by Tamsin Ley
She couldn’t think of an excuse. At least the tears blurring her sight were real. She blinked, forcing one to flow down her cheek. “I’m just a guard,” she choked out. “I don’t even know how to pilot a shuttle. Noatak seduced me. I thought he was special, and wanted him to meet my sister. That’s all.”
He turned to Attie. “This is getting us nowhere.”
Attie frowned. “Sir, my sister’s highly susceptible to manipulation, and this pirate obviously capitalized on that. Her messages went on and on about her new boyfriend. You saw in her file that our father applied for extended dependency waiver but it wasn’t approved before she ran away. Whatever those pirates did to her has obviously exacerbated her PTSD.”
Highly susceptible? Ran away? Marlis took a shaky breath. Attie knew she hadn’t run away, and she sure as hell didn’t think Marlis was easily manipulated. So Attie must be lying to help her. Of all the people in the universe, she could trust Attie. There is no danger. Marlis reached for her sister’s hand. Much as it grated on her, she needed to keep playing the imbecile card. And Attie’s life depended on Marlis’s innocence.
“Sir, when can I have my AI back?” She knew she’d already asked, but asking again was one way to make him believe she was slow.
Olly made a derisive noise in the back of his throat and looked at Attie. “Is she serious?”
“Sir, you read her file.” Attie squeezed Marlis’s hand. “Even if she could answer your questions, the information she provided would be suspect. This is exactly why we applied for a dependency waiver. She shouldn’t be roaming the galaxy on her own.”
The admiral slowly shook his head, his shrewd eyes never leaving Marlis’s face. Marlis blinked another tear free. After a few moments, he turned away. “Corporal Swan, I will consider leniency, but only because of your exemplary service record and the sacrifice your family has already endured. Please take your sister to your quarters and report back to my offices for further questioning. We’ll transfer her to a proper medical institution at the next space station.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Attie saluted the admiral’s retreating back, waiting until he’d cleared the doorframe before looking at Marlis. “C’mon, we’d better let Dad know you’re all right.”
Grateful for a reprieve, Marlis followed her sister out of the med bay.
Chapter Seventeen
Noatak jerked on his bindings again, wrists and ankles slick with blood. Each breath burned his chest and throat as if he might burst into flames any moment. Why had he allowed Mek to talk him out of implanting a suicide pill? Because of Marlis. Everything he did was because of Marlis. He’d wanted to live as long as he could just for the chance to see her every day.
Ellam Cua, he loved her. That was now painfully clear. They hadn’t consummated, hadn’t physically bonded, but he loved her. Of that he was certain.
Something green flashed behind the energy shield on one of the other cells, and after a moment, he realized he wasn’t alone.
“Hey!” he croaked out at what must be another prisoner.
The green light moved again. A cybernetic eye?
“Hey,” he called louder. “How long have you been here?”
Still nothing.
“Can you hear me?”
The door’s energy field went down, allowing the occupant to step into the room. A human—or sort-of-human. Besides a cybernetic eye, one full side of the man’s face was a dull gray metal. His loose clothing couldn’t hide what looked like a robotic hand at the end of his sleeve.
“You’re Denaidan,” the man said in a monotone. “Is Lisa Moss with you?”
All the breath left Noatak. “Are you Doug?”
The man nodded once, green gaze rolling over Noatak’s bound body.
Noatak’d expected Lisa’s twin brother to be small and wiry like her. This man was nearly as tall and broad as Noatak himself. And he was a cyborg. Was this what the nanites eventually did to a person? “Lisa sent me to save you. Unfasten me and let’s get out of here.”
Doug shook his head. “I cannot be saved.”
Noatak eyed the man. “How did you get out of your cell? Aren’t you a prisoner?”
“I am what they expect me to be.”
Noatak yanked against his bindings. “Unstrap me. I have to save Marlis.”
“Accessing.” Doug’s cybernetic eye flashed. “Marlis Swan. Sibling to—” Without warning, Doug stopped speaking and stepped backward into his cell. The energy shield flashed back to life, obscuring his form once more.
