Moonbeams and magic (4 page)

Good, he's a stranger to you. "I'll work with any man or woman you select, Tochar; you are our leader, a generous and superior one," she replied in a smooth and professional tone, though she surmised the fiendal was using her to tempt Dagan Latu into becoming one of his hirelings.

Tochar chuckled. "I am the only potentate you have ever served." He glanced at Dagan. "Like you, Starla has always been a loner, a success on her own. But I persuaded her to work for me and to enjoy the sanctuary and rewards I have to offer. I hope you will do the same."

"The offer you made sounds appealing," Dagan said, "especially the refuge and hefty payments, both of which I am in dire need of at present. As to Starla Vedris, she must be skilled in many ways to be thought and spoken of so highly by you. She is indeed beautiful, and a pleasure to meet. I'm certain I'll enjoy working with her at every available chance." He was fascinated by the desirable space pirate who appeared just as intrigued by and drawn to him, as he was to her.

"Starla is exquisite, but I must caution you, Dagan, to use care and respect with her. She is one of my best raiders.

so I cannot allow anyone to provoke her into leaving me by offending her with an unwanted pursuit. Of course, she is free to select her own companions and diversions."

"I catch your meaning, Tochar, and I'll honor your caution."

"Excellent, because you and Starla will make a fine pair for some of my most important treks. With you two as a unit and Auken, Sach, and Moig as another, I will have two superior teams to handle crucial raids. Sit and relax, you two. Starla, would you care for a refreshment?"

She took the seata nearest Dagan's to prove to both men she was not afraid of the newcomer. "Mumfresia will be fine." She watched Tochar press a button on his control panel; the female slave appeared with haste, as if she feared a delay would anger her master and provoke punishment. Starla had seen bruises on Zarafa's yellow skin that implied abuse. She detested any male who used brutality on a helpless victim of any age or sex. Yet, she was not in a position to defend or rescue the alien slave. When she completed her mission, she would endeavor to do so.

"Mumfresia for Starla, and refills for me and Dagan."

She noticed the kindly behavior the cunning Tochar exhibited toward the slave to make a good impression on Dagan. She knew that the leader and this settlement had no automatic servo units to provide refreshments and meals by request using coded metallic cards and advanced technology, just as it lacked other features to make work easier and life more enjoyable. Most of the living conditions and amenities were like those in her world more than a hundred yings ago, as it was not a place which attracted scientists and technicians to build, operate, and repair them. Yet, the primitive lifestyle suited the type of people who populated Tochara. After the woman's departure, Starla asked Tochar, "Will we be going out again soon? I get itchy sitting around too long."

"You see, Dagan, Starla is as eager to get rich as you

are, but for different reasons. Yes, my lovely creature, your next departure is in two deegas. It is another risky and profitable venture for you. Auken will give you the schedule; you will be using his ship this time."

That news told her their target was another cargo of moonbeams, but it didn't reveal the crystals departure point: Sen or Kalfa. She would ponder the matter later. For now, she needed to stay alert for trouble from the handsome male nearby, who kept glancing at her and who probably was surprised to see her again. She could not guess so soon if he was going to expose her with the hope of gaining his new leader's gratitude and favor. Perhaps the appealing vil-lite wanted her to sweat for a time out of revenge for defeating him, or perhaps he was repaying her for sparing his life. Or perhaps he assumed extorting her would be more profitable than revealing her defiance to Tochar, especially if she found a cunning way to excuse it. She also tried not to think about the audacious remarks she made to Dagan before she allegedly killed him, words he no doubt found amusing and enticing from his expressions.

As the slave returned and served them, Dagan pretended to listen to Starla and Tochar chat, but his mind kept drifting to the incident on the transporter and her provocative words. He couldn't surmise why she hadn't slain him, but he was grateful enough to conceal news of her defiance, no matter if revealing it would score him big points. She didn't seem worried, so her parmer that deega must not have seen him, as she had covered his face with a sack. But if Moig recognized him, they were both in trouble for keeping secrets. Maybe he shouldn't take that risk; maybe he should expose her while he had time to joke it off. If he waited and Moig fingered him, Tochar would be suspicious of why he held silent and would send him on his way.

