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Authors: Ann Aguirre

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Wanderlust (31 page)

BOOK: Wanderlust
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“That’s why I’m here. Have you given any more thought to our discussion, Sirantha Jax?”

For a moment, I don’t know what she’s talking about, and then it clicks. Back on New Terra, while we were still sequestered, she asked me a favor. “If we land somewhere I can order the work done, you can pick out a body from Pretty Robotics. Since it’s on Chancellor Tarn, price is no object. Have you thought about a name?”

“I am 245,” she says, sounding as puzzled as I’ve ever heard her.

“Yeah, but if you want a humanoid body so you can accompany me to official diplomatic functions, you’ll need something else, won’t you?” This was her idea as well, but I see the merit in it. Then she’ll be my personal assistant in every respect—and she’ll be able to signal me if I’m about to make a dangerous breach in etiquette. Her memory will track that better than a human ever could. “But I guess we could call you according to whatever model you pick out. They have Claudia, Julie, Roberta, Paulette, and I forget who else.”

That’s a Pretty Robotics gimmick since they cater to lonely men who are also fabulously wealthy. If we go this route, 245 will get more attention than the rest of us combined. Maybe that’s a good thing.

“This is important?” she asks.

“I just thought you might want to christen yourself. I mean, how many people get to pick out their own names?”

“Then I will consider all the names in my data banks, but I may need your help in a final decision. I don’t wish to select one that is anachronistic or inappropriate.”

“Sure, narrow down to five or ten favorites, and we’ll go from there.”

I turn down the hall that leads back to my room, and a snippet of conversation reaches me from the other end. “Do you think they know?”

It’s Keller’s goons, Grubb and Boyle, but they haven’t seen me yet. I duck around the corner, heart racing.

“Nah,” Boyle says. “Keller’s the best. They think Jewel really wants to talk.”

Grubb laughs at the very idea, and they pass on by, talking about playing another round of
Real Killer
. I stand there a moment, wondering at the implications. Whatever this means, I suspect it isn’t good.

Dammit. We should’ve waited for a Conglomerate ship.

Once they’ve passed, I sprint down the hall and into my room. Having the door between me and the Syndicate thugs helps some, but it’s not enough. I need everyone in here now, and we need to figure out a plan of action.

First, I check something for my own peace of mind. I access the terminal, something I should’ve done right away, admittedly, if only I hadn’t been so tired, hungry, and all-around muzzy headed. The workstation powers up readily enough, but when I attempt to access external communications, a big red screen flashes.

“I am sorry,” it tells me, although it doesn’t sound sorry. Machines never do. “You are not authorized to transmit to bounce-relay satellites.”

Shit.
We’re officially prisoners then. No access to the outside world. In retrospect, I realize Keller promised us safe passage. He made no guarantees as to what would happen once we arrive.

I could drive myself crazy wondering whether they’ve decided I outlived my usefulness, but that’s a waste of time. Instead I decide to invite the crew to a “party” in Dina’s room. I’d hold the meeting here, but I doubt she’d come, given that she wants my head on a pike at the moment.

I call Vel first. They’re probably logging this conversation, but my paranoia is well documented. In this instance it might even work to my advantage.

“Do you have a white-noise generator or something that scrambles any snooping devices that might be present?”

“Well, that certainly qualifies as one of the odder greetings I have received in my life. As it happens, I do.”

“Good,” I say. “Bring it with you to Dina’s room, ten minutes.”

Silence.

So I ask, “What’s wrong?”

Another hesitation. “This is not a good time, Sirantha.”

Right.
Right after I left, he must’ve started fashioning the new skin he’ll wear for the next three days. “When would be?”

We’re both exercising caution now, and I can tell he’s copped to the fact that I’m nervous. I wish I could explain, but that would defeat the purpose. And I suspect he wouldn’t welcome an in-person visit just now.

“Two hours. If it is urgent, I could—”

“No, that’s fine. I’ll let the others know.”

I spend a few hours pacing and arguing with 245 over why nobody would ever take her seriously as my personal assistant if she takes the name Colette. Her alternatives are worse.

