Capital Games (Audacity Saga Book 2)

by R. K. Thorne

  She did manage to gawk alongside Adan as they passed the Mover temple. Models of the colony ships, replicated in sheer iridescent plex, floated above the vast grassy park with only fleeting holograms moving through the space in a ghostly array of pastels. They were like some bizarre daytime aurora borealis. A temple where no one worshiped had always seemed strange to her, and few truly worshipped their ancestor Movers anyway. Which had always seemed ironic to her. If there was anyone worth worshiping, the people who had brought them here seemed fair. A two hundred year journey facing possible death must have drawn brave souls. Or desperate ones.

  The streets were just as clogged with people as she remembered. Maybe eighty percent humans, but there were many Ursas too. Any Ursa who had a taste for fashion eventually made their way here. Several notable Teredarks had made careers as models for designs too large and outlandish for human bodies, but few actually wandered the streets or the shops. Nothing was built for their size or their mandibles here. No, the humans were strange enough, a vast array of clothing shapes, sizes, colors, luminosities, and textures. A recent trend seemed to be incorporating live animals, as she saw several more trapped fish and one monkey hanging around a woman’s neck and shuddered.

  She and Adan gradually pulled ahead again. The district grew less commercial and more industrial as they neared Persad’s research complex. Their first stop.

  “Is that—are those—” Adan stopped short.

  Jenny followed his gaze to a large tiered building with open sides, each floor shining with artificial sun and waving grasses. Pounding across artificial low hills were herds of white horses, extinct rhino horns genetically engineered to grow from their foreheads in a gorgeous iridescent sheen.

  “Oh. Yeah. Those. Unicorns. Neat, huh? All three levels of this structure have pastured herds under reflected sun.”

  “Wow. That’s… a lot of unicorns. Are they just genetically altered horses?”

  “Pretty much. Oh, and this farm is on the small side. Probably cause it’s close to the docks here. They likely have crops further up.”

  “Wait. Farm?”

  “Oh yeah. People love ’em.”

  “People love… what? I don’t see anyone riding them.”

  “Yeah, these aren’t for riding. Those ones have more colorful manes.” She cleared her throat. “Uh, how to put this… Unicorn is a delicacy on Capital.”

  “Delicacy?” Had his face just turned slightly greener? “You mean they eat them?”

  “Yeah. Brutal, isn’t it?” She shrugged as she tucked a windswept bit of hair back behind her ear. “Think of that when your Josana spouts off about fine art and culture. Food is part of culture, you know.”

  He was frowning at her. “She’s not my Josana. Or she won’t be after this liftoff.”

  She raised her eyebrows and jerked a thumb back toward the dock. “You two seemed cozy enough back there.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. “She wants me to stay. With her. Here.”

  “Ah.” Probably why he’d weaseled his way onto this mission, for more time with Her Awfulness. Jenny didn’t see how that could work with his citizenship. Maybe Simmons had offered to fabricate something. Adan had always been stubbornly against that in the past.

  A long, awkward silence stretched out.

  “So do it,” she said finally.

  “I can’t.” He was still rubbing the back of his neck. “And leave the stars? Flying? The Audacity? Ryu and Xi?”

  “Well, that’s more than a few reasons.” Her voice was mild, much milder than she felt. Couldn’t she be one of those reasons? “So don’t do it.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  She turned a steady gaze on him. “Sure it is. If you love her, some things are worth the risk.”

  His eyes met hers and locked, staring for a long moment, long past anything comfortable, but she couldn’t look away.

  Thank the heavens, Kael trotted up, breaking the moment. “Quit getting so far ahead, you two. Did you see those unicorns, Adan? Crazy!”

  “She says they eat them.”

  “What?” Kael pinned her with his gaze. “Wait—have you?”

  “Once. But I try not to eat species that are nicer or smarter than me, as a general rule. Or ones that are mystical symbols of goodness and purity. Let alone all of the above.”

  He blinked, looking back as the herd thundered past them again. “They eat… Wow.”

