Wrath of the Void Strider (44 page)

Zerki approached a large, plastic crate and lifted free its lid.  For a moment, she studied Filan and asked, “Are you a medium or a small?”

“Small,” she answered and stepped closer to the crate as Zerki dug through it.  Before she could make sense of its contents, Filan found a wad of heavy cloth sailing through the air toward her chest.  She caught it and glanced back to her captain.

“Thank God.”  Reaching into the container, she retrieved two more and lobbed them to Takeo and Fogg, each in turn.  “Now everyone’s got one.”

Filan unfurled her prize.  Made of heavy black material, stitched with crimson thread, she beheld a finely crafted jacket.  Upon the left shoulder was a circular Union flag, cradled in a wave of cresting stars, seated over the words, “GUAW Merchant Star Navy.”  On the right shoulder, a triangular patch depicted a
Moray
-class star freighter with the
Sanguine Shadow
’s name and registry designation.  Over the left breast pocket, she found a shield emblazoned with a striking claw and the words, “D’Arro’s Angels.”

Hugging it close for only a moment, she beamed as she put it on.  With a delighted squeak, she embraced Zerki enthusiastically enough to send her stumbling.  “Thank you, Captain!”

“I’m glad you like it.”  She stood back and glanced toward the hatch across from her.  “Whoever wants to join me is welcome on the bridge.”

A moment later, Zerki sat before the helm.  “Let’s get back.  I think the
Shadow
misses us.”  They all settled in and fell to quiet chatter as the shuttlecraft lifted off and raced for the stars.  Within moments, their star freighter came into view.

Zerki corrected for approach. 

With the grace of a leviathan, the lengthy starship drifted, buoyed by the void, coated entirely in a certain sort of black.  Where light touched the outer hull directly, the otherwise inky paint appeared to be the color of blood.  Cones of light brightly bathed her name.

Her main hangar bay’s massive teeth lit up along their seam, and the doors pulled open, sliding away from each other along curved tracks.  The shuttle set down, and shop lights recessed in the ceiling brightly illuminated the interior as the hangar doors sealed shut.  The vast chamber pressurized.

“Welcome home,” said Zerki.

They crossed the bay and ascended to the observation deck.  Stepping off, they were greeted by cheers and applause.  Collins soon stood between Zerki and D’Arro.  Taryn, Takeo, Filan, Cajun and Fogg stayed out in the corridor, talking and laughing.  Krane, Jenn and Buck manned the bridge, and Valerie stole away to Gavin’s quarters.

She stepped inside as he was setting down his things.  “Hi, Valerie,” he said with a happy smile.

“Hi, Gavin,” she said.  “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“Nothing important,” chuckled Gavin, and he stretched as he took in his cabin.  “It’s nice to have everyone back.”

She plopped down on his bed.  “What about Afskya?”

“It’ll never be big enough.”

“Think you could spend the rest of your life out here?”

He sat down next to her.  “Right now, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

Valerie teased, “Are you sure?  All kinds of crazy things can happen out here.”

Gavin beamed.  “I’m okay with crazy.”

“I guess you’d have to be.”   With a decisive nod, she urged, “Now, you’d better go get Taryn, before D’Arro realizes how big of an idiot he’s being.”

“There’s not much chance of that,” he said, but he paused.  “Wait… is there?”

She laughed.  “Oh, he’s coming around.  It’s just a matter of time, now.”

“Really?  I thought he took a sacred oath!  I mean, I…”  He trailed off as he lost himself in her ice blue eyes.  “I… uh…”

Valerie narrowed her gaze.  “You’re staring.”

He cleared his throat.  “I mean…  What should I say?  She’s convinced we should stay friends.”

Leaning forward, she squeezed his hands and said, “Just speak from your heart.”

“Thanks, Valerie.”  He embraced her tightly, though only for a moment before springing to his feet.  “Will you turn the lights off on your way out?”

“Of course.”  She nodded resolutely.  “Now, go!”

Wearing a nervous smile, he turned away and hurried through the bulkhead.

“Good luck,” she whispered.  Tears pooled in her eyes.  They ran along her cheeks and splashed upon her shirt.  Slowly, she climbed to her feet.  She switched off the cabin lights, closed the hatch, and stepped out into the hall.

·· • ··

A full night cycle passed, and Zerki called for her command crew to join her on the bridge.  Soon, she stood alongside Krane, Collins, D’Arro, Gavin, Valerie and her junior officers.  “Good morning, everyone.  I hope you’re all feeling rested.  Gavin, we’ll be jumping to Hygeia.”

