by Roxie Ray
And if I fell, what then? Miranda would almost certainly be sold right back into slavery. For all I knew, she'd be back on Cexiea by the next sun cycle, bussing tables for Nos and waiting to be bought by some abusive fiend or lecher.
It was a terribly unfair position to put her in. But I had no choice. She was my surest chance at finding Torqa… and the book. I'd just have to make sure I bested Torqa no matter what.
Just as I was about to enter the planet's frigid atmosphere, a blazing tendril of energy extended from one of the gaseous clouds in a blinding silver arc. Miranda cringed in her seat, shrieking as the flare lanced toward us. It sliced through a rickety orbital communications platform, narrowly missed our port engines, and then sizzled out of existence as suddenly as it had appeared.
“That was a bit too interesting, even for me,” I admitted.
The shuttle shook and shuddered as it was hit by the savage ice storms in the planet's upper atmosphere. A few rivets in the cockpit actually came loose, clattering to the floor – and I briefly wondered whether the command pod might be torn off entirely, sending us cartwheeling thousands of feet down to Egone's unforgiving surface.
Once we'd descended to the lower atmosphere and the shuttle stopped rocking, I programmed it to touch down on a flat, icy peak. It came to a stop (albeit not a particularly smooth one), and I cut the propulsion systems, activating the security measures I'd installed. I'd be damned if some scavenger was going to break the shuttle down for parts and leave me stranded on this rock.
“This seems like a pretty inconvenient place to park,” Miranda observed, peering out the window.
“There aren't any places on Egone that could reasonably be called convenient,” I replied. “This one, however, is relatively close to the Black Ice Village, which is our current destination.”
“That's where you think Torqa is?”
“No. However, there is someone there who might know. Someone who owes me a favor.”
The shuttle door opened, and as the ramp extended, the icy winds of Egone assaulted us. Even through our insulated suits and hoods, the cold still numbed our skin, threatening to steal the breath from our lungs. I looked down at the valley below, and sure enough, there was the village, chiseled from solid slabs of ice that looked like jet-black volcanic rock. There were a few fires burning, and I could barely make out the shapes of various aliens huddled around them.
“I'm guessing you're going to use those big wings of yours to fly us down there?” Miranda asked.
I shook my head. “I wish it were that simple, but no. At these temperatures, my wings would freeze and fall off within minutes of exposure. I'm afraid we'll have to take the long way down.”
“Fantastic,” she said dryly.
Slowly, we made our way down the steep, narrow series of ice-slicked paths. I remained a short distance behind her, ready to reach out and grab her if she started to fall. But despite her complaints, Miranda fared quite well. With her lithe, athletic build – and her uncanny grace and balance – she only lost her footing a couple of times, and managed to quickly find it again instead of tumbling off the mountain. Even so, I couldn't resist the urge to reach out and put my hand on her arm every so often, to make sure she was all right… and to feel the sculpted muscles beneath her protective suit.
“You seem quite naturally gifted at this,” I pointed out, my voice raised above the howling winds.
“Before the aliens ran off with me, I was big on fitness,” she called back. “Since I was a member of the lower class, I wasn't allowed to join a decent gym, so I kind of had to make one for myself. I installed my own rock-climbing wall. Got pretty damn good at it, too. I even started training some of my own clients.”
As she hugged the side of the mountain, I couldn't help but notice the taut muscles of her calves, thighs, and buttocks. Even in this cold, I felt a few beads of perspiration beneath my suit. She was magnificent. Easily the loveliest member of her race I'd ever seen before… and so strong, so self-assured. What a prize she was! It was a shame she wouldn't be able to remain with me once our mission had concluded.
When we finally reached the bottom, I led her through the village. “Try to keep your eyes straight ahead,” I cautioned in a whisper. “We don't want any of these brigands to think we're here looking for them, or that we happen to recognize them. We could find ourselves in real trouble.”
She nodded, re-positioning the rifle on her shoulder and following me closely.
