Andromeda’s Pirate by Debra Jess

Author:Debra Jess
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: City Owl Press

Chapter Twenty-Two

She could almost see the plots and plans churning on Darvik's face. We both knew this was a possibility. She pushed that thought away so she could listen to Darvik's conversation with Rusa.

"Is this an assumption, or do we know for sure?" he asked.

"Confirmed," Rusa replied. "The station master met him at the ramp. I saw the holo Silt showed him. It's Shade."

Darvik glanced up at her, but all she could do was shrug, not surprised the Silt captain had a wanted holo of her.

"All right. Put a discreet message to the Queen's crew. They are to avoid our ship for the next twenty-four hours. They are not to remove their masks, not even when sleeping. Once we get our supplies, we'll stagger our return to the Queen of Hearts, no more than two at a time—"

A low curse from Rusa interrupted her boss. "They have deep probe scanners. It looks like they want to see below everyone's mask. Not just the commercial ones."

Darvik said nothing for a moment. Then, "My orders stand. We'll avoid them as best we can, but they don't know who you are. I'm the only recognizable member of this crew. If we make a break for it now, they'll chase us, and we can't afford that."

"I'll let the others know. Rusa out."

Darvik tossed the comm back on the counter.

"I have a better appreciation for your lack of personnel records," she said.

"It'll save them, not me, but that's the way it should be." He paused. "You'll stay here until after we have our supplies stowed. I'll contact you when it's safe for you to return."

"Safer, you mean. What happens if they start searching room to room?"

"Even with three squads, it'll take days for them to search all seven stations. They would also have to shut down any incoming and outgoing traffic. We should be long gone before then."

Darvik leaned forward for a warm, soft kiss that curled her toes. After he broke it off, he pulled a nearby long-stemmed flower with red petals, blue stigma, and yellow anthers. "I need to speak to someone about speeding along our delivery."

He stood up, heading for the bedroom, presumably to get dressed. Before he could reach the door, however, he swooped in for another kiss that seared both her lips and her soul.

"We'll find the Majesty of the Stars, Kelra. I swear it."

All she could do was smile, but deep down wondered if she would make it after all. As soon as the door reformed, her smile disappeared, and she sank her head into her hands.

Her pity party lasted for exactly six seconds, before she stood up and gathered together her mask, her ear jack, bank chip, sidearm, combat knife, and two plasma packs that Darvik had kindly left behind and maybe wouldn't miss.

Don't be stupid. He'll know you took them.

Nothing to be done about it now. If she didn't have to use the knife, then she'd put them back where she found them, and Darvik would be none the wiser.

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