Wrath of the Void Strider (22 page)

Near the corners of the enormous hall, coral pillars hoisted an arched ceiling, each support dressed in finely detailed relief illustrations of ghalloom gods and goddesses.  Above them, at the center of the chamber, a vast maritime compass had been painted in rings of cyan and golden light.  A wide circular frame contained it, and its outer edges glowed softly of rich blue.  The floor was polished tile, stone paintings of sunset waves that circumscribed a mosaic of rudder wheels and sails.

Spaced evenly around the room, leafy glass trees reached for the ceiling.  From softly luminescent orange crowns at the top of each, water splashed down along flared, sky blue and glowing trunks.  Curved aquariums served as walls, interrupted here and there by sets of lavishly decorated glass doors.  A sweeping set of stairs offered passage to the upper floors, rising up from the floor at the far end.

From one of the central doors, a blue, magnetically levitating throne emerged, bearing a shriveled ghalloom statesman.  He glided closer to Zerki and her companions as dozens of guards marched into view.  They split into two groups and took position on either side, where they promptly stood at attention.

“A pleasure to meet you, Captain Zerki Ibarra,” the withered ghalloom rasped.  “Please, please come closer.  My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”

Zerki led her companions across the decorated floor and bowed her head when she had drawn close.  “
Ga karrac
, Gilrenk, haute-Iff’lar.”

The wizened ghalloom snarled more than smiled.  “For much longer than I care to be!”  He coughed loudly, a death rattle, and when the fit had passed, he collected his wits.  “You may skip the pleasantries, Captain.  Without a beak, the uttering of any Agholli word sounds hideous, and I’m far too old to care about their use anyway.”  His expression softened.  “I hear you have six cargo modules overflowing with good steel and good crystal, yes?”  His question trailed off into a wheeze, and one eye squinted as he tilted his head.  He cut off her reply with, “Never mind.  My inspectors will tell me if it’s worth buying.  Of course you think it’s good, or you wouldn’t be here.”  His face twisted into a fascinated rictus.  “Why ever did you take the beach ramp?  It was meant for hikers and bicycles, not cars.”

“It seemed the least conspicuous point of entry,” Zerki replied.

Gilrenk stared at her, studied her long enough for Zerki to feel uncomfortable.  At last, he said, “That’s not entirely true, but I won’t pry.  You’re here, and I won’t waste your time.”  He tapped something on his throne, waited a moment, and hunched forward.  “Your discretion is to be applauded, but when you leave, please do so through the front gate.”

“Thank you,” said Zerki.

With a tortured nod, Gilrenk decided, “I like you.  I’ve directed my inspectors to rendezvous with your
Sanguine Shadow
.  In the meantime, let’s you and I discuss business.  The rest of your crew is welcome to look around while we wait for the report.”  He tapped a screen mounted to his throne, and a brooding cello sonata quietly played, gently filling the hall.  “It may take some time.”

Zerki moved to stand at his side, where they reviewed matters of payment.

Her companions spread out, taking in Gilrenk’s marvels.  D’Arro stood before one of the glass trees, and he reached out, letting the water splash over his fingers.  With a contented smile, he gazed up at its saffron crown and did not seem to mind when Taryn approached.  Wearing a curious look, she too slipped her fingertips into the cascade.

Takeo spent his time surveying the pillars and the decorated floor.

Gavin and Valerie lost themselves in the many tanks filled with exotic sea life.  He brightened when he spotted a living maroon clownfish and pointed it out.  Eagerly, he shared with her all he knew about ocean fish, corals, sea stars and anemones.

Valerie slipped her arm around his elbow and leaned in close from the side.  She rested her head against his, bringing an abrupt pause to his dialogue.  “I’m cold,” she whispered, and she shivered a bit, hugging his arm tightly.

Gavin brightened, nodded, and hugged her as tightly in return.  “I’d offer my jacket, but I think it’s too small for you.”

She smiled and shook her head, more to dislodge the hair from her eyes.  “This is fine.”

Glowing from within, he cleared his throat and quietly said, “Does any of this stuff actually interest you?”

“Kind of,” she admitted, “but I like hearing you talk.  You have a nice voice.”

Gavin blushed, and his voice cracked slightly as he said, “Thanks.”  Again, he cleared his throat, more pointedly this time.  With his free hand, he gestured to the tank before them and said, “That thing popping up out of its tube is called a feather duster.  It’s actually a kind of worm, and it uses its fronds to filter feed.”  Each tank was home to at least one thing he knew a lot about, and he still had plenty left to share when the inspector’s report came back.

