Deus Ex Mechanic by Ryann Fletcher

Author:Ryann Fletcher [Fletcher, Ryann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, steampunk
ISBN: 9781916375000
Google: _Q56zQEACAAJ
Amazon: B0854LV98D
Publisher: Ryann Fletcher
Published: 2020-04-09T23:00:00+00:00

WHEN ALICE REACHED the Purple Pig, she pushed the door open and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She looked around, and saw Violet about to sit down at a table in a dark corner, across from a dimly lit figure with a wide brimmed hat on. Without a word, she wound her way through the tavern and sat beside Violet, giving her a questioning look.

"You remember Josie," Violet said through gritted teeth with a forced smile, "She invaded our ship, and now she’s their new captain."

Alice turned and looked at Josie, the brassy-haired woman who had been the now dead Captain Leo's second in command and navigator. "Hello, Josie." The mechanic sat up in her chair and squared her shoulders in an attempt to make herself look more intimidating. It wasn't necessary: her size made her an imposing figure to most who didn't know her.

"Josie wanted to have a chat about how we're going to supply compensation to them for killing their captain. I suggested Bradach as a neutral meeting ground, and they just arrived this afternoon. Isn't that fabulous timing?" she asked flatly.

"Compensation," Alice repeated, "for killing their captain, who almost killed Ned and threatened all our lives. Of course."

"We lost Captain Leo, and I think someone should have to pay for that, don't you?" Josie challenged. "We had to drag him off the ship ourselves, even."

"And what compensation are you asking for?" Violet asked angrily.

"We want half your food stores, and half a ton of scrap metal, so we can sell it for profit."

"Half a ton?" Violet asked incredulously, standing up out of her seat. "What kind of—"

Alice put a hand on Violet's shoulder and gently nudged her back into her seat. "Well, from where I'm sitting, Captain Violet, she might have a point."

"She what?" Violet narrowed her eyes at Alice. "They traumatized half our crew, they shot Ned!"

"Josie, listen," Alice interrupted, kicking Violet's shin under the table. "We just don't have the kind of stock you're looking for."

"Oh, uh, yes," Violet added quickly, following Alice's lead. "We don't have half a ton of scrap metal to give you. As you might know, we sustained considerable damage after the firefight with you. It has cost us over a week of repairs, as well as a substantial portion of our liquid assets."

"I've seen what goes on and off that ship," Josie protested. "I know you have it, and you're going to give it to me and my crew."

"Or what?" Violet asked innocently.

"Or we'll blow you out of the sky again," Josie replied. "It took a week of repairs to fix what we did last time, what makes you think we won't do it again?"

"Josie, I can understand—" Violet began.

"Understand what? That my captain and mentor got blown away by a rival pirate, and his body dragged off of a ship like some roadkill?"

"I can understand," Violet tried again, "that you're upset, and that he meant a lot to you. Why that is, I will never grasp, because he was a mean, vicious—"

Alice kicked her under the table again and shot her a look.

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