Rogue Pursuit: A Space Opera Adventure (Shades of Starlight Book 1), page 17
“If you don’t start playing, the boss’ll be mad.” Tai’s neighbor nudged him. “Then, once you’re desperate enough to leave, it’ll be you down there on the floor. Or your crew.”
Perrin. Shades. He didn’t want her anywhere near that madness.
Tai played the next hand, bet conservatively, and ended up with two people, two weapons, and a thunderhawk.
As his team filed out, he clenched a fist. He hated putting others in danger. The act went against everything he worked for. How many truly fought voluntarily, and how many had no other choice?
His people lifted their weapons. The hawk’s cry pierced the arena.
When Tai became boss, though, this would be his job—assessing the skills of his people, assigning the ones most likely to succeed, with the knowledge some might not come home. It was what his mom did every day. What she’d done with Kel.
Maybe that was why she assigned Tai the boring jobs, so she knew he’d be safe.
His team won the round, but the small pot didn’t make up for the stress. He won two more hands, lost one, and folded on a couple.
He wished he had a sense of the hour. If Kel hadn’t been stopped by the pirates, he and Perrin were losing ground. This was a waste of time. A little over a week remained before his hearing, and if he wasn’t home in time, they’d assume his guilt.
No choice, though. The alternative was losing their ship. Or becoming one of the people in the arena below. Or possibly getting fed to the serpent sharks.
He finally noticed Perrin in the stands, sitting with the head pirate. Their relaxed expressions and open body language when they spoke, now and before, implied a previous relationship. Surely not the ex she’d mentioned? A pirate wouldn’t venture all the way to the Conservatory for drinks at an aquarium bar. But she likely came this way often. Did she bribe the pirates? Help them? Did they let her pass because Digger found her cute?
He found that possibility more disturbing than he should have.
He swapped two cards, half his mind on the game, the rest wondering about this place.
The materials and supplies, the food to feed these people, the luxury items.
Where did they get everything? They had to have help. Simply hijacking ships passing through the region wouldn’t provide this much. Why had no one stopped them? They didn’t attempt to hide their activities. They didn’t even stay mobile—they owned an entire shaded moon.
Time to do what he trained for—be a spy.
The pirates might’ve been criminals, but they weren’t shy about it. In fact, being around them made him realize what a skilled liar Perrin was in contrast.
In theory, he’d known pirates patrolled the outer reaches. The Confed let them be, though, since warfare was difficult. Tai wished he could help somehow, but if these people caught a whiff that he worked for the Confed, he was toast. Perrin, too, by association.
When he got home, he’d ask to lead a team here. He’d gather inside knowledge now, and if he convinced the pirates he belonged, maybe they’d welcome him back.
Between dealing and swapping and betting and praying no one below died, he struck up a conversation with the helpful player to his left, a middle-aged man with a scar on his face.
His training in asset development led him to quickly discover the man had come from Nyloss, joined the pirates when he couldn’t land a mining job, and had a weakness for chewing snuff. The guy on his right once worked for a public transit company, grew tired of bribing the pirates, and gave in and became one. Tai decided not to dwell too long on what life circumstances could force him into making a similar choice. He hoped none.
When they asked about him, he fed them a vague line about exploring the galaxy and seeking adventure, and found he didn’t entirely hate the idea of the picture he painted.
Trust had been established. Time to shift the topic.
“You have an impressive selection of goods here. Where do you get everything?”
“You know, the usual. Stop some rich ships from the primaries. Raid a few wealthier outposts. Payment from shippers who want safe passage, or smugglers who work with us.”
Tai grimaced as he watched his female pirate not much older than Perrin fight a hulking soldier with nothing more than a plasma knife. But his suspicions had been correct—she knew how to use the weapon, and Tai won the hand.
His gut squirmed with the feeling of being good at something he didn’t want to be good at. He played only the hands he had to, when he held a group with a good chance of success. He learned the old woman blinked more with a good hand, so he folded. The young guy tightened his jaw when bluffing, and Tai called him.
Someone down the table guffawed. “Did you hear about the Confed shipment we stopped last week? Whole cargo holds full of sugarcane.”
Tai debated whether to pursue the subject. “What will you do with it?”
“The boss’ll let someone take most of it to the colonies, but of course we’ll keep some.”
“One of those smugglers?” he asked his neighbor.
“Yep. Got one or two who work with us regular. The boss, he took a real liking to one, younger’n he is. Pretty little thing, I hear.”
The guy on Tai’s other side leaned around Tai to continue the conversation. “She brings the best chocolate, straight from that Cobalt colony in Lapida.”
“And those cigars from Amber Central.”
“Ain’t had those in a while. Wonder if the boss can make a request.”
Confed shipments. The Amber primary world. Cobalt colonies. Pieces came together in Tai’s head.
“She sounds like something.” He flicked a chip into the pot like he didn’t care. “She single?”
The man laughed. “Was dating someone for a while. Boss was real bummed out. He heard that ended and thought of venturing farther in to find her.”
“Hard to pin down, that one. Always flying. Boss liked her jewels, if you know what I mean. Fiery one.”