But, Dagan deduced, he might get Starla Vedris killed or punished for no reason, if Moig was ignorant. For certain, Tochar wasn't a man to dupe without an excellent motive,

especially while sitting in his stronghold. He had noticed the discolored spots on the slave's face and arms and the terror in the poor creature's eyes. Any man, Dagan felt, who could do such despicable acts was an unpredictable and untrustworthy lowlife. If this job wasn't imperative, he would be gone on the next ship out. As to Starla, she was a mystery; he had never heard of her and her exploits. He wondered how and when and why she had linked up with Tochar and how she felt about the man. He needed to learn her secrets fast or she could be trouble for him if his guard rebelliously relaxed around her. It didn't sit well that he was so attracted to her, that he might jeopardize his wants and needs to save her life and skin.

Starla was looking down at the three powerful crystals lying on his desk. "Those are exquisite moonbeams, Tochar, but rather small ones," she remarked. "They would be breathtaking if they were gems and were studded into a gold neck ring. Of course, they're too valuable and useful for mere adornment."

The leader fingered them aknost erotically. "Dagan just sold them to me. He won them in a rest game from a cunning thief."

Dagan grinned. "If I had known those gems were so precious, I wouldn't have held on to them for so long. They're about the only thing I rescued after my little problem with those Sekis. Too bad my ship wouldn't fit in my pocket like they did. If I could get my hands on more of those, I'd be rich very soon with what you're willing to pay for them."

Tochar lifted one moonbeam, held it toward the light, and admired its color. These are the last ones you will be able to win in any game. No worker can sneak them out of the mines anymore because of security inspections, and markets for them are rare and buyers are dangerous to seek."

"Ships transporting them would make perfect targets," Dagan hinted.

"Do not attempt to raid one unless you are ready to die

or you know for certain it is safe to attack," Tochar warned. "The Serians and Kalfans are very protective of these beauties, very secretive about them. At least they tried to keep news of their discovery from general knowledge, but word always filters out about something so unique and potent."

"What's so special about them? Why the secrecy?" Da-gan inquired as he leaned forward to inspect the small crystals again.

"They have many uses. Research is being done to determine their full potential. But let us talk of other things, get better acquainted."

Starla deduced Tochar's reason for changing the subject: he didn't want Dagan—or anyone—^to become fiilly aware of the moonbeams' enormous power and value. The two yellow ones could be ground into minute particles, then placed inside a tumor by surgery or injection to destroy it without damaging healthy cells or tissues and without side effects; yet, scientists did not know how the crystal differentiated between healthy and abnormal cells. The same was true for viral destruction when the moonbeams were ingested with liquid. It could repair broken bones in a few horas when inserted into their location. The blue crystal could be used on a scalpel to make thin incisions which instantly sealed vessels and capillaries to prevent bleeding. The cut would then heal within a deega after the operation and never became infected or leave a scar. Other moonbeams, according to their sizes and colors, created powerful weapons and sources of heat and light that were long-lasting and safe. With such awesome capabilities, it was no wonder why the crystals were so valuable and craved, or a target for villites like Tochar. She wanted to know how Dagan had come across those three. She wondered if Tochar suspected the newcomer of being deceitful; if so, it was not revealed in the leader's expression or tone. If Dagan Latu was a liar or threat, that fact would be exposed as soon as Tochar used truth serum on him. She could only hope that Dagan wasn't

asked any questions about her while under that revealing drug's control. Don 't worry, Bree-Kayah, if Tochar puts you under again, with your immunity, you can lie your way out of trouble. As for you, Dagan, if you re being deceitful, you 're a dead man.

"How long have you been on Noy?" she asked him. She was amazed that he or any man would enter Tochar's do-, main coated with red dust, his garment torn and rumpled, his hair uncombed, and his skin unwashed.

"Two deegas. I landed at another settlement, but decided I would like this one better. It isn't a secret that Tochar's is the best, and I was hoping he would be willing to hire me until I earn enough for a new ship."