We walked down the central street, feeling the eyes of dozens of wanted criminals tracking us carefully. Their grips on their blasters tightened, and at any moment, I expected one of them to start firing – either because they were working for Torqa and somehow knew we were here to find her, or just to incinerate suspicious newcomers on general principle. I tightened my grip on my own weapon, as well.
But no, we were allowed to pass in peace – and eventually, we reached a cave at the very edge of the village. Cheerful lights glowed within.
“If that's your friend's place,” Miranda said through chattering teeth, “I hope they've got some hot chocolate and a couple of space heaters waiting for us.”
“I'm sure she'll be able to offer something along those lines.”
Miranda's head tilted when she heard me use that pronoun, but she followed without another word – probably because she couldn't feel her lips anymore.
“Please, come in,” a friendly voice greeted us. “I've been expecting you. Well, one of you, anyway.”
We entered the cave, and a beautiful warmth encircled us immediately. I heard Miranda breathe a sigh of relief. The interior was well-appointed, decorated with beautiful Valkredian antiques – including a large, ornate chandelier with an array of sparkling crystals. I recognized them at once. They were from the gem mines of Valkred. Some provided illumination, some produced the intense heat that it took to keep this space warm, and some gave off energies that caused relaxation and euphoria.
Amora stood in the center of the room in a long purple cloak, her arms folded into her sleeves, a serene smile on her face. She was a handsome, middle-aged Valkredian woman, with twinkling green eyes and long white hair that hung down her back in a thick braid.
I glanced at Miranda. Although she was clearly relieved to be out of the cold, I could see that she was having some difficulty focusing. It was as though she were seeing things that weren't there, and trying hard to ignore them.
Hardly a surprise. Her mental abilities must be going into overdrive in a place like this, so heavy with mystic power.
“Amora,” I said, stepping forward and kissing her on the cheek. “It's a pleasure to see you again.”
She smirked. “If you truly find the sight of me so pleasurable, Zark, then perhaps you might take the time to visit now and then on occasions when you don't want something from me. Now, tell me, who is your charming companion?”
“My name is Miranda Barnes. It's nice to meet you… Amora, was it?” She extended her hand, but when Amora shook it, Miranda winced slightly. Even through her gloves, it looked like her clairvoyance was still activated by Amora's touch.
If Amora noticed, she gave no sign. “Welcome to my home, Miranda. You're rather a long way from your home world, aren't you? Then again, I'm fairly certain this isn't the first time you've been dragged to Egone against your will.”
“How did you know that?” Miranda stammered.
“Very little that transpires on this planet escapes my notice,” Amora answered slyly. “That, I suspect, is why your escort has deigned to leave the splendor of Valkred and visit his former sister-in-law's humble abode.”
“If you do miss Valkred so much, you could always come home again,” I told Amora. “Akzun has found his mate, as I'm sure you've heard – a human woman.”
“Yes, there appears to be quite a lot of that going around these days,” Amora joked, sizing up Miranda.
“They're expecting their first child,” I went on, hoping that Miranda hadn’t caught Amora’s me
aning. “Elrisa is a distant memory to Akzun. He doesn't blame you for your sister's treachery. You're welcome to return to the empire any time you like.”
Amora appeared to consider this for a moment as she went to a sideboard, pouring steaming red tea into two cups and bringing them to us on a tray. “Hmm. Tell me, Zark: Are you familiar with the Nubu-Hounds of the Gorkaathi moon?”
“No,” I confessed.
“They're some of the best trackers and companions in the galaxy,” she said. “A rare and valuable breed. Loyal hunters and protectors. Except that due to generations of selective breeding, there's a peculiar quirk in some of their bloodlines that can cause them to turn on their masters without warning, shredding them to ribbons. Do I dream of someday going back to the planet where I was born and raised? Naturally. But even if the Blood Ruler has opted to overlook my sister's actions, I am fairly certain that others will not. I don't relish the idea of having people look at me like one of those poor hounds… waiting for me to someday bite off the hand that feeds me, as Elrisa did. Or worse, deciding I must be put down before that occurs. No, it's better for me to remain here for the rest of my days.”
