Change Horizons: Three Novellas (13 page)

Jitters traveled up and down EiLeen’s spine as she sat in the co-pilot / navigator seat again. “The initial findings after retrieving a space sample are bothersome. They’re not close, but more than ten hours ago, someone decloaked for a few moments, probably just enough to determine our position. They’re cloaked again and closing in.” EiLeen sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “We have no way of knowing how close, only that it’s uncomfortably so.”

“There’s a way to reach the space station faster, but it’ll blow the whistle for all ships within the sector as to our presence. I didn’t really see that as an option, but if they’ve already made us we should consider it.”

“So we tear in there, guns blazing, and steal another ship. That defies the purpose of going there in the first place, doesn’t it?”

“Not if we obtain a faster ship.”

“
If
being the operative word.” EiLeen looked out the view port. The star pattern whisked by them, as Dana was using every single resource the propulsion system could produce. “I’m going to have to sacrifice myself in order for you to get away. They’re not really interested in you.”

“What?” Dana stared at her, clearly aghast. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh, calm down. I don’t mean literally. Do keep up.” EiLeen barely stopped a chuckle. “I meant, let them think I’ve sacrificed myself.” She grew solemn. “I’m sure they realize the importance of what I’m about to take to the unit on Revos Prime. I would indeed sacrifice myself rather than let it fall into enemy hands. But if it did, it might reignite the war, with almost all the advantages on the enemy side.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Dana said, speaking through her teeth.

“Oh, trust me, I don’t feel like cutting my existence short by any means.” She locked her gaze on Dana’s. “Especially now.”

Suddenly looking flustered, Dana busied herself with the controls. “So how do we fake your demise then, my Queen?”

Narrowing her eyes at the facetious way Dana used her former title, EiLeen spoke rapidly. “I have an idea, but we need to be on the space station for it to fool anyone. Can you get us there faster,
Captain
, or were you just bragging?”

“Oh, just for future reference, I never brag.” Dana laughed, suddenly sounding reenergized. “I deliver.”

It was EiLeen’s turn to feel her cheeks warm. Damn it. Every time she thought she had the upper hand with this woman, Dana did or said something to put her in her place. EiLeen returned her eyes to the stars. Normally, such behavior would frustrate her, but truth be told, she rather liked it.

*

Dana felt quite proud that she got them to the infamous space station so quickly. As soon as it showed up on short-range sensors, EiLeen had gotten up and started walking back and forth between the bathroom and the sleeping area.

“We’ll dock in ten minutes,” Dana said, working the controls. “Care to tell me your plan?”

“Sure, since you’re going to have to do all the acting.”

Dana flinched. “What the…what acting?”

“Easy, really. We’re going to set the self-destruct sequence on mute and leave the ship. I’ll sneak off among the riffraff populating this station wearing a disguise, and you’ll put on the best act of a lifetime when our shuttle explodes into smithereens. In the commotion, we steal another ship and take off.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Dana said weakly. “Disguise, by the way. Disguised as what?”

“As this.” EiLeen stood and pulled on a large piece of fabric, looking suspiciously like
Koenigin-
issue bed sheets. Letting it cover half her face and all of her signature gunmetal-gray hair, EiLeen hunched over and moved with difficulty. “I’m your servant, Moi, remember?”

“Stars and skies, EiLeen. You’ve missed your calling.” Dana gawked. In less than a few seconds, EiLeen, former queen and the most regal person in the universe, had disappeared, and in her place stood a hunched-over, meek-looking old woman. “If that doesn’t pull it off, nothing will.”

“Thank you. Now, your job is to set the muted self-destruct and act heartbroken when I’m dead.”

Even though the words were spoken with irony, the meaning of them still sent cold shivers throughout Dana’s system. “All right.”

A gentle hand on her shoulder made her look up at EiLeen’s violet eyes. She was still in character, but her eyes were…hers. “Better not look too closely at anyone. Your eyes are stunning—and very special.”

“Noted.” EiLeen caressed Dana’s cheek quickly and then went to sit down as they approached the space station.

