Star Cruise

by Veronica Scott

  She stared at him. “Tonight is just me and my girls dancing and then doing the friendly chitchat with the corporate types over dinner. Barker—my boss—said we’re there to keep the atmosphere light. You overreacting much?”

  Frowning, he said, “I’ll admit it’s my nature to be concerned. But I’ve seen how these generational billionaires and corporate types can behave. The entitled bastards firmly believe the galaxy is theirs to do with as they please. I only want you to know I’m available for backup if needed.”

  His concern was raising the hairs on the back of her neck at the same time it made her feel warm and protected. Rose rolled her shoulders. “Fine. But you’ve seen my dance costume—not a spare inch of fabric, much less a pocket.”

  “Wear your fancy dressing gown to dinner, after the performance, like usual.” Charlie wasn’t yielding an inch.

  Touched by his determination, she didn’t have the heart to be truly annoyed. “I said I’d take this. Can we go now? I don’t want to be late. I still have to warm up too.”

  There was silence between them as they made their way to the Casino. Station Security guards stood at the entrance next to the faux trideo warriors. “You can go on in, Rose,” the one in charge said to her, even as he stepped in Charlie’s way, one hand raised. “Sorry, sir, the casino is closed for a private party tonight.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she reiterated, kissing him lightly on the cheek. “See you later.” Clutching her satchel containing the costume and cosmetics, she hastened inside where she could see Barker and the Station Manager waiting.

  She didn’t think she’d ever been in the casino when virtually no one else was there. Hector was behind the bar, and some of the prettiest dealers waited at the high stakes tables in case the visiting executives wanted to gamble. Rose hurried to the dressing room, finding all four of her dancers already warming up. Changing clothes first, she led them through the stretches, although it was hard to get the women to focus.

  “I heard Kumisarc’s son is in charge of the mine assessment,” said Fleeka, whose brother worked in Station Security. “He must be worth billions.”

  “Yeah, too bad you’re a married woman,” teased Suzan, flipping her curls, which happened to be turquoise this week.

  “Rumor is an announcement was made today about the mines closing,” said Adelaide, whose eyes were red as if she’d been crying. “Management gave out some vague schedule, said they’d let people with critical skills know who was being relocated when the time came.”

  “What about the people who don’t have skills?” Rose asked. “Or the ones who’re too old? What was said about their fate?”

  “Hey, the Sectors government steps in, relocates the unemployed and the homeless. They’ve done it before, remember? The Station’ll be busy for decades with all the moving. Good for us at least.”

  Management must not have explained the entire plan today, about closing the Casino too. As she limbered up and did a few practice kicks, Rose felt nauseous. Sure the Sectors government would take action eventually, but relocation to some refugee camp on an outer planet was no life for the elderly or kids. Not for anyone really. No hope. She was actually glad her parents weren’t alive to endure the upheaval. And her poor gramma wasn’t long for the world, her heart failing.

  For the first time ever, the dancing didn’t go well. She had a hard time concentrating, and the whole group’s timing was off. Rose left the stage while the small party of corporate bigwigs was still applauding and went to fetch her robe as she’d promised Charlie. Barker cornered her in the dressing room.

  “The other girls are already seated,” he said. “Mr. Kumisarc specifically asked for you to be his dinner companion and everyone’s waiting for you.” He took her by the elbow and practically dragged her into the corridor. “This dinner is important for us, Rose. If the boss likes what he sees, we might all get better assignments out of this transfer.”

  Incredulous, she gaped at him for a moment before jerking herself free. She smoothed her robe and costume and, holding her head high, walked into the main floor of the Casino where the elaborate dinner party was to take place. Sure enough, there was a chair open to Kumisarc’s right. The executive stood to greet her.

  “Ah, Rose, definitely worth the wait. Your dancing was inspired, by the way.”

  She could smell the liquor on his breath as she slid into her seat. He was handsome enough, raven-dark hair, deeply blue eyes, square jaw, and his voice was a pleasant baritone. His elegant, well-cut clothing probably cost more than the combined annual salary of everyone on the Station. He wore a ring on each manicured, smooth hand and sported an archaic timepiece on his wrist like nothing she’d ever seen before.

