and collapsed across it, clinging tight to the mattress. She buried her face in the sheets and hung on. She'd forgotten how much she hated being in battles. What was Jace thinking? No wonder she wanted him out of this. Space was quite simply dangerous. And incredibly uncomfortable.
The bed bucked beneath Darsey and she gritted her teeth. She flopped like a rag doll, until the room started spinning around her. Only extra power from her com kept her in place and clinging like a limpet. The Nexus groaned beneath the roar of attack and Darsey struggled not to scream with it. At least that was one battle she could win. Hang on and pretend to be in control.
Then with shocking abruptness the movement stopped and quiet returned. Darsey lay still, scrunched in twisted sheets, scared to believe it was over. A minute passed before she dared to open her eyes and another minute before she pushed herself upright.
Darsey sat in the middle of the disheveled nest and struggled with tears. Adrenaline slumps were always such a downer. Footsteps rang from the foyer and she turned just in time to see Wing launch himself at the bed. He skidded across the rumpled bedding on his knees, driving it into a wedge ahead of him.
Darsey only had time to swallow before that wedge lifted her and she disappeared into her husband's embrace. She pressed herself against his chest, while he wrapped himself around her. His arms and legs pulled her hard against him and she curled close, happy to be held and even happier to be forgiven.
Sorry, her mind said and that was enough. The depth of her emotion was carried clearly from her frond to his and he sighed deeply, his chest rising and falling against her. His mind sent back his own fear and heartache at her sudden arrival and the danger she had been in.
“Don't tell,” Wing whispered. “I'm supposed to be an admiral.”
His wife shook her head against him and her body shook too. “It's just... I don't know how to leave Jace in danger. I don't care if he hates me. His life is more important than what he thinks of me.”
Wing drew back to settle her more comfortably in his lap. He kissed her hair, before murmuring into its dark red waves. “Do you recall when we first met?”
Darsey hiccupped back a sob and leaned into him again. “Vividly.”
“Indeed, but one part I try hard to forget. I made you my slave and then later I sold you. I don't think you enjoyed any of that.”
“Really didn't.” She shuddered and he stroked her cheek.
“No, because your life should be your own. Even among aliens and surrounded by danger, you have to be free. Free to make mistakes. Free to fail. Free to live.”
Darsey pounced. “Free to die.”
“Yes.” The single word was unflinching, an acceptance of loss that made her shudder again. Wing's frond slid past his wife's and hers wrapped around it automatically. Have faith, love. Our son is strong and smart and I promise I'll bring him home as soon as he'll stay.
Darsey's mind tried to defy him, but her tears started flowing and she hid her face in his tunic instead. “This is my fault,” she whispered into the damp cloth and her gut clenched. “I held him so tight, he ran away. Straight into a war.”
Wing squeezed her gently. “You did what you thought was best and it's no blame to you. We royals can be rebellious teens, even when treated with all care. Don't fear. I'll fetch him, but only when I'm sure he'll come.”
Damn you, Wing. You'll bring him back the second he's ready?
“I swear.”
Darsey sat up again, brushing the backs of her hands across her wet cheeks while she considered. Her frond tightened around Wing's and she finally relaxed. If there was one person in the universe she trusted, it was her husband.
“Okay, but I can't just go home and wait. There must be somewhere out here I can stay. Somewhere close to the Rim, but far enough away from Jace to avoid the temptation to meddle.”
Wing looked startled. “I doubt we've anything that far out.”
“Ha. Wise guy. You must have an advance base somewhere close.”
“Indeed, though the accommodation is primitive. It should suit you.”
Darsey's eyebrows shot up and she launched herself at her husband. He fell backward under her and she pinned him with her body, but he flipped her over to straddle her. He nuzzled her neck and she swept one of his thighs with both of her legs to tip him off. They wrestled across the mattress, first one on top and then the other, laughing all the way to the edge.
They went over without hesitation, with Wing making the final flip to hit the floor beneath Darsey. He grinned up at her, but she studied him seriously. Her fingers traced the familiar lines of his cheek and jaw.
“I've missed you,” she whispered and his hand tightened on the back of her neck. He pulled her closer, into a kiss and his mind agreed.
So much.
Their mouths melded with familiar urgency and Darsey's body pushed free of her clothes. They slid from her back to the floor, while she scrabbled for the fastening of Wing's uniform. She opened his trousers, pushing them down his hips and her lips broke free from his and started to work down his chest, but he grasped her upper arms to pull her upright again.