Zerki called them over, and her companions gathered near the floating throne.

Gilrenk crooned, “It looks very good, very usable.  My crew has been instructed to begin the transfer.”  He coughed raggedly.  A greedy smile settled onto his face, and he twisted sidelong to regard Zerki.  “I’ll pay you what we agreed upon, plus five percent… for next time.”

“Next time?” she asked.

Gilrenk managed to nod.  “And every time you’ve got salvage to sell.  Your loyalty will be rewarded.  Every time.”  He waved over one of his guards and whispered into his ear, prompting the guard to hurry out of the room.  “He’ll be back with your payment.”

“Thank you.  That’s very generous.”

“Generous, nothing.”  He straightened somewhat.  “It’s an investment.”

Zerki nodded and smiled professionally.  “An investment, then.”

The guard returned with a ridged, metal briefcase.  Gilrenk waved him over, and the guard set the heavy container down at the foot of the throne.  “I’ll see you again, I expect,” Gilrenk stated.  “Soon, I hope.”  Zerki hefted the case, and the wizened ghalloom turned his throne around, gliding back toward the door he had emerged from.  His many guards formed up in two columns, following slowly in his wake.  “Let yourselves out.”

“Wow, this thing is heavy,” Zerki muttered as she lifted the briefcase.

Taryn leaned in and giddily asked, “How much is in there?”

Zerki shook her head.  With a contained grin, she whispered, “Enough for everyone to do their Christmas shopping on Varuna.”  She winked, and without further ado, led her companions back across the frosty chamber, through the foyer, to the marble stairs that led down into the garage.

They boarded the buggy, and Gavin started the engine.  Its rumble echoed throughout the vast parking structure.  He revved it, setting off dozens of car alarms in the process, and he smiled mischievously.

Zerki regarded him with a maternal frown.  “Really?”

Still smiling as a chorus of deactivation chirps rang out, he said, “Sorry.”

Facing forward, Zerki allowed a smile of her own as she sat down beside him.

Gavin drove along aisles of prized sports cars, past a half-dozen sky cars, to the front gates.  They rolled aside as he got close, and he idled the buggy out onto Gilrenk’s private drive, back into the storm.  Curtains of willow trees parted as the buggy approached, and they fell back into place as it passed.  Before long, they came to the main coastal highway and accelerated out onto its pitted and crumbling surface.

·· • ··

Although travel was much swifter on the road than it had been driving along the coast, it was nearly midnight before they had returned to Kore.  Gavin drove the buggy to an open spot close to where they had first met Thamsummu, and after gathering their belongings, he and his companions disembarked.  The nighttime air was wet and bitter cold, and few of the locals were out.  For a moment, Zerki considered staying another night, but D’Arro glanced to the briefcase and cautioned her against it.  Reluctantly, she agreed, and wearily, they all boarded the shuttle.

Environmental regulators engaged as Zerki ran through her preflight checklist, and the air soon warmed.  They settled in, and Kore’s automated space traffic control system took over.  It guided them safely away from Huya, out into the endless starry night.

They docked with the
Sanguine Shadow
directly.   As soon as they stepped onto the observation deck, Zerki and her companions were greeted exuberantly by a host of hopeful shipmates.  She assured them that things had gone very well and vowed to call an all-hands meeting after she had gotten some sleep.

D’Arro, Taryn, Takeo, Gavin and Valerie exchanged good byes and good nights, and they made their way to their respective quarters.

Gavin stood before his cabin door, but he paused short of placing his palm upon the scanner.  Although drained, nearing exhaustion, he realized he wasn’t quite ready for sleep.  He shuffled back to the observation deck, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down on one of the couches to gaze out at the stars.

“Can’t sleep?”

Surprised, Gavin turned tired eyes to Valerie.  “Not yet.  I’m still digesting.  Decompressing.  Mentally.”

“Good idea,” she said, and she covered her mouth.  She closed her eyes briefly and loosed a faint squeak at the end of a prolonged yawn.

“What, mentally decompressing?”

Valerie shook her head, pointing toward his hands.  “That too, but I meant the coffee.”

“Here,” he said with a chuckle and handed her his cup.