  Noticing her glance at the watch, he pulled the cuff of his shirt back so she could see the device more clearly. As he put his arm on the back of her chair, he leaned closer. “From Old Terra, or so my antiques dealer tells me. Doesn’t work any longer of course, but worth millions.”

  “It’s unusual.” She sat straight to avoid his touch, but he rubbed her back nonetheless.

  The waiters hurriedly brought platters and bowls of steaming food. Sniffing the offering set before her, Rose knew the chef hadn’t used any synth or faux ingredients tonight. All the genuine article. She’d never eaten such rich food. Too bad it stuck in her throat and roiled her stomach. Kumisarc’s hand strayed to her thigh. Uncomfortable, she glanced around the table but there was no help to be had. The station manager gave her a meaningful stare and a nod, eyebrows raised. Barker fidgeted, toying with his wine glass. Three of the four executives were flirting with her dancers and the fourth man ate steadily, focusing on his plate and ignoring all the byplay.

  She moved Kumisarc’s hand to his own leg. “A shame not to concentrate on the wonderful food,” she said.

  Apparently taking no offense, he laughed. “Coy. I like it. This food is swill.”

  “The best in the Sector,” she said, stung on behalf of the chef.

  “Luckily I’m not from this forsaken corner of the galaxy,” he answered. “I’d starve.” Reaching in front of her for a roll, he brushed her breasts with his arm.

  Shifting in her chair, she said, “I’m not on the menu.”

  He wasn’t at all daunted. “I like a challenge. Up to a point.” Raising his voice, he addressed Barker as if Rose wasn’t sitting right there. “How much time left on her contract?”

  The man didn’t even blink. “Three years, sir.”

  Turning back to Rose, Kumisarc had a satisfied expression on his face. “Plenty of time. I’ve been thinking I could use a dancer or two on my private yacht, something different to entertain my guests. And me. But you’re not eating—your chef mustn’t be offended by us sending back the plates untouched.” His tone was sarcastic.

  More than a little tipsy already, Suzan simpered, touching Kumisarc’s sleeve. “I’d love a gig as a private dancer. I mean as a dancer on a private yacht.”

  While he was engaged in flirting with Suzan, Rose took a hefty swallow of the expensive wine, hoping to steady her nerves. This was worse than she’d feared. Slipping her hand into her pocket, she was reassured somewhat by the com bead Charlie had given her. Although what he could do against a man with the resources Kumisarc commanded, she didn’t know. Perhaps she should rethink her stance on Charlie’s offer to buy out her contract. If he put it in writing, all strictly business, maybe the money wouldn’t taint the growing feelings between them. She jumped as Kumisarc suddenly invaded her personal space, resting one arm on her chair, leaning close, caressing her shoulder with his fingertips.

  “I was thinking after dinner we should take a stroll to the docking bay, let me show you my yacht, so you can advise me on installing a dance floor and the…other amenities,” he said, stroking her cheek. “Get to know me better.”

  Shifting sideways in her chair, she batted his hand away. “I have a date.”

  Clearly Kumisarc didn’t like her refusal. His lips tightened and his eyes nar
rowed as he stared at her. “Let me make it clear, you’re on overtime tonight as long as I say so.”

  Before she could answer, the sound of shots came from the Casino entrance and a group of grim-faced men in miners’ uniforms rushed in, brandishing weapons and yelling orders.

  Unable to believe what she was seeing, Rose gasped. The other women screamed.

  “Calm down,” Kumisarc said. He stayed seated, lolling casually in his chair as if unconcerned by the violent intrusion. “This is a private party, gentlemen. I’m willing to assume you didn’t know. If you leave now, there’ll be no repercussions.”

  “Shut up.” Weapon raised, one of the younger men snarled the command. Rose recognized Cade, her nemesis. She’d heard rumors he might be one of the ringleaders in the recent mine work stoppages, which had been another factor in her decision to break up with him. Given their personal history, being caught in the middle of a hostage situation with an armed Jak Cade was terrifying. He glared at her but didn’t say anything.