Collins perked up.  “Why Hygeia?”

“We have eight crates of Canten’s virophage taking up space in the fridge, and a whole lot of people in dire need of some good medicine,” she explained.  “I’d hate to keep them waiting, even for an extra day.”

Valerie smiled.  “Agreed, Captain.  That’s going to piss off a few kwercian nobles.”

“As well it should.”

“I’d hate for things to get boring,” said Gavin, and he settled into the jump rig.  “I love hero’s work.”

Zerki grinned.  “Here we go,” she said, and the PLA swung into position.

The
Sanguine Shadow
vanished from New Falkirk’s voidspace.

Preview of Book 2: Path of the Time Walker

A cool breeze whipped across Singing Stones, drawing forth a harmony of song from the rocky spires for which the region was named.  Afskya’s sun gave up the last of its light, as Lodoxol stood at the threshold to Hohiro’s estate home.  Francisco strode forth.  “You’re a special agent?”  With a furious glare, he said, “I demand proof!”

“He doesn't have any,” stated Hohiro, and he stepped between his guests and the well-dressed ellogon.  “This is none other than Lodoxol, son of Perymdak, son of an assassinated Merchant King.  He is posing as a GBI agent.”  Regarding Lodoxol coolly, he muttered, “The real question is why.”  With a glance, his numerous henchmen  raised their weapons and took aim at the intruders.

Lodoxol’s eyes flashed.  “You are half correct,
eh hm
.  Indeed, my father was murdered, but I’m not pretending to be anything.”  He produced his badge and holographic certification.  Casually, he passed them into Hohiro’s waiting hand.  “There is no need.  See for yourself.”

With a furrowed brow, Hohiro scrutinized Lodoxol’s identification.  After a moment, he waved one of his men over and muttered to him in Japanese.  The other nodded and jotted several notes down on a sheet of digital paper before hurrying away.  “While my cohort verifies your claims, Special Agent Lodoxol, you would do well to remember that the Yakuza is not beholden to the laws you seek to enforce.  We retain our sovereignty, and as such you are standing on ground far outside of your jurisdiction.”  Politely, he returned Lodoxol’s badge and certification.

“I am well aware of that,
eh hm
.”  He glanced toward Amanda.  “I seek only to ask her a few questions regarding her brother, Gavin.”

“He’s our son,” asserted Francisco.  “Whatever you have to ask her, you can ask all of us.”

Lodoxol bowed slightly.  “Were that but true, Mr. Santiago.  Unfortunately, these are matters of galactic security, and if I am not allowed to consult with Amanda in private, I will simply depart,
eh hm
.  We will continue to conduct our investigation into Gavin’s acts of treason without input from any character witnesses.”  He pocketed his things.  “It makes no difference to me.”

Hohiro’s underling returned and nodded firmly.  “Thank you, Noboru,” he replied and turned his attention to Lodoxol.  “Those are serious charges.  If they are upheld, I will be left with no choice but to issue Gavin an offer of asylum under the banner of the sovereign Yakuza.”

With narrowed eyes, Lodoxol stooped low and opened his briefcase.  “This isn’t a game, Mr. Sato.  Gavin is wanted for high treason.”  He withdrew a piece of holographic paper and passed it to Hohiro.

Hohiro studied it.  “The details have been redacted.”

“The charges are no less legitimate.”

Hohiro glared.  “Give me details, special agent!”

Lodoxol shook his head.  “It’s a matter of galactic security,
eh hm
.”

Fuming, Hohiro returned the writ.  “Only with her permission, you may interview Amanda while attended by my men.”  He glanced to Amanda.

After a moment of consideration, she stepped closer and asked, “Where are we doing this?”

“Falling Snow--one of my secure rooms.  Noboru, you will lead the protection team.  Use noise cancellation preset 3 to insure Amanda and Lodoxol can only be heard by one another.”  Hohiro summoned three more of his men.  “Just you, Special Agent Lodoxol, son of Perymdak.  Your fellow agents will remain here in the foyer.”

“Just me,
eh hm
.”  He bowed politely as the men Hohiro had assembled gathered at his back.  Noboru exchanged an unseen nod with Lodoxol.  “Lead on,” he crooned, as Amanda walked behind the gunmen, following the group as they proceeded along a hallway toward the back of the complex.  They passed by several closed doors.