She smiled graciously and took it.  “Aw, that was nice of you!”  She sat down next to him, hunched over her knees as she enjoyed the warmth it brought to her hands.  Steam rose from its surface, drifting up along her chin and cheeks.  She closed her eyes and took in the rich scent of it.  After a moment, she looked to him and asked, “You aren’t going to get some for yourself?”

“That’s the last of it, and I don’t know how to use a coffee maker.”

Valerie said, “It’s not hard.”  She sipped from the cup and motioned it toward him.

“No, I gave it to you,” he insisted.

Valerie raised her brows and tilted her head slightly.  “I’m not giving it back,” she said.  “I’m sharing.”

Gavin laughed, took a sip and passed it back.  They talked about Huya, about the people they met, and how cold it got.  They talked about willow trees and constrictor vines that could move on their own, and they talked about Gilrenk’s wondrous palace.  When the coffee was gone, she slipped her arm around his elbow, hugging it close as she leaned into him.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No,” she said.  She closed her eyes and sleepily smiled.

Chapter 15

The following morning, Valerie, Gavin, Taryn and Takeo sat together in the mess hall, talking quietly, enjoying their eggs and biscuits.  It wasn’t long before Filan appeared at the doorway wrapped in a blanket, drawing their attention.  Her eyes immediately befell Takeo, and she grinned.

Beaming, he rushed to her side and helped her over.

Visibly relieved, Taryn hugged Filan close.

“Not so tight,” muttered Filan.  “The solder is still kind of brittle.”

With a raised brow, Taryn withdrew and regarded her.  “Solder?”

Hugging her upper arms, Filan’s skin glowed faintly as she explained, “My bio-circuits.”

“Oh.”  She looked suddenly very sheepish.  “Sorry.”

Filan returned a warm smile.  “No, it’s okay.  You couldn’t have known.”

A moment later, they sat down with the others, giving themselves to cheerful chatter.  Takeo got back in line and soon returned with another plate of breakfast food.  He set it before Filan and took a seat next to her.

“How are you?” he asked, his expression a mix of joy and concern.

“Sore,” she answered, and she gently pressed her sides.  “Mostly in here, now.  My arms and legs feel pretty good this morning.”  Taking her fork, she hunched over her plate and scooped scrambled eggs into her mouth.  “Pretty hungry, too.”  She glanced up from her food and cast Takeo a teasing smile.  “Did you miss me?”

“Very much,” he answered.  “I think you would’ve loved it down there.”

They told her all about their trip to Huya.  She listened intently, laughing brightly at Takeo’s humorous retelling of his short-lived and bramble-filled trip into the overgrowth, and at Gavin’s comical tales of travel along the coast.  She hugged Takeo sidelong as Taryn and Valerie described all the wonders they had seen at Gilrenk’s mansion.

Although long finished with their food, they were still at the table when Zerki summoned her crew to the briefing room.  They got to their feet and soon joined the others in the forward section of the hauler.  Zerki smiled upon seeing Filan, and she bowed her head from across the crowd.  Filan cheerily returned the gesture.

Zerki looked to Collins.  “Can I please get a head count?”

Collins silently moved his lips as he tallied those present.  After a moment, he said, “Looks like everyone’s here.”  He quickly added, “Except Krane and D’Arro, since they’re manning the bridge.”

“Thanks.”  She cleared her throat and announced, “Everyone, your attention please!”  After her crew had quieted, she said, “We sold the salvage, as you know.  That’s no huge surprise.  These days, it isn’t hard to find buyers for scrap, but our particular buyer was in a generous mood.”  She allowed a moment for excited whispers to circulate.  “Of course, I can’t disclose the exact details, but everyone’s getting a merit bonus of 4,000 cash credits after this meeting concludes.”

A cheer rang out, followed by clapping, hugs and high-fives.

She raised her hands, and the crowd fell silent.  “When I give the word, please form a line over by Collins.  He’ll be passing out the money.”  Reaching down to the holographic display table, she called up a bright world, its surface dressed in gold, green and alabaster.  “This is Varuna, our next stop.  I’ve already booked a night’s stay for everyone at the VelAquant, as it’s the only 5-star hotel down there that’s in synch with our ship time.  Most everyone’s doubled up, so be sure to see Ms. Sawyer for your room assignments.”  She advanced the presentation, and several scenes appeared depicting their luxurious hotel destination.  “Two days and one night, and I’ll be giving everyone an additional 1,000 cash credits in spending money when it’s time to pass out the room keys.”