Wing su
rged upward too, so he was sitting on the floor with his back to the bed and Darsey on his lap. They held each other’s gaze, gold eyes locked to blue as he entered her. She gasped, biting her lip and his brow furrowed, but neither looked away. They started to move and her back arched, his hand curling in her hair to keep them face to face.
“I love you,” he panted and her lips curled hard against her teeth.
“I know.”
29
Out and About
Amber pushed her hands deep into her pockets to stop them from trying to help. Falkyn already had his mother hovering over him and she was more than adequate support. If he wanted to truly walk again he needed to master his prosthetic leg alone.
Amber turned to look out a small but spotless window at the colors of the garden. It was a more relaxing view than Falkyn trying to rise from a chair without using his com field or the power in his false leg. Again. She was increasingly tempted to just slap his wrist and turn his com back on, but he was unlikely to accept such an easy option. It seemed the chick had character. How drakking annoying.
Something scraped along the floor and a thud made her turn back.
Two figures were draped over the chair arm, with Harrier down on one knee supporting her son's weight. Amber leapt to her feet and was at their side, before she could remind herself how dull Falkyn’s perseverance was. She expected curses from one or both of her companions, but they stayed equally silent.
The two doctors got their patient safely back into the chair, where he slumped to one side. Amber shifted cushions to support the weakened muscles on his left. She gave him an encouraging smile, but it took all of her experience to cope with his scarred face. She timed the eye contact carefully, not so long that she seemed to be staring, but not so brief it looked like revulsion.
She was being ridiculous of course, but then his remaining frond might have checked her gaze in infrared. His eyes certainly couldn't. They were no longer kres gray, but milky white. He was blind and crippled and she doubted the best medical equipment in the galaxy could heal him. He was going to need every streak of character he had.
Falkyn hitched up the right side of his mouth in an unexpected grin. Only half of his face worked properly and the result was grotesque, but she rested her hand on his without flinching.
"You're doing wonderfully. It's only been a few days since you almost died."
"I appreciate that," Falkyn answered and his voice was untouched. It remained as firm and resonant as ever. "I appreciate both of you too, but I want to be mobile without my com. Just in case. I need to start walking alone or my brother will be off doing things without me. Where is he anyway? He's normally hanging over me, being encouraging."
"Don't worry about Jace," Harrier ordered. "You've always been a good patient, but this is past good. You're trying to achieve too much too soon. Walking with complete com shutdown is just too extreme. You need to make incremental gains at gradually lowered settings. Then you can join your brother.”
“Join him?” Falkyn asked and lifted his surviving frond toward his mother.
She exchanged a frown with Amber, who shrugged a hand. It couldn’t hurt to be honest with the chick.
Harrier grimaced, clearly unconvinced, but answered anyway. “He went off to some candy store, so there’s no need to fret. It sounds like fun.” The front desk whistled in the next room and she stepped back from her son. She ran her hand across her forehead and tucked a gray strand back into her hair restraints. “It's long past time I processed my new patients. I'll be back to check on you as soon as possible. Don't overdo it.”
She bent to kiss Falkyn's unscarred cheek, before plastering a bland smile on her face and letting herself out through the creaking wooden door.
Amber sank onto the arm of Fal’s chair and hoped very hard he had missed his mother's slip.
“Where exactly are Jace and Misty? Truly.”
Oops. “Out.”
“At a candy store?”
Amber jumped to her feet and made her voice as bright as she could. “The willow tree's completely still. There's not even a breeze. It's a perfect day for a walk in the garden.”
“Amber. Please. There's no candy store on Gratuity. Where are they?”
She hesitated, searching for more bright and breezy, but there was nothing there. It seemed she still had a limited capacity to be nauseating. Or did she mean nice? Much the same thing really. She let out a gusty breath and frowned. “I advised them not to go. I truly did. Repeatedly.”
“Go where?”
“Hunting. I found a lead on a local pedophile. A wretch called the Candyman. They've gone to get him.”
Falkyn's com flashed when he reconnected it. “They've lived on the Rim for a single week and think they can hunt its criminals? They're not going to get a bounty, they're going to get dead.”
“A point I also made repeatedly. I've tried to reach them since, but they won't answer.”
