She jumped clear as the Ixtali dropped to the blood-soaked canvas, clutching her ruined throat uselessly as her life force sprayed through her fingers.
Merry dropped the kukris and vaulted the bodies on the floor to get to the Yollin. She knelt by her side, knowing it was too late when she saw the bloody foam coming from the wound in her chest. She wrapped her arms around the Yollin as best she could and looked into her still-defiant eyes.
“Thank…you,” she gasped, straining to force the words out with her final breath.
Merry’s chest constricted as the light left the Yollin’s eyes. “No! Don’t die! We saved you!” Her vision was blurred by tears, turning Tabitha into an outline in her peripheral vision. “How could this happen? People don’t die, not the good ones.”
Tabitha knelt by Merry and laid a hand on her niece’s shoulder, her heart just as heavy. “You okay?”
Merry looked up from the Yollin’s body. “I didn’t even know her name.”
Tabitha nodded, pressing a hand to her hair. “But you fought for her all the same. That’s all we can do.” She wiped a spot of blood from Merry’s cheek. “I can’t wait to tell your mom all about this. You acted when it mattered and saved lives. You did awesome, Trouble.”
“I won’t forget her, not ever. You have to fight for the living, right?” Merry leaned over to brush the Yollin’s eyes closed with her fingertips, then released her gently to the floor. “She’d better get a proper funeral.”
She turned her head to look at the survivors standing in the carnage, feeling a sense of purpose at long last. She didn’t want to be a soldier or on a team with rules like the Enforcement Force. Those guys were severely constrained in what they could do. If it wasn’t for her and Tabitha, all of these kids would still be slaves, or worse, dead.
“Do you think my mom would let me come stay with you? We could be vigilantes together.”
Tabitha gave Merry the eyebrow, her focus on the riot taking place outside the cage. “You want to what, now?”
“Come on,” Merry protested. “Look, I’ve learned something important out of this. Rules are for—”
A blaster hissed and Merry crumpled to the floor, bright blood blooming on her club uniform.
Zinshei spoke into the silence. “Take from me, I take from you, Ranger.”
Time halted on its axis for Tabitha. She whipped around and saw Zinshei’s shaking hand on the blaster that shot Merry. She didn’t remember raising her Jean Dukes Special, but there it was at a right angle to her body, and there was Zinshei with a smoking crater instead of a head.
Her brain refused to connect the two pieces of information.
She scooped Merry up and ran from the cage. All hell was breaking loose around them, but her only thought was to reach the elevator and get Merry to the ship.
The crowd parted in fear of the crazy red-eyed human.
Tabitha didn’t care who recognized her.
She arrived at the elevator with Merry in her arms and was met by a pair of EF officers carrying what they probably thought were big guns.
Before Tabitha had a chance to order them out of the way, they stepped to the side and let her through. She was inside the elevator on her way up to the ground floor before she realized the Shrillexians were still with her.
She blinked, coming out of the autopilot that gotten her this far. “You guys didn’t have to do this. You’re not slaves anymore.”
“You freed us,” Knarlax told her. “We’re going see you out of here, and see her safe.” He nodded at Merry. “She is a true warrior and does not deserve to die today.”
Tabitha held Merry tightly to her as she looked around at the brothers squeezed around her in the elevator like super-aggressive giant alien versions of her Tontos.
A single tear slid down her cheek. “Thank you,” she managed through her emotions. “I’m going to make sure you guys are taken care of. This place will be yours to do something good with.”
The brothers did not know how to respond to that.
They rode the rest of the way in silence and escorted Tabitha and Merry to the front of the club, where Achronyx had their ship waiting overhead.
Tabitha jumped for the half-extended ramp and pelted to the ship’s medical bay.
“Pod-doc One is ready for Meredith Nicole,” Achronyx informed her.
Tabitha murmured desperately to Merry as she placed her on the Pod-doc mat and force-closed the lid. “Hold on, Trouble,” she begged as the viewing window fogged over, anesthetizing her niece.
The Pod-doc hissed, making her jump. “How bad is it?” she asked Achronyx, hardly daring to hear the answer. “Just tell me.”
