by Eric Thomson
The first two containers, marked as having originated on Rhada, registered nothing usual beyond complex polymers, trace minerals and what looked suspiciously like massive amounts of hardened clay. Certainly nothing to pay for a long trip. Not knowing what he was looking for, Decker kept his sensor's settings broad and general, and he almost missed it the first time around.
There. A slight blip on the readout. He frowned as he narrowed the focus and tried again, slowly running through the spectrum.
If he didn't know any better, he’d have said those were organics. The clay compound in the container was just similar enough to the composition of whatever it was to hide it, but he had seen something close to that organic sequence before, on Ventos Prime. There were about three dozen separate organic things inside, each about the size of a basketball.
He shook his head in puzzlement, and with an inexplicable fear slowly worming its way down his spine, Zack scanned each container in turn. When he was finally done, twenty long minutes later, he slipped back into the access tube and put the hatch in place, activating the magnetic seal.
He crawled back to the gun turret and stopped his camouflage programs. The interruption wiped the hacked lines of code through a simple, self-destructing virus. Then, he stretched out in the confined space and put his arm under his head.
They had ten containers with each holding three dozen of the organic things, which a routine Fleet or Constabulary inspection won't find since they can't make the difference between the clay and the ‘melons,’ not without having seen a scan of the Ventos Prime ecosystem.
Another five containers each held two high-tech artefacts that were way beyond what Ventos Prime could produce. If he believed his sensor, those were stasis boxes. And why not believe his sensor? He calibrated it himself.
The law said you weren't supposed to import organics into the Commonwealth without a license, especially from a pre-spaceflight planet where they weren't meant to be in the first place.
And where did that leave him? There was no way to figure out what these things were, and he sure wasn’t going to ask Diego Strachan. Not if he wanted to live to see the end of this trip.
Zachary Decker was a realist. He understood his only course of action was to make as if he had no idea what they were hauling and wait for a chance to find out more about Ventos when he could reach a library terminal. Such as find out what that primitive, probably interdicted planet had that would attract a merchant freighter belonging to a company which belonged to another company which was owned by the corporation which belonged to one of the richest families in the Commonwealth.
What if he found something the Fleet needed to know? More to the point, what if it was something enough that someone might decide he was a security risk after all?
He quickly downloaded the scan onto a thumbnail-sized chip that he then encoded for added protection. The chip vanished into his toolbox, hidden among the bits and pieces in a side compartment. As a final measure of security, he wiped the sensor's RAM and made sure its internal storage memory had no trace of the scan.
A few minutes later, he had set the turret to rights, changed a few strategically chosen, worn-out modules, and fooled the computer into believing he had run a full spectrum post-repair test. That would account for the time he spent down there.
*
Raisa Darhad must have known something preoccupied Zack. She gave him searching glances whenever they were alone in the wardroom. It heightened the Decker's paranoia, especially since he now strongly suspected she was an empath of sorts. But how much she knew, and how she would react to his findings remained an open question.
A few days after the malfunction in number four, Darhad invited Zack to a sparring session in the mini-gym, making sure they'd be alone and undisturbed. It wasn't an unusual occurrence, now that the sinking morale among the crew had whittled down their training group.
Decker and Darhad met at the appointed time and stole a quick kiss before stretching their muscles to prepare for the bout. They made small talk only, the gunner carefully weighing each word.
They fought for a few moments, sizing each other up and making a few practice throws. Then, the Arkanna moved like a flash and tossed Decker to the mat, grabbing him in a tight hold once he was down. Instead of letting him go right away, so they could resume combat, she placed her lips against his ear.
“Zack, why did you go into the cargo hold a few days ago?” She asked, whispering. “Don’t worry, no one else knows.”
For a few heartbeats, Decker was struck dumb at her words and his gut tightened in fear. The rational part of his mind took over, however, and he realized that she had maneuvered him into this position to question him without that fact being apparent. Which could only mean she didn't want to harm him.
Raisa let go and rose to her feet in a graceful motion. They squared off again and this time, Zack threw her to the mat. When he had her in a tight hold, he bent his head down and pressed his cheek against hers, speaking more softly than she had. Arkanna hearing was vastly better than a human’s.
“Something strange about this trip. Had to know what we picked up on a planet we shouldn't have visited.” She grunted in question. “Yeah, I found something. We picked up organics on Ventos. They're well hidden among crap that wouldn't start to pay for the voyage.”
Zack released her perspiring body, and they rose to square off yet again. This time, the two combatants locked into a standing hold, each trying to unbalance the other.
“Do you have any ideas?” She whispered.
“None I'd care to explore right now. We need to discover what on that planet is so attractive. The first chance we have, we must find a library terminal with nobody knowing.” Pause. “Are you in on this with Strachan?”
“No. The captain has not confided in me since we three last met. Our cargo is unknown to me, but, like you, I’m overcome by unease.”
“How did you find out I snuck in?”
“You left your scent in the cargo hold. I checked the day after, as I suspected you would be interested, and the malfunction was too convenient.”
“Damn!”
“I’m the only one on board who could do it, and then only because you and I are intimate. I would have helped.” She sounded disappointed.