“Dreama? Synara? Those are stripper names.”

“Explain.” She sounds confused again.

Four choclaste bars later and six terrible names later, I figure it’s time. By the time I get there, Dina is on the verge of an eruption because her suite is full of people and she doesn’t know why. Her décor looks exactly like mine, but Hit and Jael sit sprawled on her sofa, and Vel is tinkering with some equipment.

The mechanic glowers at me. “You want to tell me what the fuck’s going on? Maybe you just wanted witnesses for when I kick your ass.”

I can tell she’s been putting in hard time with the EMP band and rehab exercises, as she’s visibly stronger today. But I have no intention of brawling. Dina might be able to knock me out one-handed, but she has to catch me first.

“Save it,” I say with a sigh.

To simplify matters, I produce 245 and replay the brief conversation between Grubb and Boyle. It’s handy I still had her in record mode from the long session with Vel. I run it twice to make sure everyone has the gist, and then I take a seat well away from Jael.

“He lied.” Hit pushes to her feet, slamming a fist into her palm. “I should’ve killed that scumsucker when I had him by the throat. I can take them out if Vel helps me disable droid security.”

“I could,” the bounty hunter says. “But I am not convinced that is the wisest course. If we execute the crew, we are left with a damaged vessel we may not be able to pilot. Keller said only he possesses the ignition codes, so it stands to reason it would require his permission to override the navigational system as well.”

“That means we continue on course whether we like it or not.” Dina limps over to the kitchen-mate and starts making drinks.

“And when we show up at Jewel’s place with a ship full of dead bodies,” Jael concludes, “he
really
won’t be in the mood to talk.”

“Mass murder won’t solve our problems this time,” I say. “Huh. Who knew?”

“The jumper’s already dead.” Having dropped that conversational bomb, Hit crosses to the table and helps Dina distribute the cups.

“What do you mean he’s dead?” Remembering my impulsive words, I have a sinking feeling in my stomach.

“Last night, I was scouting the place,” she answers without inflection. “And saw them spacing the body. I cut out before they made me.”

Jael seems to read my expression. “It’s not your fault, Jax. You don’t get a job like Keller’s by being a proper nice guy. He had to show his boss something, prove the failure had been dealt with. Or Jewel might’ve made an example of
him
. The Syndicate doesn’t make any money off valuing human life.”

“You know an awful lot about them,” Dina says, eyes narrowed. “What do we
know
about you, anyway?”

His pale eyes shine with a cold light, but he masks it with a smile. “I was a merc in Surge’s company, after March’s time. After I got out, I did a turn as an enforcer, yeah, for the Syndicate. I didn’t much like shaking down old ladies for their pensions, so I stopped.”

Hit raises a brow. “Just like that? You said farewell, and they threw you a little party. Let you walk away?”

At first I’m not sure why they’re tag teaming him so hard. And then it hits me. Dina wants him to be a bad guy because she thinks I’m sleeping with him. I figure she’s already told Hit her side of things. I open my mouth to defend him, but Jael doesn’t need any help.

“No,” he answers quietly. “I had to kill a few people to get the message across. I’ve done things I’m not proud of in the name of survival. But I expect that’s the case for everyone in this room.”

A chill shivers through me at his tone. With the possible exception of Vel, who has more integrity than anyone I’ve ever known, he’s probably right. Silence meets his words, and I think he’s even managed to instill some respect in Dina. She won’t mistake him for just another pretty face again.

Jael smiles. “Can we get back to business, or do you have further questions?”

 

 

 

CHAPTER 46

l let the silence build for another moment. Until just
now, nobody noticed the steel that braces Jael’s pretty exterior.

Then I say, “I think that’s a good idea. We don’t want them to catch us flat-footed.”

“This allows us time to plan,” Vel agrees. “Which is to the good.”

He’s activated the thingie that should jam any snooping devices that might be present. Now he sits beside Jael, hands at his sides. Vel shows a reserve only present in humans who possess some behavioral dysfunction.