Falkyn shuffled forward until he was sitting on the edge of the chair. Amber crossed her arms and tried to look forbidding. “What are you doing?”
Falkyn settled both of his feet, one real and one fake on the floor and his breath escaped through his teeth as a hiss.
“Falkyn?”
“I can do this. I have to. You know how sheltered those two have been. They're innocents and they need my help.”
“They’re more than innocent, they’re astronomically naïve.” Amber tried to think of another option, but couldn't. “Guano. If you're going, so am I.” She ducked forward to slide under Falkyn's arm before he could protest. “Let's get you up.”
They rose together and sidled toward the back door and into the garden. The row of crooked stepping stones tilted randomly beneath them so they staggered like a pair of drunks, but with the help of both coms they made it to the gate.
Falkyn had to duck to pass under it and Amber’s knees groaned in protest, but once outside their progress was easier. They fell into a rhythm that took them through the streets at a surprisingly rapid pace. They talked and swayed their way across Gratuity, until Amber stopped them to check her com.
She nodded to the left and Falkyn lurched into motion again, intermittently leaning on her arm. Together they limped into a narrow alley. An ancient conveyor creaked into life under their feet. They grabbed each other and found a balance as buckled metal plates settled into a clanking march that carried them forward.
“This is good,” Amber observed and Falkyn laughed.
“Don't claim I never take you anywhere nice.”
She smiled and tucked closer under his arm. “It's not the Arck's palace, but in truth I prefer it.”
“More relaxing.” They clanked forward in silence for a moment, before Falkyn tilted his head and stared past her. “I remember how you looked. The first time I saw you. The only time I saw you.”
Amber's throat tightened and she had to push words past a sudden lump. “How exactly did I look?”
“You looked ordinary.”
Amber glared into blind eyes. “What?”
Half of Falkyn's face smiled. “Don't be affronted. You were perfect for your role at Court. Skin like crystallized honey, hair dark as a nightstrike and eyes like autumn leaves.” His voice slowed, but then he frowned and jerked back. “That must be why you seemed so familiar. You were too typical, Lady. Too usual in that setting.”
Amber pulled away just as fast. “That's the least romantic thing ever said to me. Your compliments need work.”
Falkyn's remaining eyebrow rose and then he laughed. “I've no sad dream of seducing you, Lady. I'm not so mad. What I am is blind and crippled.”
Amber's throat tightened further, but anger burned through her pity. “What you are is rude.” She struck his chest with her palms, surprising them both. She gulped, but the fury was still there. “Insulting beyond belief.” She tried to hit him again, but this time his frond rose to follow her movements and he seized her wrists. They stood together, both breathing hard, but h
e found another crooked smile.
“So angry because I called you average?”
“Of course not. I know I fit in far too well with the Court carrion and any anger over that lies with me. But I'm past furious that you think me superficial. You won't even try to seduce me, because you think I can't see past your scars?”
Falkyn's smile faded while his frond leaked cynicism. It deflated, to lie flat on his chest and a deep sorrow welled from it unchecked. “I don't blame you-”
Amber rose to press her mouth to his. He stood still and unresponsive, but she tipped her head back and persisted, until he gathered her close, leaving no space between them at all. Their emotions tangled too, making the kiss sweet and sad. It filled Amber with loss rather than lust.
They quickly parted, to stand silent and confused. It seemed Falkyn had nothing more to say. Well, that was success of a sort, but what had she been thinking? She knew better than to tease the chick just because he challenged her. She wasn't superficial, but she wasn't looking for romance either. Never again.
The conveyor groaned and shook its way round a bend. Falkyn had to decompress a support rod from his com, until his prosthetic leg powered up. This time he managed not to over correct with it and stayed on his feet. Amber swayed too and looked down at her wrist. “We're close. These are the co-ordinates I found from cross-referencing deliveries of the Candyman's favorite vices.” She moved to tuck under Falkyn's arm again and he didn't object.
A sharp sound echoed down the alley, loud enough to deafen, and Amber jumped. Falkyn had to catch and steady her, which made her hair stir with shame. Being supportive was harder than she remembered.
“Come,” her companion ordered and she was instantly helping him limp along in the direction of the sound.
“Was that…?”
“A shot? Yep. Sounded like Misty's new gun.”
So they were hurrying toward it? Of course they were. Sparrow, why do I keep on doing this?
30
The Candyman