“She will be fine,” Achronyx assured her from the speaker. “Her nanocytes had already begun to heal the initial injury. The Pod-doc is remedying the blood loss and repairing the damage to her internal organs as we speak.”
Tabitha sagged against the lid. “OhthankGod.” The words spilled out of her in a rush as the adrenaline dump hit. “I thought I was going to lose her. What was I thinking, bringing her here?” She looked into the viewing window, seeing that a bit of Merry’s color had already returned.
“You had me scared for a moment there, Trouble. How does your mom cope with you full time?” She snorted softly as the panic faded.
A short, sharp shock was what she had promised Lillian she’d give Merry, and there was no denying she’d fulfilled her promise. Maybe Lillian would cope a little better from now on.
Tabitha left to get herself cleaned up before Merry was done in the Pod-doc. There was a message from Lillian waiting when she got out of the shower.
Not sure if I want to open this, she admitted to Achronyx.
I didn’t think you would, at least until you and Meredith Nicole have your stories straight. But you can’t exactly ignore it, Achronyx told her firmly. Lillian just wants to know how her daughter is, which is her right. You should call her.
Tabitha read the message quickly. Did you already read this? That’s pretty much exactly word for word what Lillian wrote.
Achronyx made a noise that could be taken either way.
Bad AI. Stay out of my messages. You just earned yourself a timeout. Tabitha muted Achronyx before he could argue with the convenience of her complaint as she headed for the bridge to get the ship launched without the side of snarky judgment Achronyx was serving.
She called Lillian once they were underway.
Lillian appeared on the screen from the shoulders up. “Aunt Tabitha! How’s it going?” She looked around for Merry. “Is everything okay? Where’s Merry?”
Tabitha held up a hand to stay Lillian’s worry. “She picked up an injury on the mission, but don’t worry, it’s not serious. She’s in the Pod-doc getting healed.”
“What kind of injury?” Lillian demanded.
“Nothing that won’t be healed by dinnertime.” Tabitha saw some of the color return to Lillian’s complexion. “We’re on our way back, actually,” she told her. “The assignment went well.”
‘”Which one?” Lillian asked, narrowing her eyes at Tabitha’s vagueness.”
Tabitha winked. “Both, of course. This is me you’re talking to, don’t forget. I don’t suppose you still make that cassoulet I like? A story always goes down better with a good meal.”
Lillian chuckled and waved a hand. “Well, that settles it. Everything must be just fine if you’re begging for my home cooking. Get yourselves back here. I’ll have dinner ready for when you arrive.”
Tabitha dropped the call and leaned back, lacing her hands behind her head. “I think we can call both objectives of this mission a success,” she murmured to Achronyx, feeling sure of herself again now that it was just the two of them.
She remembered she’d muted Achronyx when he didn’t reply. “Sorry.”
“You can make it up to me,” Achronyx replied. “As to whether you can call this a win, it will remain to be seen.”
Tabitha laughed, waving his gloomy prediction off.
“Nah, Merry’s gotten it out of her system. It will be smooth sailing with her from now on.”
Chapter 11 Nickie
High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Nickie’s Quarters, Present Day
Nickie woke up with a smile. Tabitha's message had brought back some good memories. She sat up and stretched, looking forward to the day ahead. Morning, Meredith.
Good morning, Nickie, Meredith replied. How are you feeling? You were tossing and turning for most of the night.
Nickie shrugged. I had a dream about that trip I took with Aunt Tabitha when I was fourteen. She mentioned it in her message.
Meredith made a disapproving noise. I'm surprised your aunt chose to reminisce about such a traumatic experience.
Nickie snorted as she got out of bed. Are you shitting me? That trip was one of the best times I ever had as a kid.
The first time you took a life was one of the best experiences of your childhood? Meredith’s voice held an undertone of amusement.
Nickie narrowed her eyes. Nooo, but the time my best aunt took me to a freaking fight club when I should have been royally grounded for breaking some grabby asshole’s knee was.
I remember it happening a little differently, Meredith told her dryly.