  Slowly she slid her hand into her pocket and squeezed the button on the golden token. There was a tiny tingling against her fingertip so she knew the device had activated. Praying to the Lords of Space that Charlie could help, she resolved to do whatever it took to get out of the casino alive.

  “Take two men, go check the kitchen and the rest of the Casino,” said the older man in charge of the invaders, motioning to Cade. “Bring anyone you find in here.”

  A bit reassured to see Swinson, an old friend of her late father’s, apparently in command, Rose took a deep breath and concentrated on slowing her breathing.

  All too soon Cade returned, herding the kitchen staff ahead of him. He handed off the group of cowed employees to someone else to guard and returned to the main table, eyes locked on Rose for a long moment. She looked away, unable to maintain her calm under his glare.

  Flanked by his men, Swinson addressed Kumisarc. “We’re here to talk, that’s all.” He pointed at the local Manager of Mines, seated at the table. “That bastard wouldn’t allow us to meet with you today and we have facts and figures to present.”

  “Oh, this should be interesting.” Kumisarc toyed with Rose’s curls, caressed her shoulder as the robe slipped. He made a grand gesture. “Please, continue.”

  Watching this by-play, Cade’s weapon swung in the tycoon’s direction and his face took on a pinched expression.

  Swallowing hard, Swinson yanked out a chair at the foot of the table and sat. The man next to him pulled an AI out of his pack, setting the device next to Swinson. After a quick glance at the screen, apparently to refresh his memory on what they’d wanted to tell Kumisarc, the old man said, “We, the employees, we think you weren’t given all the data on the exhaustion rate on the newer mines. Once you see the anticipated yield going forward, and the reserve analysis, you’ll rescind the decision to close the Sector down.”

  Kumisarc laughed. “I’m fully aware of the remaining reserves. And the entire Sector doesn’t hold enough to make it worth my company’s time and continuing investment. We’ll do better by writing off the operations, taking a loss on the books and moving on.”

  Ashen-faced, Swinson sat back in his chair as if he’d been punched. The man beside him said, “What about an employee buyout then? We’d operate the mines ourselves—”

  “Sorry, not interested in charity.” Kumisarc stood, throwing his napkin on the table, “We’re done here.” He reached for Rose’s hand. “Come along.”

  Dismayed, her hopes for a peaceful conclusion to this meeting shattered by the executive’s refusal to even give the employees a hearing, she stood but shook off Kumisarc’s hand. Just let me get out the door alive. Her knees threatened to buckle as she took a step at the mine owner’s side.

  “I told you the bastard wouldn’t make a deal,” Cade said, voice hoarse. He blocked their path, weapon pointed at Kumisarc’s head.

  “We had to try.” Swinson blinked, rubbing his chest as if in pain.

  “All right, you tried reasoning with him, old man. Now it’s my turn.” Cade pivoted, shot Swinson in the back and drilled the man next to him a moment later. As Rose stared in utter disbelief, she watched the two miners fall from their chairs, blood spewing on the table and carpet. Events seemed to go into slow motion and she couldn’t move, not even to avert her gaze. She heard someone screaming.

  “Shut up now or I’ll shoot you too.” Cade threatened the occupants of the table with his weapon. Two of the younger men moved to flank the new leader, faces set in grim lines, weapons at the ready. “You, sit,” he said to Kumisarc. “It’s a different game now. I know your old man’s a generational billionaire and I’m betting he’ll pay anything we demand to get his son back in one piece.”

  “You bastards can’t seriously expect to get away with holding us here for ransom?” The executive who’d been silent through dinner took umbrage now on his boss’s behalf. “Bunch of backSector wannabes.”

  Cade shot him. Eyes wide, mouth open, the man tumbled to the carpet, a pool of red spreading ominously around his twitching body. The dancer seated next to him screamed again, leaping from her chair and sprinting toward the casino’s entrance. One of the other rebels shot her.

  There was silence, broken by sobbing from the three remaining women. Rose felt she was in a nightmare and couldn’t wake up no matter how hard she tried. She refused to give in to tears or terror. She had to keep her wits about her to survive.