That information told Starla he had left the transporter and headed there as soon as he awakened from the temporary cryogenic drug she had given him, a rare chemical from Yakir that had decreased his vital signs to the point Moig could not detect them. But how, she mused, had he gotten off the vessel, and what had become of it, and why land elsewhere if Tochara was his destination? "How did you cross the wasteland?" she began her probe. "From which direction? Did you have any tt-ouble with the flesh-eating mutants who roam it?"

Dagan was sttanned that she would ask any questions about his travels. He glanced down at his sorry appearance and answered, "I stole a landrover but, it malfunctioned before I reached Tochara, so I walked the rest of the way. I was lucky that one of Tochar's patt-ols sighted me and brought me to him. I didn't run into any mutants. I guess I was lucky I survived my little misadventure."

Starla was eager to rettim to the Liska and learn about Dagan Latu, as Cypher would have a report ready for her, but she must not appear nervous or in a rush to depart. "Yes, you were very lucky," she remarked casually. "I'm sure you're grateful to whatever force saved your life. What happened to your old ship?"

"Depletion of power forced me to abandon her, but I escaped from a Seki before he could take me in to be sent to a penal colony. I caught a lift on a supply transporter to the Keezian colony. After I landed and examined the place, I came here for rest, sanctuary, and work. What about—"

Auken, Sach, and Moig joined them and interrupted Da-gan's query. As the three Icarians greeted their leader with respect and affection, Starla and Dagan sipped their drinks and listened.

The golden-haired Auken reported, "We'll get everything prepared tomorrow and leave the following deega. We should reach our target, grab its cargo, and return quickly. We'll take Starla with us."

She exchanged smiles with Auken when he glanced at her.

Tochar introduced the newcomer to his men, "This is the infamous Dagan Latu, my ftiends: adventurer, bijoni, raider, and rogue. He barely escaped capture numerous times for some of his cunning and daring deeds. The Sekis would give a small fortune for his capture and destruction. If his reputation is accurate, he lives for pleasure, wealth, challenges, and excitement, as we do. Dagan will be going with you on the next trek. If he proves worthy, he will become a regular member of your special team."

Dagan clasped wrists with each of the men. He realized Tochar had checked his criminal record earlier when he was out of the chamber for a while, as this was his first time on Noy. "Where will we be heading?"

Tochar replied for his best friend, "Auken will tell you all you need to know after you are under way. Why do you ask?"

Dagan chuckled. "Considering my recent brush with capture, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't sticking my nose out too close to those Kalfans again; I kind of like it, so I don't want their Sekis to laser it off."

Tochar also chuckled. "The danger and risks are small,

and no space rangers will be in that sector. Starla, you work with Dagan and teach him how we operate. Make sure nothing happens to him during his first raid for me. I would like to keep him around for a long time." Starla set aside her empty glass. "As you wish, Tochar." Moig ventured with a grin, "Don't worry, Dagan, Vedris will watch out for you and get you back here in one piece. She was with me on my last raid; she tricked a robot pilot into letting her come aboard his transporter and she disabled him as fast as a shooting star. Vedris isn't afraid of anybody or anything. She obeys orders and does her job well."

Dagan surmised from Moig's behavior that their secret was safe, and, oddly, it felt arousing to share it with the exquisite pirate. "I'll trust her to take excellent care of me and to be sure I don't make any mistakes."

"If there is nothing else to discuss, you are dismissed," Tochar said. "If you are in need of. . . diversion, Dagan, the Skull's Den is the best place to look. Radu, its owner, can find you a clean and quiet chamber to rent. If you need anything, ask Radu, and tell him you work for me. I will meet with all of you upon your successful return, except for you, Dagan. I want to see you here again tomorrow on the tenth hora."

Dagan nodded, then spoke with Moig, Auken, and Sach for a few preons. Starla made her exit and was out of sight when he stepped from the trans-to with the other men. He wondered how she vanished so quickly.

Auken chuckled. "She returned to her ship, the Liska; she lives on it in orbit. She doesn't share a sleeper with any of the men here."

Dagan laughed. "My interest in her is that obvious?"