You always do, Mere. Nickie half-shrugged as she selected a black shipsuit from the hanging row of identical black shipsuits, atmosuits, and overalls in her closet.
You can’t deny that you were affected by it, Meredith refuted. I was there too, remember?
Nickie looked at the bomb site in her closet and sighed. You know, I should update my work wardrobe. Atmosuits are so last year. She dressed quickly and grabbed her boots. I remember you freaking out the whole time. Does that count? Why would I be affected? I was born and raised to this life—against my will, if you remember. The most traumatic part was getting home afterward and dealing with my mom freaking out that I got hurt. She bent to lace her boots. Like she gave a crap.
Nickie, that’s not fair, Meredith ventured. Your mother loves you. We’ve talked about this.
Nickie snorted as she left her quarters. No, Meredith. You’ve talked about it. Endlessly. And then you complain when I mute you.
Meredith sniffed. You’d better not mute me again.
Nickie smelled victory. Are you gonna get off my back about my mother?
Fine, Meredith conceded. We have too much to get through today for tantrums.
Nickie grinned. Good. I’m so glad you get that and have decided not to make things difficult for us.
Meredith huffed. It's not too late for me to join CEREBRO.
If that's what you want, I won't stop you, Nickie teased, calling the EI's bluff. I mean, you've been talking about it an awful lot. If it’s what you really want, who am I to hold you back?
Meredith chose not to respond.
Nickie headed straight for the office to file her flight plan. She was just leaving when a familiar voice rang out from across the hangar.
“Nickiiiiiiiieeeeee!”
She twisted toward the sound of her name, and her jaw dropped when she saw that her ears weren't playing tricks on her. “Fuck me, it’s Rickie!” She hopped the railing and met him halfway across the floor under the fuselage of an inactive ship.
Rickie grabbed her around the waist and spun her. “Lookin’ good, kid.” He dropped her when she punched him. “Easy, tiger. How’s it hanging?”
Nickie grinned, gesturing at her crotch with both hands. “I haven’t grown a dick since the last time you asked that.” She ignored Meredith’s groan. “It's going good.”
Rickie put a hand over his eyes. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
Nickie shrugged. “You’d be surprised. Anyway, where did you go? One day you were on the Meredith Reynolds, and the next you just…ghosted.”
The sparkle dropped from Rickie's eyes. “Can't tell you, kid. I'd have to…” He drew a finger across his throat, screwing his face up. “Seriously.”
“What, you?” Nickie teased. “Yeah, right. Everyone knows you can’t keep your mouth shut for shit.” She winked, since Rickie had held onto a secret or two about her during her wild youth. “You couldn't take me if I cut off both arms and blinded myself, old man.”
Rickie’s amiable expression returned. “Old man? Strong words for a pretty little thing like—oof!”
Nickie smirked. “You were saying?”
Rickie rubbed his ribs. “I was going to suggest we meet up to spar, then get something to eat afterward and catch up. It's been a minute.”
The words fell out without her brain engaging. “Careful, that sounds almost like a date.”
Rickie looked at Nickie fondly for a moment, then laughed and reached out to ruffle her hair. “Funny. Where the hell have you been all this time?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Nickie trilled sweetly, grabbing his hand.
Rickie got out of the resulting wrist-lock and twisted Nickie into a half-nelson. “You’ve improved, but you’ll have to try a bit harder than that, kid.”
Barnabas walked into the hangar just as Nickie bloodied Rickie’s nose with the back of her head. He spotted the two of them roughhousing and was next to the ship in the blink of an eye. “This,” he waved a finger between the two of them, “is not happening. You two stay the hell away from each other.”
Nickie and Rickie shared a confused glance.
Barnabas shook his head at their blank looks. “I’ve already got a headache that won’t go away. I do not need it in stereo.” He turned in a whirl of robes and stalked off, muttering something about “damn kids being the end of him.”
Nickie watched him go, failing badly at keeping the smirk off her face. She turned back to Rickie once Barnabas was out of sight, seeing an identical bemused expression on his face.