  “But do they have dragon steaks? Phoenix wings?” Adan grinned.

  Jenny smacked him on the arm.

  “Kidding.”

  “There are fairy wings. Do not ask about that. If you do, I warned you.” Jenny clapped Adan on the shoulder as she smiled at Kael. “That’s just Capital for ya. Beautiful as a porcelain statue on the outside. Rotten as a corpse underneath.”

  She turned away and kept on walking, leaving the two of them standing there, staring.

  They had a mission to do.

  Chapter Four

  The team arrived at Persad’s building, floating cloud of gear and all, about thirty minutes after they’d started. Ellen wanted to size up the situation, see how receptive Persad was, before they figured out where they’d stash their stuff. Maybe if they got lucky, they’d be heading straight back to the ship.

  The five of them reached Derad Tower and paused, gazing up at the creamy white tower that seemed to sway slightly in the wind. Five of them, because Ellen had insisted on getting the mission started before escorting Josana to her apartment. Or her parents’ apartment, or whatever it was. No one was there waiting for them, so it didn’t much matter.

  As Doug had instructed, she approached the east service entrance and held up her gauntlet for her credentials. The door dinged and slid open with a puff.

  “Well, that was easy,” Jenny muttered as they filed in.

  “Too easy?” asked Adan. The first door snicked shut behind him, and the decon scan swept over them. They should be clean, especially after a short walk in a place like Capital, but one never could be too careful.

  “The Foundation owns this building,” Ellen reminded them. “If not on paper, then in practice. Dozens of research labs here. It shouldn’t be that surprising Doug can get us into our own building.”

  The decon computer must have been satisfied, because it popped open the next door and allowed them inside.

  Following the briefing plan—and the map of it overlaid on her helmet visor—she led them from the service corridors to the main halls through several flights of stairs and one elevator. They conveniently bypassed any kind of main reception or security.

  Then again, they actually had a legitimate key for once.

  They reached their final elevator, which took them the last thirty-six floors to their destination. The eerily silent hallway was painted a pale baby blue. Shining gray floors made it clinical, sterile, and stylish all at the same time. Their footsteps echoed. A black plate lettered in crisp white on the left side read Dr. Crispin Ostrov, on the right Totaku and Associates, and farther down Dr. Alemeda Rosenberg.

  The elevator doors dinged behind them as Kael arrived with the gear. They hadn’t all fit in one trip. She shuffled down the hallway more earnestly now. Eight doors down, in accordance with the mission plan, the plate read Dr. Chayana Persad.

  The door stood open an inch, unlatched. All the others had been closed. The mission plan did not include that.

  She caught Kael’s attention. He lowered the gear and darted to the other side of the door as Ellen readied her multi.

  She nudged the door open another two inches. A tiny tinkle of bells.

  “Dr. Persad?” she called.

  No answer. Walls the orange of the boldest sunset caught her eye, along with a glass table littered with tiny bits of electronics.

  “I smell—is that cardamom? Anise?” Jenny whispered. “Coming out of there like there’s a window open or something.”

  “On the thirty-fourth floor?” Kae
l leaned a little closer, trying to see inside.

  Ellen nudged the door open a foot now, accompanied by the jangling of the bells. “Hard to sneak in without making a noise, isn’t it.” She nodded toward Kael.

  “Because she was worried someone would be sneaking?” He pivoted into the doorway and scanned the far corner they could see best.

  “My thoughts exactly.” She raised her voice. “Are you in here, ma’am? Dr. Persad?”

  Still no answer.

  “Okay, go.”

  He thrust the door the rest of the way open, and the two of them swept in, heading for the far office room. The place was tiny, and half the space was taken up by the flood of glittering, disassembled components, so they cleared the place in no time.

  Kael straightened in the doorway to the second room. “No one’s here, Commander.”

  She waved for the others to come in. “This was her office address, right?”

  Adan jerked a thumb behind him. “Her name plate is on the door.”