*

Dana watched EiLeen scurry between the people crowding the gate areas. She looked exactly who she intended to emulate: a lowly servant, running an errand for her intimidating boss. Dana walked through the gate at a slower pace, checking her chronometer as she handed her information to the gatekeeper. The walkway leading to the ship was two hundred meters long, which should keep the station and surrounding ships safe. Should. With explosions you never knew.

Counting backward in her head, Dana kept the gatekeeper busy, not wanting him to go down the walkway to check on the moorings. Some gatekeepers did, even at run-down gambling joints like this.

“Nature of your business?” the gatekeeper asked, sounding utterly bored.

“Just to place a few bets and have our propulsion system cool off. It’s been acting kind of weird lately.”

“How many on your ship?”

“Just three. A friend, myself, and a servant.”

“So one still onboard—” The man was thrown forward at the blast and clung to his desk.

As prepared as she was, Dana felt herself go pale. “No, no! EiLeen!” She tried to think how it would’ve felt if EiLeen really had been on board the shuttle. It wasn’t hard to force the tears; in fact, they streamed freely as she sank to her knees. She was fully aware that even the most run-down stations kept state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. These cameras and sensors were directed at her and their gate right now. “Oh, stars, no…no…” She hid her face in her hands and cried. “What the hell went wrong? What happened?”

“Lady, are you all right?” A man to her left grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to her feet. “That your ship?”

“Yes. And my, my friend. She was resting…I have to find my servant.”

“Here. Sit down and catch your breath.” The man seemed kind, but Dana knew better than to trust anyone at a station like this. He had patted her down pretty well already, no doubt looking for something he could get his hands on. She played along, keeping her hands in her pockets, curled around her muted communicator and her weapon.

The man looked soulfully at her. “This must be so horrible for a young thing like yourself. My name is Boransh. I have a small shuttle a few gates down. Why don’t you allow me to give you a place to stay?”

“Yeah? A ship where I could perhaps…rest?”

“Exactly.” He beamed. “You have a servant?”

“Yes. Could she come too?” Dana widened her gaze deliberately, hoping she wasn’t overdoing it. Either Boransh wasn’t used to sly women or he was a sucker for tears, even if he was nothing but a thief.

“Absolutely. As long as she wouldn’t mind waiting on me as well. Is she young? Like you?” He actually licked his lips at the thought. His teeth had seen better days and his divided tongue suggested he came from Hioros One, a small desert planet mainly known for its metal ores. The indigenous population was hardened and lived a tough life unless they managed to emigrate to any of their prosperous, lush neighboring worlds. Clearly Boransh hadn’t gotten out fast enough. His skin and teeth carried the evidence of the heavy metal–infused atmosphere.

“She’s mature, but a hard worker. I have to find her and tell her about EiLeen. It’s important.” Dana trembled visibly, which wasn’t hard. She hated not having EiLeen in her sight. What if she’d run into even bigger trouble here than what they fled from?

“You do so. I’m docked at the fourth gate from here, that way.” Boransh pointed to the left. I’ll be there to greet you, beautiful.”

Nearly gagging at the man’s leering expression, Dana hoped she looked sufficiently teary-eyed and grateful. “You have no idea what this means. I’d be stuck here forever and unable to pay my way—”

“Oh, we’ll find a very easy way for you to pay your way.” Boransh chuckled. “Very easy.”

“Thank you.” Dana stood. “I’ll be back as soon as I find my servant.”

“Good.” Boransh nodded and strode toward his ship.

The gatekeeper had found his bearings and was now looking for Dana with rage on his face. “Where the hell’s that woman?” he bellowed as she hurried around the corner. “I demand she reimburse us. Her damn ship destroyed the whole walkway. Where is she?”

It was a good thing that everyone on the station was most likely looking out for themselves and no one else. Unless they offered a reward, nobody would put any effort into locating Dana and handing her over. She ran between the people populating the run-down station. Most of them looked like they were there as a last resort, hoping to win some credits, and others looked wealthy but desperate for a juicy adventure. Dana was only desperate to locate EiLeen.

Her pocket buzzed and she stopped, stepping into a dark alley-like corridor. “Yes. Where are you?” she hissed into the communicator.

“I saw you just now, but not anymore.” EiLeen spoke fast. “I’m outside an interesting-looking establishment called Royal Laser Tattoos. Sounds like something for me, right?”