“Whatever you say,” I replied evenly. “But just for the record: You were the one who compared yourself to a dog, not me.”
Amora laughed – a rich, hearty sound that warmed my bones far more than the gemstones above us ever could. “You've always had a delightful sense of humor, my dear Zark. Even in the face of certain doom.”
“And… just how ‘certain’ is that doom, in your estimation?” Oh, it was hard to keep my voice light and breezy, thinking about the dangers awaiting me. Still, I had to try – for Miranda's sake, not to mention the sake of my own sanity.
“You speak of Torqa, of course,” Amora said with a brisk nod. “You needn't ask your questions… I already know them. Was she here on Egone? Yes. Has she recruited a small army to defend herself from you and keep waging war on the Mana? Yes. Is she still here? No. Do I know where she's gone? Sadly, I do not. Oh, and I'm sure it goes without saying that her response to the price on her head was to offer an equal amount on yours in certain less-than-reputable circles.”
I cursed inwardly. Not only did it seem as though we'd risked so much to come all this way for nothing, but there would be bounty hunters and other such greedy scum to contend with. In a way, I had to admire Torqa for muddying the waters like this – keeping me distracted ducking headhunters, when I should have been single-minded in my quest to find her.
Still, I had to see my mission through to completion, no matter where it led. And I had no other option but to come out on top.
8
Miranda
As Zark thanked Amora and said goodbye, my mind was racing. Tracking down some dangerous Valkredian traitor and retrieving a book was one thing – but dodging more laser blasts along the way, from a bunch of hired thugs looking for a big payoff?
Jesus. This situation was getting worse by the minute.
We made our way back through the village. This time, the eyes of the fugitives seemed to be drilling into us from all sides with even greater intensity, and it took all of my willpower not to look at them. So many bizarre helmets and armor configurations, so many cruel-looking weapons, so many scowls and grunts and muttered alien phrases that sounded ominous…
Try to stay calm. They're probably just as scared of us as we are of them. They don't want any trouble. They just came here to hide out for a while between crimes. If we don't do anything to spook them or piss them off, I'm sure they'll just leave us alone and let us go back to the shuttle.
Ahead of us, I saw a lone figure curled up in a ball away from the others, in the middle of the icy street. He wore a helmet with a design that resembled a skull, and what appeared to be thick-plated armor with gauntlets that ended in cruel hooked claws. Unfortunately, from the look of it, his armor hadn't been insulated the way ours was – or if it had, it still hadn't been enough to properly protect him from the cold. He was utterly motionless, not even breathing, half of his body was covered in layers of snow and frost.
Yikes. Imagine running all this way just to get away from the law, only to die of exposure in this desolate wasteland. He looked like he used to be a serious badass, but still, seeing him lying there, it was hard not to pity him.
Just as I was about to step gingerly around his body, I heard Zark's panicked voice: “No! Don't get too close! That's…!”
Too late.
One of the gauntlets seized my leg and the figure sprang up, wrapping his powerful arms around me and pressing the barrel of a blaster to my temple.
“…Zurum the Head-Collector,” Zark finished, leveling his rifle at my attacker with alarming speed. “The second-deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy.”
“I'm gratified to know that my reputation precedes me.” Zurum's voice projected from the grille of his mask in a grating mechanical growl. “And I may be the ‘second-deadliest’ bounty hunter, but once I turn you in to Torqa, I'll certainly be the richest. Those other nimrods thought they were smart, tagging along after her as bodyguards – but I knew if I just staked this place out long enough, you'd show up and I wouldn't have to split the reward with anyone. Now surrender, or this girl's brains will be a pile of red slush on the street.”
Zark hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting from my face to Zurum’s blaster, and then put down his rifle, holding up his hands. “All right. I'll come quietly. We both know I'm worth a lot more to you alive than dead. Just let her get to the shuttle safely, and I'm all yours.”