“Fair enough,” he replied ruefully, “I should have trusted you.”
“When we reach a human planet, we will learn more.”
And somehow, hearing her say it with such conviction, Zack knew they would. When they separated and bowed to each other, signaling the end of the bout, the gunner felt much better about his predicament. He was no longer alone.
“Thank you for the fight. I should be pleased to meet you again in this arena, at your convenience.”
“The pleasure is all mine, First Officer.” Damn right it is, you splendid, screwy, unpredictable she-wolf.
*
The purser walked into the cabin and ran her watchful eyes over Zack's sweaty body as he stripped to prepare for his shower.
“Did you have a good fight with our first officer?” Kiani asked, her tone neutral.
“Yeah,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Keeping an eye on me, Nihao? How did you know I was with Raisa in there? “She doesn't have your ruthlessness, but she gives a good workout.”
“Not ruthless?” She laughed sharply. “Beware Arkanna women, Zack.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared at her. “Why?”
“They’re treacherous and selfish creatures. They’re empaths and can manipulate any male they want for their own ends. Did she tell you how she came to leave her world?”
“Yeah, sort of, but treacherous and selfish? C'mon. Aren't you laying it on a bit thick?” Zack didn't know how to react. What was it with her? Was the strain of the voyage uncovering a hidden streak of jealousy?
“Am I? Our dear First Officer Darhad is a murderess on the run from her own people. She did not tell you,” Kiani nodded knowingly when she saw Zack's astonished face
.
“She killed her pack matriarch out of jealousy and murdered two more Arkanna as she fled.”
“You found out about this how?” Decker asked, anger taking over.
“Pursers have their own intelligence system. One hears much on alien worlds, and Darhad's story eventually reached my ears. Arkanna in human service are unusual. She could not have gone to the Empire: they would have handed her back to her people. Yes, Zachary, your lover has murdered three of her own, and at least one human. Did you know she had a predilection for gunners? Your predecessor found out when he became ensnared in her web. He tried to break free, but in the end, he lost. And she killed him for it.”
“What the hell's your problem? Is it because you and Lokis had a thing too?” Zack lashed out at her, harsher, in his confusion, than he had intended to be.
“Yes we had, damn you, and no, I'm not blackening her simply for revenge.” Her eyes blazed with anger and pain. “The bitch stole him from me out of spite.” Her chest heaved as she fought to control her emotions.
“Listen, Zack, when they found Lokis, his body bore marks that looked much like those inflicted by talons or claws.”
“If you’re convinced she killed him, why didn't you tell the captain?”
“Because she has influence over him as well and because I have no evidence that will stand up in court. But I’m sure she’s a murderous bitch who has no heart for anyone. Lord only knows what she wants of you. Apart from the obvious that is.”
“I find this hard to believe. I've killed before. More than she has.”
“But you did it in the line of duty. Beware, Zack, she will tire of you. I know I’ve not been easy to deal with or shown you much concern of late. My duties are demanding. But I do like you and wish you well. I don't want you to end like Lokis, in a gutter with your throat ripped out.”
Zack shook his head as he tossed the towel on his bunk.
“Here look!” Nihao had pulled a holo out of her desk.
He took the image and stared at it, stomach heaving in horror. On it, a human male, approximately forty years old, lay on a litter-strewn, cobblestone alley. His throat had been ripped out with great force, and the visible parts of his body were lacerated with parallel slashes.
“Lokis?”
“Yes. The Pradyn Guard gave us this.” Her voice trembled, and she seemed on the verge of tears.
Raisa could have done this. He had seen her do it to the Pradyni muggers on their first shore leave together. Then again, this picture could be forged, but why would anyone do that?
A quiet sob broke his train of thought, and he looked at Nihao. Tears ran down her cheeks as her shoulders shook. Instinctively, Zack took her in his arms to comfort her, forgetting his nude state. He felt her sob against his shoulder, her breath on his neck and her hands on his back. It aroused him. It also aroused her. She lifted her head and looked him in the eyes, sending a thrill up the gunner’s spine.
With his help, she stripped off her uniform in record speed and pushed him down on her bunk. Straddling his hips, she guided him inside her. Zack's last coherent thought before his senses overloaded was that manipulation took many forms. And males of all species were putty in the hands of determined females.
Twelve
Zack spent a long time in the shower scrubbing off Nihao's scent, but he couldn’t wash away her ugly accusations. How she slipped from cold and distant to hot and passionate had done much to throw him off kilter.
Unable to figure out what he should do, Zack tried his damnest to stay away from situations where he was alone with either woman. It was easy enough with Raisa: duty kept her busy, and it wasn't too hard to make sure they exercised when someone else was in the gym. Nihao was another matter.
Sharing a cabin became a distinct chore. He tried to make sure he came off watch when she was already in bed, but sometimes, she either waited for him or woke, and then would seduce him with frightening ease. Marines were often accused of thinking with their gonads, and Zack Decker did the Corps proud.