  “Maybe she keeps irregular hours?” Jenny shrugged, hands spread.

  “Then why was the door open? And—look.” Kael pointed at a nearby coffee pot. “Still brewing. Someone was just here.”

  Ellen pursed her lips. “Either they left in a hurry, or… they’re still here.”

  Her eyes traced the walls, but the orange went on seamlessly, almost like plastic molded just to this space. Strange. She turned her eyes to the ceiling, looking for any unusual crease that might indicate a hiding place.

  “Can I help you?”

  A man with short, curling black hair stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised. He wore a high-collared, charcoal coat that fell to his knees—one that could conceal all manner of weapons—and a silver stud winked at her from his right ear. A dark wooden cane was clutched in one hand, and although he leaned on it, her gut screamed that he didn’t need it. His every detail was controlled; shoes shined, hair styled just on the border between traditional and edgy, salt-and-pepper beard. He was handsome—and he knew it.

  She was glad he couldn’t see her eyes narrowing behind her visor. But it would be impolite to leave her visor dark on any inner world. Sometimes civilization was so fragging annoying. She smoothed her features and lightened the visor in greeting. But she didn’t retract the helmet. “We’re looking for Dr. Persad. We have a commission. Do you happen to know where she is?”

  He spread his hands, palms up. “Isn’t she here? She just got in for the morning a few minutes ago. I said hello to her in the hallway.”

  “The morning?” Adan muttered behind her.

  Ellen pretended not to hear. “Does she usually start the day after 1200 hours, Mister… ?”

  “Ostrov.” He gave her a bright, winning smile as he took a step forward and held out a hand to shake. “Crispin Ostrov, and it’s Doctor, actually.” He glanced at her hand, seemed to realize shaking hands in armor was awkward bordering on dangerous, and straightened, wiping the palm along his coat. “I’m not Chayana’s keeper, but many of us work at whatever hours suit us.”

  “I see.” Ellen ignored additional grumbling from Adan and hoped this Ostrov didn’t notice. “Makes it a bit hard for potential clients.”

  He raised just one eyebrow now. Huh, his eyes were green, like Technicolor emerald green. An unusual color, probably engineered. “Well, you could make an appointment…”

  Hell, she hadn’t meant to give away something like that through banter. Time to end this discussion. “Ah, yes. We will. Are you one of her fellow scientists, then, Dr. Ostrov?”

  “Fellow researcher and friend. My lab is three doors down.” He waved his cane in the general direction.

  “Well, thank you for stopping by. We’ll just have to check back later.”

  He took another step forward. Damn it, why were her shoulders clenching up? This man—physically at least—was harmless. “Do you have a comm address at which she, or I, could reach you? I could let her know that you were here. When she gets back.”

  Ellen hesitated. Did she want Persad to know they’d stopped by? Or anyone for that matter? The words were a little off, her gut screaming that he wanted the comm info for some other reason.

  He wasn’t the polite, helpful sort. She could just tell.

  “How about you give me yours instead?” she said.

  He raised his eyebrows again, and she could have sworn Kael stiffened in her peripheral vision. Ostrov reached into his pocket and smoothly handed her a printed paper card. It was a practiced move, quite comfortable for him. “It would be my pleasure,” he said. “I’d love to get more acquainted. It’s not every day lovely armored women come strolling through a high-security office building on a casual business call.”

  She stared at him flatly. Lovely? It was all she could do not to snort.

  He smiled, undisturbed by her gaze. “But you know my name. You won’t leave me wanting, will you?” His eyes twinkled again. “Do share your own.”

  Bastard. “Ryu,” she said. “Chief of security for Ms. Jenny Utlis. But please keep that to yourself.” Even if it was their cover story, it’d only feel more real if she acted secretive about it.

  “A delight to meet you, Chief Ryu. Good day to you all.”

  She pocketed the card as he waved goodbye and headed back toward the lab.

  She switched on the thermal readout to see if he really went where he said he was going to. The room held its breath.