The pieces locked into place. A shipper who traveled in three empires. Young, pretty, and fiery. The way she’d known how to greet the pirates.
Shades, he’d been an idiot.
The smuggler they were talking about was Perrin.
17
Tai should’ve been shocked. Instead, what he felt was disgust with himself for not seeing the truth sooner.
How stupid had he been, falling for Perrin’s lies? Falling for her? Clearly his mother had been right. He wasn’t ready for field work if a pretty face, quick tongue, and adventurous spirit were enough to blind him to the truth.
Why had she agreed to help him? Did she do more than smuggle? Was she part of the revolution?
A cauldron of fury simmered inside him.
To hide his emotion, he asked, “I don’t suppose she brings firedraught? I could use a drink.”
His neighbor slapped Tai’s back. “Good man. Haven’t had a case of that in a while, but there’s some right fine Amber whiskey.” He lifted a hand, and a girl brought out drinks.
Tai ignored the whiskey, but the request had kept the pirates from noticing his distraction.
Time to end this.
As soon as he had a solid hand, Tai bet aggressively. Three hands later, he held his strongest cards yet. He slow-played the betting before going all in. It was a risk—one weapon, but four highly rated people with top hand-to-hand skills that had impressed him.
Learning the truth about Perrin had given him the push he needed to be ruthless. If the other player had any large weapons, his people might be in trouble. But he was done with pirates and their games.
His anger somehow fed his players below. One took on the tigercat with nothing more than a stunner, while the others coordinated an attack on three opposing players firing a plasma cannon. After several minutes and a good deal of bloodshed, Tai won. The crowd roared, and the other players applauded him. His team was allowed to go free, and they craned their heads back and saluted him.
Despite helping four people win freedom, he felt dirty, itchy. Like his skin fit too tight.
In his quest to prove he was a good guy, was he becoming no better than the bad guys he wanted to catch?
He shoved away from the table. “Are we done here?”
No one stopped him as he marched out.
Digger cornered him in the walkway outside the arena. “Who are you?” His words were blunt, no hint of his earlier showiness.
“No fancy language, pirate?”
“Need I remind you where you are, stranger?” Digger crossed massive arms over his chest.
“I’m no one.”
“You’re a bold card player. Who are you to the girl you’ve been asking questions about?”
“A travel companion.” Tai bit out the words. “One-time thing.”
“You’re mighty curious about her.”
“I like to know who I’m working with.”
“You didn’t before?”
“Apparently not. But what she does when we aren’t working together is not my concern.”
Not yet, anyway.
“What I wonder is how you seem to know her?” Tai pressed.
“Do I? That act always works with pretty girls.”
Tai scowled.
“Oh, you’re not with her, are you? You don’t seem her type.”
“And you are?”
“Worth a shot.”
Tai knew the man was needling him on purpose and swallowed his grunt.
Digger pulled a knife from his belt and used the tip to clean his fingernails. “We may have new players to add to the deck. Shame you won too quickly. They should be entertaining. I hear they have Confed training.”
A flash of panic zapped through him. Had they captured his mom? Tai clenched his jaw. The pirate was messing with him, nothing more. “Might get more than you bargained for. Usually do with the Confed.”
Digger assessed him. “I’m well aware of that.”
They remained locked in a silent staring battle for several heartbeats.
Then Digger sheathed his knife and clapped Tai on the back hard enough to make him stumble. “Come, enjoy your win. What’s your fancy? Girls? Drink? Food? We have it all.”
Tai wanted to say leaving, but the man didn’t provide that option as he steered Tai into a room with tables surrounding a stage. Under Digger’s heavy gaze, Tai submitted to a meal of seafood he hoped wasn’t a serpent shark while he pretended to watch the song and dance show. He scanned the crowd for Perrin. No sign of her, but a mixed crowd of people. Were they all pirates? Other criminals? Or had some come from the planets in the system, taking advantage of the hospitality of their extravagant outlaw neighbors?
As soon as the show ended and he could leave without getting shot, Tai stood. He had a mission to finish. This time, Digger let him go.
He wound his way through a casino and a market. How much of this had Perrin supplied?
He found Perrin in a courtyard with a chocolate fountain, licking melted chocolate from her fingers while she and a small group listened to an old man play a stringed instrument.
“Oh, good,” she said. “You’re still alive.”
Confronting her while she relaxed with her criminal pals was a fast way to die, so he kept his face blank. “Ready to be on our way?”
“Sure. We have to officially take our leave, though.”
Yet another delay.
They tracked down Digger outside a wrestling arena.
“Thanks for the hospitality,” Perrin said. “And the not-killing-us thing.”
Now that Tai knew what to watch for, he didn’t miss the warmth in Digger’s eyes when he gazed at Perrin. “My undying gratitude to you both for a marvelous show. Should you ever find yourself in need of employment, your skill with a firearm would make you a most welcome addition to my crew.”
“Thanks for the offer.”
Digger turned to Tai. “Your strategic boldness is worthy of the Order of the Silver Cutlass.”