“I think I saw that sign. I’m in the alley just ahead of it on my left.”

“What a cute little thing, in search of a real man, right?” someone rasped behind Dana. “I’ll pay you ten credits for your hand. Just your hand.”

“Get lost.” Dana gave the burly man a disdainful look. “Not interested.”

“Fool of a woman. I would’ve paid you. Now you get nothing and I still get what I want.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

Dana pocketed the communicator and growled impatiently as she hit the man on his larynx and then kicked him between his legs. He was already going down after the first blow but actually fainted after she kicked him.

“I can’t leave you alone for a moment.” EiLeen’s voice from a few meters away made Dana pivot and run up to her. Throwing her arms around her, she closed her eyes for a moment.

“Thank the stars. I acted out the bloody scene so well I nearly believed myself. It was disturbing.”

“Hush. I’m fine and so, I can see, are you. He doesn’t look too happy, though. I think his testicles are forever fused to his tonsils. Sucking his thumb could be the only pleasure he requires from now on.”

Shocked, and suddenly rather giggly, Dana pulled EiLeen with her, making sure her bed-sheet-turned-shawl covered her properly. “I have a ship for us. No idea about its crew or status, but I have a new protector who, and I quote, ‘will find a very easy way for me to pay my way.’”

“Is that so?” EiLeen spoke icily. “I look forward to meeting this honorable individual.”

“Damn. Don’t blow our cover. I can handle myself, you just saw that.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy you having to humor yet another sleazy character.” The distaste was evident in EiLeen’s voice. “Guess we shouldn’t keep your enamored shipowner waiting.”

“Cute. Really.” Dana glanced around the corner, making sure nobody was paying attention to them. The odds that someone would among this motley crowd were pretty high, but she’d rather be sure. “All right,
Moi
, time to go find our ride.”

“Yes, ma’am,” EiLeen said with sugary meekness. She followed two steps behind Dana, her head bowed. Dana regarded their image in one of the shop windows, thinking how alien this undercover role-play had to be for EiLeen. Granted, for all she knew, EiLeen could have been involved in even more humbling covert operations, but somehow she doubted it. Surely SC intelligence used this woman primarily for her contacts among the high and mighty?

Locating the gate was the least of their problems. Making their way without alerting the gate official who might recognize Dana as the captain of the exploded shuttle was the first challenge. Dana did a quick detour around the gate area, with Moi right behind her, wondering if there was another route to the ship they intended to steal. “Damn, how am I supposed to walk right by this fool?” she muttered under her breath, unprepared when EiLeen tugged gently at her hair. “What are you doing?”

“Let it down. Right now. He’s moving through the crowd this way with two grim-looking fellows flanking him. Your hair transforms you completely. Come on!”

Not sure it would work, Dana did as told, wrapping her hair around her in the same manner as EiLeen wore her shawl, covering most of her face. They strode past the shouting crowd and nobody even as much as glanced at them.

The gate walkway leading down to Boransh’s ship smelled increasingly worse as they neared the docking doors.

“Oh, this is bad.” Dana moaned. “I have a feeling his ship will be even more insufferable.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing a sprinkle of perfume can fix. Show some courage, Captain.”

“Hey, no insolence permitted, Moi.” Dana glanced over her shoulder, knowing her quick grin gave her away. “As for sprinkling perfume, we’ll need a damn perfume factory.”

“No kidding.”

As they reached the airlock, the doors opened with an ear-splitting screech.

“Hello, Boransh, how about some oil on those tracks, eh?”

The man just stared at her, looking speechless. “Excuse me?”

“The sound? That noise that renewed my tinnitus for the next decade?” Dana tilted her head, frowning. “Boransh?”

“Fuck, it
is
you. I didn’t recognize you at first. I…you took down your hair. I never could’ve dreamed—” He reached out for her, but the mere thought of him touching her, especially as he hadn’t cleaned his hands, or nails, in a long time, made her shudder.

Forcing a smile, Dana acted coy in a playful way. “Uh-uh. I’d like to see our quarters.”

“You’ll be set up fit for a queen, don’t you worry your pretty head. Your servant will bunk with the rest of the crew.” Boransh licked his lips.