“What the hell?” Was Doug experiencing a cyborg glitch or something?
A heartbeat later, the lab’s main door slid open and Dr. Dollard stepped inside, accompanied by a small man. Doug must’ve somehow sensed them coming. The small man stepped ahead of the guards and Noatak spotted the insignia on his crisp lapels. He was looking at the admiral himself.
“Doctor,” The admiral stood facing Noatak, hands clasped behind his back while he raked his gaze down Noatak’s shackled body. Noatak knew his type, the kind of man who saw the surrounding universe in a dogged contrast of black and white. “This man is one of Syndicorp’s most wanted criminals for conspiracy, murder, and an entire host of treasonous activities. The CEOs will want to make an example of him.”
“He’s too valuable to summarily execute.” Dr. Dollard edged between Noatak and the admiral. “Only a handful of his kind are left in the universe. Studying him will provide immeasurable benefits to my program.”
The admiral shook his head. “I’m already considering an exception for the woman. She’s obviously incapable of knowingly participating in his criminal activities.”
“It doesn’t matter if the woman is guilty or not. The CEOs only need a scapegoat. Use her.”
Marlis as a scapegoat? It was all Noatak could do to keep his mouth shut and listen instead of roar with frustration.
The admiral crossed his arms. “The only example she’d make is that we need to do a better job of institutionalizing our mentally ill. Her family has agreed to lock her up. I cannot make an exception for him.”
Noatak’s pulse raged in his ears. Marlis as a scapegoat. Marlis institutionalized. Marlis punished for crimes she never committed. And he was helpless to do a thing to stop it. He twisted his wrists against their bindings. If only he could draw on his powers; it’d be worth burning himself out to crush these men like bugs.
Dr. Dollard had picked up the polycom and thrust it under the admiral’s nose. “Need I remind you that without an operational cyber-sensitive program, your ship no longer has a purpose?”
A sneer crossed the admiral’s upper lip, and he focused again on Noatak. Noatak glared back, his muscles close to bursting as he strained against the straps.
“You have him until we reach Alleigh.” The admiral turned away. “Then the matter’s no longer in my hands.” He stalked from the lab without a backward glance, his troopers trailing a few steps behind him.
Hands on his hips, Dr. Dollard watched until the door slid shut behind the men. “Bah.” He plucked up a scanner and pressed it directly over Noatak’s breastbone. “I suppose I’d better make the best use of our time. How are you feeling?”
Noatak glared back. He was feeling stronger, actually, probably in response to the adrenaline coursing through him.
“It’s refreshing to have a purely biological subject.” Dr. Dollard set the scanner aside and picked up a syringe. “Lately I’ve been feeling more like a mechanic than a doctor.”
The sting of the needle made Noatak’s skin quiver. “What the hell are you trying to accomplish, anyway?”
The doctor seemed all-too-happy to discuss his work. “The nanites are designed to increase cybernetic awareness in humans. We call it cyber-sensitivity.” He removed the syringe and moved out of Noatak’s line of sight. “They create a network within the body that operates along the same lines as the Denaidan ionic system—in truth, your species was the catalyst for multiple projects. My work focuses on computer frequencie
s rather than kinetic or empathic frequencies, but human physiology is lacking. The only way I’ve been able to keep test subjects alive is by incorporating robotics.” Still out of visual range, Dollard rattled what sounded like glassware. “Such a shame there are so few of your species left to study.”
“You mother-fucker,” Noatak said through clenched teeth, knowing he should just remain silent and let the doctor carry on, but unable to repress his fury. “You committed genocide and all you care about is your experiment.”
Dr. Dollard appeared at the edge of his vision again, eyes trained on his polycom. “I had nothing to do with the project that decimated your planet. But there’s no sense wasting a perfectly good opportunity for study, especially since I only have a few days before I must hand you over to our idiotic CEOs.” Using one finger, the doctor scrolled across the polycom’s screen. “As I’d hoped, the nanites are replicating nicely. They seem to have an affinity for your ionic system.” He looked up. “Did you know your condition was terminal?”