I heard Zark's voice in my head, and it startled me – I'd never communicated with anyone telepathically on purpose before. Keep your mind open. I'm going to give you the command codes and controls for the shuttle, along with coordinates to punch in so it'll take you to safety.
That’s your big plan? I thought back, panicked. Leaving me to fend for myself? What's to stop them from grabbing me and selling me again? What if one of those energy flare things zaps me? Have you thought this through, like, at all?
Of course that’s not my plan – I'm trying to buy us time until I can think of a more ideal solution! Zark responded. Do you have a better idea? Because I'm looking in your mind, and so far, I don't see one!
“Communicating with each other telepathically, eh?” Zurum squawked. “Trying to come up with a way to outwit old Zurum? Well, that won't do at all.” With his free hand, he flipped a switch on the side of his helmet, and Zark's words in my mind blurred into a barrage of static. “The communications system in my mask has been modified to disrupt Valkredian psychic transmissions. I've hauled in too many of you blood-sucking cretins over the years to take any chances. Now: This human slut will be turned loose when you've been safely delivered into Torqa's hands. Until then, she's coming with us. No discussion, no negotiation. You agree, or you both die. Period.”
Zark's mouth tightened into a grim line. I didn't need to read his mind to know that he was running through a hundred different scenarios in his head, trying to decide on the best, most effective way to free us both before…
Wait.
The thought of reading his mind made me realize: This Zurum guy's gear might have been wired to conk out Valkredian psychic powers… but not human ones, since as far as the rest of the galaxy knew, us Earthlings weren't supposed to have them.
I felt Zurum's armored body pressed against my back and reached out with my mind. For most of my life, I'd been used to making a conscious effort to close myself off from other people's thoughts – to keep the headaches and confusion at bay, and to not look weird in public. Now it took a lot of focus to do the opposite, especially since my skin wasn't touching his.
Zurum's thoughts flowed through mine. The words were alien, but their meaning wasn't.
His biggest, loudest thought was of the money he'd be getting from turning Zark in. His secondary thoughts were centered on the fact that he had no intention of letting me go – since he'd have all the cash he could ever need for the
rest of his life, he didn't need to sell me. Instead, he was planning to keep me for himself (and subject me to a series of truly disgusting sexual acts, some of which I couldn't even fully comprehend).
But behind those was another dominating thought: all the weapons he carried on his person, and the various scenarios in which he might be called upon to use them if Zark didn't cooperate.
He had some kind of high-powered bomb or grenade clipped to the side of his belt. It was within easy reach. It could be activated by sliding a small button into the proper position, and once it was armed, it would explode in five seconds, with a blast so intense and destructive that it frightened even him. He was glad he had it, but fervently hoped he'd never have to actually use it.
I reached down and clicked the button forward. It let out a series of sharp beeps.
Zurum's mask roared a wordless exclamation of sheer terror as he shoved me away, fumbling with the device on his belt. I jumped forward as far as I could, risking a glance over my shoulder and watching his clawed fingers try to put the button back into place. Instead, the shiny sphere slipped out of his gloves, plopped on the ground between his boots… and overloaded.
The explosion was a blinding column that incinerated Zurum instantly, the shockwave chipping and cracking the black ice structures surrounding it. The other outlaws on the street shielded their eyes from the blast, and Zark folded his arms around me protectively, turning me away from the explosion, trying to absorb as much of the impact as possible.
A fire crackled where Zurum had been standing a few seconds earlier, with streaks of blood and ash spreading from it in every direction.
“That was incredibly quick thinking,” Zark said appreciatively, gripping me tightly. “Are you all right?”
Before I could answer, I looked at the other people on the street, and my eyes widened. They were standing up and approaching us quickly. Were they going to avenge their fallen comrade? Collect the reward he'd failed to earn? If so, there wasn't much we'd be able to do about it – we were surrounded and completely outnumbered.