  Kumisarc sank into his chair, hands raised. He smiled as if the horrific violence hadn’t been real. Voice smooth, he said, “Getting funds transferred might not be as easy as you think. It’ll take some time to reach my father and make arrangements to satisfy you.”

  Rose was awed at how calm he sounded, as if murder, mayhem and negotiating his own ransom were routine occurrences. Was he stalling for time, maybe hoping for Security to mount a rescue effort? She sank into her chair.

  “I’m in no rush, got nothing else to do. Sure not mining any more ore.” Cade was cocky at his quarry’s capitulation. He gestured to one of his men. “Give him the list of demands so he can transmit them to daddy back in the Sectors.”

  As the young miner came forward to place an AI in front of Kumisarc, another conspirator said, “Cade, you promised the locals could go. We ain’t here to hurt our own people, other than the weak ones who already failed us.” He gestured at Swinson’s body and the dead dancer lying on the floor beyond. “That couldn’t be helped, I know. But now, shooting Company security guards imported from out of the Sector are one thing, harming miners’ relatives are another. No more killing our friends.”

  “Right.” The ringleader nodded. He stared at the assembled waiters, dealers, kitchen staff and Hector. Waving his weapon casually in their direction, he said, “You get out of here before I change my mind.”

  As the group ran for the exit, Rose and the three remaining dancers left their chairs to join the exodus.

  “Not you,” Cade said, pointing his blaster at Rose. “Not so fast. Too good for the likes of me, even when I’m flush with a month’s pay, but you got no problem cozying up to the rich big boss, eh?”

  Charlie was dozing in the way elite soldiers do—not deeply asleep, but recharging his energy. He hoped he’d understood the nature of Rose’s invitation for the evening, but no matter whether they slept together or not, he was going to enjoy every moment in her company. The bleak thought of a three-year separation while she fulfilled her contract depressed his mood a bit, but he figured he could visit her at least once, no matter where the company assigned her. His pulse quickened whenever he thought of her. There was definitely something rare going on between the two of them and he wasn’t about to lose her. He liked her backbone, refusing his offer to buy out her contract.

  His buddies had sent him a vidcom that they’d be docking soon and he’d told them he’d be ready to leave in the morning. They didn’t much like it, but no way was he going to miss his last chance to spend time with Rose. “Consider it a
bit of shore leave at my expense,” he’d said. “I’ll cover whatever exorbitant rate these bastards charge you for a few hours of air and berthing fees.” Deflecting their ribald speculations that a woman was involved, he’d concluded the conversation after they agreed he could have a few more hours before departure.

  The first ping from the tiny link brought him wide awake, rising to his feet with a glance at the chrono. It was way too early for the dinner to end. As the pings continued in rapid succession, he grabbed his pair of Mark 27 blasters and was out the door, sprinting through the corridor full speed.

  The Station-wide com blared a warning sound, followed by an announcement. “Security incident, Level A. All residents are required to shelter in place, and we’ll be locking you in for your own safety. You’ll be alerted when the situation is resolved.”

  He heard the locks closing on the residences he was running by. Serious stuff. Being locked in wouldn’t have delayed him long but every second might count. There was a maintenance door right before the entrance to the gravlift and he detoured smoothly, utilizing the all access code Special Forces soldiers were assigned. He hadn’t needed more than a glance at Rose’s schematics, in the hydroponic garden earlier, to memorize the twists and turns of the Station and the tunnels crisscrossing the installation. Child’s play for someone with his skills. Now he moved through the maze, heading ever upward toward the Casino. The station blueprints showed several maintenance access ports in the Casino and he chose the one opening into the rear of the wine and beer storage facility. Cracking the grate open just enough to scan the area, he was relieved to find the room empty. Not making a sound, he moved through the chillers and racks toward the Casino proper. Hearing voices, he paused to listen for a moment before crawling to the edge of the bar, where he could peek through a decorative grille.

  Relief at seeing Rose unhurt spread through his veins like ice water, calming him. Usually a First Tier soldier like himself went into combat nerveless, but she was a civilian, and his fear tonight was all for her.