  She nodded to the others when he did. For now. She turned back to the team. “All right, look around one more time and then let’s get out of here.”

  “Should we leave a note or something?” Jenny peered into a second room at the back of the office.

  Ellen scanned the shelves and hooks by the door, looking for some clue as to where and how far Persad had gone. “Hmm. No, I don’t think so. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  Kael bent down and examined the bells on the back of the door. “Did she know we were coming and want to avoid us? Or did she think someone else was coming?”

  “Someone dangerous?” Ellen tilted her head pointedly toward Ostrov’s office.

  Josana pursed her lips. “Or did she simply have to pee? All of you have such a flair for the dramatic.”

  Ellen wished she’d already darkened her visor so she could roll her eyes in private. “All right, we’ll find a base of operations close by, and we’ll come back.”

  “Wait,” Adan said. He stood beside Jenny, peering back into the second room. “There’s a holodisplay back here. Far from new.” He strode into the room, and the others followed. Rounding the desk, he held out his hands as if he were scanning the cluttered work surface with them—a sea of papers and pens and mugs and cups. “Old school. No biometrics I can see on the workstation. You want me to try… ?” He inclined his head and raised an eyebrow.

  She pursed her lips. Not even on Capital for a day, and they were already having him break the law. But considering the computer and the research almost certainly belonged to Capital… presumably that meant Doug could get them out of any trouble they got themselves into. “All right, do it. It’s on me if we get caught. I’ll watch the door. Josana stays with me. Jenny—that back exit. Kael, stay with Adan.”

  Josana folded her arms across her chest, rolled her eyes, and followed Ellen out to the main entryway.

  Adan pulled on his gloves and surveyed Persad’s desk, letting his instincts work. He could start with the machine, as time was of the essence. But he had a feeling a physical shortcut was close by—if he only looked for it.

  “What you’re doing… Is that a felony?” Jenny asked softly.

  “Like breaking into an office isn’t?” Adan didn’t look up from the desk as he rummaged through the many crumpled and scattered papers. How people worked in such chaos he did not understand. A clue had to be here somewhere, he just knew it.

  “Technically, breaking and entering is a misdemeanor here,” Kael informed them. Trust the Theroki to know the penal code. Adan bit ba
ck a comment. “And the door was unlocked, so…”

  “So we’re safe on that count?” Jenny said, smiling.

  “Yes. We were concerned passersby.”

  “You notice he dodged my question, though.”

  “Yes. I did. He’s good at dodging things, in my experience.”

  “Aha!” Adan held up a crumpled pink square of paper in triumph, ignoring the dig. A list of a dozen common account usernames—and their passwords. “She should really upgrade this to biometrics. This is ridiculously ancient.”

  “What is that?” Jenny said, stepping toward him and squinting. “What did you find?”

  “This, my dear, is the key to our locked door.”

  He jabbed at the laptop, and it came to life. He quickly entered the combination that looked most likely to him. No, not that one. Perhaps that was mail. That was the one people usually held most dear. Perhaps the third…

  Yes. The screen unlocked. Jenny peered over his shoulder and Kael shifted in return, feigning interest, but the tension in the air was suddenly thick.

  She bent to read what was on the screen, her face so close her cheek almost brushed his ear. The memory of orange groves and summertime stirred in him, less bizarre now with the warm wind blowing in from a tiny window that was indeed open.

  Still, he tensed. What if this was her plan? Jam him in the back of the neck and let him seize up? They were probably far from medical help here, if the Capital types would even give it to an unregistered outsystemer like him.

  His fingers flew through the displays, looking for something of use. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching the exit?” He tried to make it sound casual.

  She jumped. “Oh, sorry. I’m being annoying, aren’t I? I hate it when people read over my shoulder.” She scampered back, and Kael eased back a little in response.

  Hmm. Maybe he shouldn’t be giving the Theroki such a hard time. Xi wasn’t all-powerful, and if Jenny had wanted to kill him here… maybe she could have.