As they vanished from sight, Hohiro approached Francisco and Lily.  He beckoned Shira closer, and they gathered in a huddle.  “Stay alert,” he whispered.  “I can’t put my finger on why exactly, but I feel Lodoxol is planning an ambush.”  He glanced toward the supports placed at the four corners of the room.  “Should any of his men open fire, the columns will offer the most protection.  Approach them calmly.  Do it, now.”

His companions nodded and spread out around the room, moving toward the columns.

At the end of the hall, Amanda saw a heavy steel door with a gene key reader embedded in the jamb, positioned to the right of the entry panel.  One of Hohiro’s henchmen hurried on ahead and waved his wrist over the scanner.  The entry panel flashed green, and a resonant thump sounded from deep within the walls as the locks disengaged, and the door ground slowly open.

One by one, they began filing into the pristine white room beyond.  Its brightly polished marble floor was dotted with curvilinear furniture.  Glass tables propped alabaster vases filled with silver ferns and roses.  After the first three henchmen had passed through, Noboru drew a silenced pistol from the small of his back.

Before Amanda could scream, Lodoxol whirled around and took her mouth in the crook of his arm.  Noboru fired into the room, a trio of muted whistles followed by as many weighty thumps.  He closed and sealed the door.

“Well done,
eh hm
.  Your rise to
kobun
is all but assured.”

The well-dressed gunman nearly spat, “It was already assured.”

Lodoxol pressed his hand over Amanda’s mouth and nose as she struggled against him.  “Are your men in position?”

Noboru nodded.  “Of course they are!”

“Cameras?”

“Ready.”

Lodoxol narrowed his gaze.  “Are they recording?”

Noboru shook his head.  “They need thirty more seconds to reroute the feed.”

“We don’t move until they’re recording,
eh hm
.  Or all of this is for nothing!”

Muffled cries filled the air as Amanda pulled with all her might against his arm.  Her vision began to blur as her lungs burned for breath.  Her ears rang.  Against her will, her vision began to fade, and her body to relax.

“Not yet,
eh hm
,” muttered Lodoxol, and he eased Amanda down to the floor, where she slumped limply against the wall.  He drew a rag from his back pocket and gagged her with it.  When he was done, he cuffed her wrists behind her back and got to his feet.

Noboru smiled thinly.  “All cameras are rolling.”

“Splendid,
eh hm
.”

Silently, a door ahead of him drifted open, and a pair of black-clad individuals slipped into the hallway.  They set down a heavy duffle and swiftly withdrew the pieces needed to assemble a lengthy sniper rifle.  Seconds later, they had finished, and one of them took position behind the scope.  His crosshairs befell Shira Sikes, and he tapped a button on his wrist.

Lodoxol regarded his tablet, taking note of Team One’s green light.  Team Two turned green a moment later, followed by Team Four.  Team Three at last turned green, and Lodoxol wickedly grinned.  “On my mark…”  He raised his hand as Noboru waited for the signal.

Amanda cautiously opened one eye just enough to see.

Hohiro sat at his piano, his chin resting upon his knuckles.  He glanced toward Shira, Francisco and Lily, each in turn.  Shaking his head, he studied the GBI men standing in his lobby.  None of them looked to one another.  They didn’t converse.  
They’re waiting, but not for Lodoxol to return
, he thought.  His eyes widened.  As he sprang to his feet, he heard the crack of gunfire from further down the hall.

Amanda charged past Noboru and Lodoxol, startling them both, and she plowed headlong into the backs of the sniper team.  All three tumbled forward, sprawled on the ground.  Caught in the trigger, the assassin’s finger bent back and broke as his weapon toppled sideways.  His shot struck a vase just inches away from Shira, and she jumped backward.

As he lunged for her, Amanda rolled onto her back and kicked Lodoxol square in the jaw.  He yowled in pain as blood flowed into his mouth from his freshly wounded tongue.  By the time he got his bearings, Amanda had gotten back to her feet and stumbled through the nearby door.  A moment later, she crashed through the window, where she landed face first on a garden of salt crystal.  Shards bit into her skin, and she cried out as they ripped through her arms and sliced into her forehead.  The handcuffs cut into her wrists.

Noboru raised his pistol and took aim at her back as she struggled to stand.

The GBI men scrambled for cover as Hohiro and Shira drew their weapons.  He barked orders to his men, and they moved into position.  Hohiro declared targets, and the roar of gunfire filled his home.