Tai narrowed his eyes. He didn’t want to be worthy of anything to do with these people. But he did want to leave, so he forced a curt nod.
As they turned to go, the bearded pirate from earlier stepped into their path, taking up the entire hall. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have given them my leave, Vikari. Do you have a problem with that?”
“You’re mighty fast to let new blood go, Admiral.” The man’s emphasis on Digger’s title reminded Tai of the way Perrin had called him officer, except with less respect. “Best take care no one suspects you’ve gone soft.”
Digger casually slid his knife from his belt and pretended to inspect the hilt. “If you can think of someone who suspects that, I’d be happy to… discuss… the matter with them.”
The last thing Tai needed was to be caught in the middle of a pirate power battle. He placed a hand on Perrin’s arm and eased toward the wall as the men faced off. She caught on, shifting away slowly.
“I’m sure you would,” Vikari sneered. “All you want to do is talk.”
“Does no one understand subtext anymore?” Digger rolled his eyes and raised the knife higher. Over Vikari’s shoulder, he caught Tai’s eye and nodded ever so slightly toward the door.
Tai took Perrin’s hand. He would’ve had no problem leaving her with her pirate friends, but not if things were about to get ugly. Besides, he needed answers.
Digger and Vikari began to circle.
As soon as Vikari’s back was turned, Tai tugged Perrin around the nearest corner. He kept hold of her hand. If they ran, every pirate on the moon would suspect escape and try to stop them. Seemed she knew that, as she matched her slow pace to his.
Of course. As a smuggler, she was an expert in sneaking.
They made their way through the complex in silence. Every word Tai longed to say to her stewed inside him, seasoned with fury.
A few pirates rushed past them, heading toward Digger and Vikari. In the next room, several muttered under their breaths and eyed each other. When they neared the exit, one yelled, “Vik’s making his move,” and Tai and Perrin had to flatten themselves against the wall as the pirates cleared out.
When the room was empty, Perrin stared after them. “I hope Digger’s okay.”
“Just be grateful the distraction is allowing us to leave. Let’s go.”
As they balanced on the floating walkway, the serpent sharks were nowhere to be seen. Tai kept a quick pace in case anyone decided to stop them.
Once they reached the ship, without getting shot in the back, he focused on the matter of questioning Perrin. Should he ask her leading questions and give her a chance to be honest? Or straight-up confront her?
“I asked around,” she said as they walked to the bridge. “A ship came through that could’ve been your partner. He bribed the pirates and left through the wormhole near the seventh planet’s moon.”
“If the pirates said something, by all means, let’s trust them.” Now that Tai knew the truth, he saw everything in a new light. “Kel.”
“What?”
“His name is Kel.”
“Yeah…”
“You’ve never said his name. It’s always ‘your partner’ or ‘your friend.’” Yet another piece locked into place. “Did you know him?”
“Don’t you think I would’ve told you?” She continued striding toward the bridge.
“Like you told me you’re a smuggler?”
Her steps barely faltered. “You never asked.”
At least she didn’t try to deny it. He stalked her to the bridge and spun her to face him. “Shades, Perrin.”
“Wow, you’re using my real name. Things must be serious.”
“Tell me why I shouldn’t call this in right now.”
She crossed her arms and scowled at him. “Because your mother thinks you’re in a cabin in the mountains like a good boy.”
He swallowed a growl. “Then tell me why I shouldn’t leave you here with the criminals you’re obviously friends with.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Because the wormhole Kel went through is a tetradic, and you don’t even know what that means, let alone how to navigate it.” She rose on her toes and leaned in, a challenge.
He ground his teeth, wishing she weren’t so right. Or so smug. “Do you want to help me, or have you been sabotaging my search the entire time?”
“If I were sabotaging you, I wouldn’t have saved your life in the desert. And you’d be much more than a day behind him.”
“Kel. His name is Kel. Say it.”
She threw her hands up. “Kel. I know him. Knew him. Whatever. Is that what you want to know?”
“There are so many things I want to know, it’ll take weeks.” He clenched his fist and pounded the console. Part of him wanted to follow through on the threat to leave her behind. The more logical part said he needed to learn as much as possible. He pointed a finger, inches from her face. “We’re flying to that wormhole now, and as we do, you’re going to tell me everything. Because you obviously want to find him too, and as much as I hate it, I still need you.”
She raised her chin and swatted his hand aside. “So, where’s the incentive for me to be honest?”
“Because you’re right, you have helped me. And if you give me a satisfactory answer, I’ll consider not arresting you when this is over.”
They glared at each other, faces inches apart. The temperature of the bridge had risen several degrees. He glanced at her lips, set in a firm line. He jerked himself away and sat with a thump.
He fired up the engines and focused on lifting off without clipping a wing on the rocks, then set a course for the planet she’d mentioned. Crossed his arms and glared at her, where she remained standing. “Talk. No lies. Or I’ll show you how I aced my advanced interrogation techniques class.”
“Fine. Yes, I smuggle. Yes, I know the pirates. Yes, I knew Kel. Which of these uncomfortable topics and personal secrets should I spill first?”