If Noatak’d still been foaming at the mouth, he would’ve spit at the doctor. As it was, he only growled low in his chest.
Dollard tapped an index finger against Noatak’s breastbone. “Note I said ‘was’. The nanites appear to be repairing your ionic system. It’s impressive, actually. There may be applications I haven’t considered.” A slimy smile lifted the corners of the man’s mouth. “I may be able to convince the powers-that-be to let you live.”
Turning, the doctor practically skipped from the room, leaving Noatak reeling at his last words. The nanites were repairing him? Fuck. So he might live, only to rot in a cell while Marlis was dragged off to an institution.
“Ellam Cua, you’re a mother-fucker,” he muttered, shaking his head.
Chapter Eighteen
Attie all but dragged Marlis through the ship’s corridors, passing curious personnel with only a brisk nod. Two trooper guards followed close behind and took positions outside the door once they reached Attie’s quarters. Inside the room, her sister immediately thrust her into the small shower cubicle, clothing and all. “You must want to clean up after that pirate rubbed himself all over you,” she said a little too loudly. Turning the water on full, she pointed a finger straight between Marlis’s eyes. “You never cry,” she whispered angrily. “What’s going on?”
Mind in turmoil, Marlis balled her hands into fists and stepped sideways to avoid the bulk of the stinging flow. “Syndicorp,” she started, then changed her mind. “Mom died.” She wasn’t making sense. “I’ve joined the resistance.”
Sighing, Attie adjusted the nozzle toward the wall. “We can only keep the water running a few more minutes. My room’s probably being monitored, and I have to report to the admiral. Start by telling me why you’re here.”
Marlis blew out a controlled breath. “We’re here to rescue one of the nanite test subjects.”
Attie’s brows drew together. “What test subjects?”
“This ship is housing a nanite test lab. The guy’s name is Doug.” Marlis nodded, pleased she’d remembered that detail. Water had funneled down into her boots, making her feet squishy.
“You’ve been misinformed.” Attie crossed her arms, steam swirling around her. “We’re testing a prototype sensor.”
Marlis took her sister by the shoulders, looking intensely into her eyes through the steamy air. “There’s a lab on this ship and whatever Syndicorp’s telling you is a lie to cover up their real motives. Just like they covered up Pulati. Attie, the corp’ staged the terrorist attacks. Troopers killed mom.”
Attie shrugged her off. “Those pirates must have you brainwashed.”
“No, I got my memories back,” Marlis said. “And he’s not a pirate. He’s part of the resistance.”
“You do not have your memory back, Marlis. I can tell.” The shower’s water timer chimed that its allotment was almost up and Attie glanced nervously over her shoulder toward her cabin.
“I didn’t say ability to remember,” Marlis whispered. “I said memories. Look up the documentary on RealTime news for the truth.”
Attie scrunched up her face doubtfully. Speaking louder than she needed to, she said, “Are you almost done with the shower, Marlis?”
Swallowing, Marlis answered back, “Almost.” Then she dropped her voice to a whisper again. “What happened to the man who was with me? Is he alive?”
“He was alive when you arrived. They’re probably questioning him, but I don’t have access to more information.” Attie rubbed her forehead. “You know Syndicorp executes pirates and anyone who knowingly aids pirates.”
Marlis’s throat tightened, making it difficult to speak. Noatak could be alive! But he was going to be executed. Hell, she and Attie might be facing the same charges. “I’m sorry. I never meant to get you in trouble.”
“I know.” Attie cupped both hands over Marlis’s cheeks, eyes suddenly brimming with tears. “I’m just glad you’re alive. That tractor beam was supposed to kill you.”
The shower turned itself off, and Attie stepped back, grabbing a towel from a nearby shelf and speaking loudly. “I have some fresh clothes you can borrow. I’ll help you make a call to Dad, then I need to report.”