*
Shokoten soon neared the Shield Cluster and Captain Strachan put the ship on heightened vigilance. He was even more nervous than on the way in, and Zack decided that the ship's owners attached a lot of importance to the cargo they were bringing back. Knowing who they were, he could understand Strachan's anxieties. Failure was a capital sin on Pacifica.
On the other hand, the heightened vigilance kept Zack out of Nihao's clutches by giving him an excuse to work twenty hours a day either standing watch, drilling the crew or keeping the ship's armaments in peak condition.
It also brought back him in closer contact with Raisa, and his deep-set guilt at cheating on her. If the Arkanna sensed his confusion, she hid it well and asked no probing questions, though he sometimes caught her looking at him with unspoken worry in her eyes.
*
A few light years short of Commonwealth space, but still in the badlands, Shokoten emerged for routine hyperdrive recalibration and to allow the navigator to plot the next jump.
While the engineer's crew worked with unusual speed, Zack scanned the surrounding area most carefully, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach making him very uneasy. They were in the prime marauding country, just out of reach of a Fleet constrained by law. Why Strachan chose this spot to emerge for course corrections was beyond Decker's understanding.
The bridge buzzed with quiet activity, but Strachan's fingers danced impatiently on the arm of his chair as if he were expecting something.
Suddenly, Zack's eyes were drawn to the lower corner of his tactical screen.
“Captain,” he called out, voice calm but loud enough to break through the hubbub of the bridge. “I have an emergence trace about a million kilometers behind us.”
“Identify.”
“Still too far out, sir.”
“Very well, Gunner,” he replied, calmer than Zack had expected. “Go to battle stations and keep me advised of developments.”
Zack turned his attention back to the interloper, leaving Strachan to egg on his navigator and engineers. The unknown ship was on a direct intercept course, and its speed matched that of an over-engined pirate. Decker had little doubt about its intentions. When it was about three-quarters of a million kilometers away, the other ship fired.
“Captain, they've just put two missiles up our wake. At that range, assuming she hits us, it'll only rattle the shields. Must be a new crew out there, to fire so early and give themselves away.”
“Thank you, Gunner,” Strachan nodded, still calmer than he should be. If Zack hadn't known any better, he'd have sworn the man relaxed when he heard the reiver had fired. “Nav, are your computations final?”
“Aye, sir. Ready to go.”
“Engineering had given the all clear,” First Officer Darhad reported.
“Helm, lock in the course and engage.”
The stars blurred as the hyperdrives took Shokoten beyond light speed. A familiar nausea rose in Zack’s throat but it vanished within seconds as the ship's speed stabilized inside its bubble. He searched for signs of pursuit, but in vain. The distortion of the hyperdrives blanked out any signals.
They ran for an hour, then two in silence. Eventually, near the end of the watch, the navigator announced that they had entered Commonwealth space again, an announcement that brought subdued cheers and broad grins from the bridge crew. They weren't quite home yet, but at least they now sailed where the Navy's writ protected merchant ships.
The relief proved to be short-lived. A distant explosion rattled the ship, and they tripped back into normal space, giving the crew an unexpected dose of disorientation. Zack swore over the whoop of the alarm siren and searched for the reiver's emergence trace on his tactical display. He didn't see the small smile play on Strachan's lips. Darhad, however, did, and she sensed a kind of tense amusement in him.
“Got him,” Zack broke through the din of voices. “Eight hundred thousand kilometers off our starboard bow. Turning towards us.
All our weapons are powered up and ready to fire when he gets within range. I suggest nav plot an emergency micro jump.”
“Thank you, Gunner, I will take your suggestion under advisement.”
Decker looked at Raisa, surprised by the reply, but she shrugged, as mystified as he was. He returned his attention to the attacker and prepared to repulse him with all Shokoten had.
“Signals, send out a distress call on all frequencies,” the captain continued. “Helm, prepare for defensive maneuvering. Mister Darhad, ask our engineer to move as fast as she can on recalibrating the drives.”
“Aye, sir.”
Zack studied the reiver's cautious approach, frowning. He was too slow and too prudent as if he were afraid of something. Pirates working within patrolled space struck fast and hard. They had little time before a Navy ship might appear.
It turned out to be the same ship that had fired on them earlier but this time, its captain waited to come within range before opening up with his guns.
Shokoten's helmsman made rapid course corrections, trying to throw off the reiver's aim while Zack replied in kind. A few shots struck the shields without causing damage. For a moment, he had the strange notion that they were fighting a sham match, one of those bouts where both boxers were careful not to injure each other.
Of course, it could be that the reiver had a lousy gunner, but that seemed unlikely. Pirate crews whose performance displeased their captain rarely had long careers.
The battle soon turned into a stern chase as the reiver kept taking pot shots at Shokoten while Decker tried as best he could to hit him back with his turrets slewed aft. It fast became monotonous. The pirate shot and struck. Zack fired back and struck. They'd both cover another hundred thousand kilometers or so and shoot again, without causing appreciable damage to each other's shields.
Then, a third ship appeared, plunging out of hyperspace towards them. Decker let out a crow of triumph as he identified it.
“Captain, we have a Navy missile frigate off our port side! Five hundred thousand kilometers and closing fast.”