They looked at each other and cracked up. Nickie touched the back of her head and grimaced at her fingertips. “Ew, you got blood in my hair. Gross, Rickie.”
“Serves you right for headbutting me,” Rickie managed through his laughter. He glanced after Barnabas. “What the fuck was that all about?”
Nickie wiped a tear away, trying to get her breath. “Dunno. You know those crazy-assed vamps.”
Barnabas spoke up in her mind. The “crazy-assed vamp” can still hear you, Meredith Nicole.
Nickie burst into fresh giggles. Sorry, Uncle B. You know I love you, really.
You love being a pain in my ass, child, Barnabas returned before dropping the link.
Nickie cringed, still laughing. “Shiiit, he heard me!”
Rickie looked around, his laughter trailing off into a nervous chuckle. “He did?”
Nickie waved his concern off as she pulled herself together. “Don’t worry about it. He’s a sweetie, really.”
Rickie snorted. “Yeah, I’m not seeing it. So, dinner? Sparring? What’s your choice?”
She shrugged. “Your choice. Wanna meet up when I get back from this run?”
Rickie’s face fell. “You’re headed out today?”
“Uh-huh,” she confirmed. “In a couple of hours. Dammit, are you not gonna be here when I get back?”
Rickie shook his head. “Nah. I’m based on Devon. I've gotta get going now, but maybe you can swing a run to the Guardian sometime soon?”
“Maybe,” Nickie muttered, doing her best not to notice how nicely he filled out those fatigues he was wearing as he left.
Another reason to take Barnabas’ offer? Meredith reasoned. Your brain is practically swimming in dopamine and norepinephrine.
Nickie pressed her lips together. Butt the hell out, Meredith. What does that even mean?
It means you like him, Meredith replied. She paused for a second. I recall you going through a period of infatuation with Captain Escobar when you were younger. We should talk about that.
Um, no. We really shouldn't, Nickie retorted. I should get my ass on the ship and get out of here before Barnabas thinks to lecture me any more about hanging with Rickie.
Unfortunately for Nic
kie, Barnabas was waiting at the foot of the ramp when she got to the Penitent Granddaughter.
Fuckdammit! I told you, Meredith. Here comes the lecture, and I have to just smile and take it. Nickie plastered a smile on her face and walked up as though nothing was out of the ordinary. “What's up, Uncle B? Come to see me off?”
Barnabas pursed his lips. “Not quite. There’s been a small change to this assignment. You have enough crew to run two ships, yes?”
Nickie raised an eyebrow, wondering where he was going. “Maybe. Why? This isn’t your way of pushing me into taking your offer, is it?””
“One of the newer crews did not return from their last run.” Barnabas tucked his hands into his sleeves. “There is a second ship waiting for you at Waystation, which is to be transported to QT2.”
Nickie made a face. “They went AWOL?”
Barnabas shrugged. “That remains to be seen. However, the crew’s absence does not preclude the delivery of their load. I trust you can take care of it?”
Nickie reflected on the change in Barnabas. It wasn’t so long ago that he was hovering over her shoulder watching her every move. She nodded. “This is… Um, yeah. We can take care of it.”
Barnabas patted her arm. “Good.” He smiled that serene smile of his. “It’s good to feel this trust, and you’ve earned it, Merry.”
Nickie laughed. “Way to ruin the moment, Uncle B. Stay the fuck out of my head.” She smiled at Barnabas before heading up the ramp. “Thanks. It means a lot.”
Barnabas chuckled. “Go on now. Come see me when you return.”
Nickie nodded, too choked up to reply. She headed up the ramp onto the ship, the walk to the bridge giving her a chance to clamp down on emotions she didn’t have the luxury to indulge in right now.
The crew was already at their stations when Nickie arrived. She clapped her hands as she crossed the floor to her captain’s chair. “Looking good, everyone! Let’s get this show on the road. Take us out, Meredith.”
Nickie turned her decision over in her mind as High Tortuga receded on the viewscreen.
“We are clear to Gate,” Meredith announced once the Penitent Granddaughter was a suitable distance from the Interdiction.
Resolution Page 11