The last thing on Marlis’s mind was calling her father. All she wanted to know was whether or not Noatak was all right. Where could he be? Were they torturing him for information? She bit her lip, thinking of the suicide pill in his first plan. What if he’d brought one along? Her chest hurt just thinking about it, and her pounding pulse made it difficult to think straight. God, she missed Twerp.
Attie laid a civilian tunic and pants on the end of the bed. Marlis peeled out of her soaking clothes and hung them inside the shower to drip dry. Her boots were standard issue, designed to dry fast, so she set them aside and pulled on the tunic, cinching a cloth belt around her waist. “What’d they do with my pistol?”
Attie shook her head, one eyebrow raised. “Really? You think they’d give that back?”
Fuck, of course not. Losing her favorite weapon pissed her off almost as much as anything else about this situation. She hadn’t felt this trapped since being confined to lockdown several years ago. She glanced around the room, looking for anything that might be used as a weapon. Everything here reminded her of her childhood. A holo-cube rotating through family photos. A standard issue blanket on the neatly made bed, turned down just enough to display the satin edged blanket underneath. A poster with a scene from a movie where two women had saved an entire planet from extinction.
“Hey!” Marlis pointed at the poster. “You stole that from our room!”
“You left it behind.” Attie smirked before sobering. “And it reminded me of you.”
Marlis took her sister’s hands. “I wish I could do something to make the admiral believe you’re innocent.”
Attie took a deep breath. “He didn’t throw you in the brig, so I believe he’s willing to believe you.” She pulled her hands free and patted Marlis on the shoulder. “I hate to say it, but you’ll probably be sent to some sort of assisted living facility after this. Maybe that’s best, though. This whole pirate conspiracy mess is exactly the kind of thing Dad was afraid of happening if you went out on your own.”
Her sister’s words were like a punch in the gut. Attie had always stood up for her. Encouraged her. Even when Marlis had been in the wrong. If Attie gave up on her, Marlis had no one left. “Please don’t give up on me.”
Attie sighed and headed toward the door. “Get some rest. I’ll be back before you know it.”
With a nod to the guards outside, Attie was gone, the door sliding shut as solidly as any cell in the brig. But this might be Marlis’s only chance to escape and help Noatak. Desperate, she opened Attie’s closet and pawed through her things, hoping for a weapon. But Attie’d never been into guns, preferring the subtle skill of subterfuge. Fuck!
Pacing the room, her eyes fell once more on the poster. One frayed corner covered a maintenance panel. As a child, she�
��d often hidden in the conduit behind just such a panel in their bedroom during her panic attacks. The conduit ran throughout most of the ship, providing maintenance access to pipes and venting, and she’d explored the twisted avenues for potential escape routes.
What if I could use it to find Noatak?
She glanced around the corners of the room, wondering if there were cameras watching or only microphones. Would Attie be punished if Marlis escaped? If there was one thing Attie’d always been good at, it was talking herself out of trouble. Marlis had to trust Attie could this time, too. Noatak’s life was on the line, and she was his only hope.
Grabbing one of Attie’s spare uniforms, she put it on. She’d have to come out of the maintenance corridor at some point, and if she surfaced in civilian clothes, she might be noticed. A corporal could walk around most of the ship without being questioned. She pried the panel loose, exposing the dark, narrow space between the walls thick with piping and wires. Damn. She remembered it being a little wider.
On impulse, she raced back to the bath compartment to retrieve one of Attie’s eyeliner pencils. On the back of the poster, she scrawled, Remember what I told you, and a heart with her initial inside, like she had when they were kids. Hopefully Attie’d see it. Someday, Marlis planned to come back for her.
Taking a deep breath, she squeezed inside. Her back against one wall, her boobs pressed against the pipes, she took a shallow breath of dusty air and began edging down the narrow corridor.
Alone in the lab once more, Noatak stared toward the cell where Doug remained hidden. Would he come out again now that Dollard was gone? Right now, Doug was his only chance of escape, and the guy seemed in no hurry to get off this ship himself.
After a few moments, the shield disappeared. Doug stood stiffly, head tilted as if he was listening to something far away, then moved into the main lab area.