“We’re still going to see Jewel,” Hit points out. “I don’t see how we’re any better off.”

“Can we assume they mean you harm, Jax?” Jael asks.

“It stands to reason. They asked me to fuck up my attempts at diplomacy because they don’t want to see interstellar affairs stabilize. Outfits like the Syndicate profit substantially when there’s no central authority to question its activities.”

I wave away the cup Dina tries to hand me, thinking it might be poisoned, or at least doctored to give me the shits for a good seventy-two hours. Then I get up and pace, back and forth from the door all the way to the bathroom and back again. Something’s niggling at me, but I can’t figure out what.

“But Tarn is covering for you,” Jael says after a moment. “He’s turned our blunders into what looks like heroism on the vids. First we liberate Emry Station, and then we venture into the heart of a war zone, bringing aid? I bet that’s how he spun it. If you continue on your goodwill tour as scheduled, the Ithtorians will be properly impressed by the time you arrive.”

Dina forgets she’s mad at us for a moment. “So they need to detain your ass. If you simply disappear, they can leak whatever story they want.”

“You don’t think they’ll just kill us?” The pilot furrows her brow like that doesn’t make sense to her.

I shake my head. “If they wanted me dead, I would be. They caught us off guard in the hangar, and had a clean shot at me before you showed up.”

“I agree,” Vel puts in. “If they stood to benefit from Sirantha’s death, they would have already arranged it. I cannot imagine that they are prone to wasting resources. If your supposition is correct regarding their motivations, they simply need to hold you long enough to ruin your reputation. Once they let you go, you will not be able to adequately account for your failure, and my people will not be disposed toward permitting any further diplomatic overtures.”

“Why is that so important?” Dina wants to know.

“Well, for one thing, there’s a prejudicial element to it,” Jael answers. “They don’t want Bugs passing freely among us because it would become impossible to know ‘whom to trust.’ No offense, Vel.”

The bounty hunter lifts a shoulder in an odd half shrug. “None taken.”

“That can’t be all of it, though.” Hit shakes her head, brow furrowed.

I tend to agree. “If it was
just
human supremacy rearing its ugly head again, they’d just kill me. And the next ambassador. And the next, until people got the message and stopped taking the job. Groups like the Pure Populist Front don’t operate under the banner of subtlety.”

“Point. So what’s the missing link?” Jael doesn’t seem afraid of what’s in the cup, taking a long sip.

I get tired of pacing and resume my seat on Vel’s other side. He slides me an oblique look, and then says, “The Morgut.”

We all shift, eyeing Vel expectantly.

He goes on without prompting. “I have been researching the increased frequency of Morgut attacks. In the last thirty days, they have targeted twenty remote stations, outposts and/or research facilities. That is a seventy-five percent increase, correlating to one significant event. I posit that Farwan’s fall sent the message that humanity is, at this time, weak and disorganized, thus demarcating you as ideal prey. You also possess the side benefit of being delicious.”

Was that a joke, albeit a dark and twisted one? I grin in appreciation.

“That’s why the Conglomerate is desperate to get the Ithtorians on board. Tarn will do anything to make it happen.” Dina slaps her good knee in realization. “My politics are rusty, but this makes perfect sense.”

“Enlighten the rest of us,” Hit says with a wry smile.

I lean forward as Dina explains, “From what you told me about your encounter with the Morgut on Emry, Vel was the only one they feared. He’s Ithtorian, not human, and that makes him a hunter, not prey. He speaks their language, therefore he’s considered an equal. If the Ithtorians side with humanity in the burgeoning conflict, that will give the Morgut pause, hopefully preventing an escalation to all-out interstellar war, the like of which we haven’t seen since—”

“The Axis Wars,” Jael finishes flatly.

Shit.
For a moment I just sit there, numb, and hellaciously impressed by Dina’s insight. She’s damn smart beneath her gruff façade. Then again, I keep forgetting that at one time, she used to be royalty, schooled to see nuances like this.

BOOK: Wanderlust
8.33Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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