Honor and Shadows by Jessie Mihalik

Author:Jessie Mihalik [Mihalik, Jessie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781641972284
Publisher: NYLA

CHAPTER SIX

We approached the city from the far side. Kee had already altered the nav log, so that the transport would report we’d spent the day east of town. I returned to the vehicle to a sleepy, uncaring clerk, then Kee and I made for Starlight’s Shadow.

“Both transports that were following us came directly here,” Kee said over the comm. “None deviated toward Eli, but they’re already moving to block our path to the ship.”

“How many people?”

“Eight so far, but two more transports are inbound. Turn left.”

Two more large transports could mean another dozen people or more. We needed to reach Starlight before they arrived.

I drew my plas pistol and turned left, following Kee’s directions as we wound our way through the dark streets at a brisk pace that caused my lungs to burn. Kee wheezed along beside me, growling under her breath, “Damned low-oxygen planet. Why don’t our bounties ever end up in some tropical paradise?”

I could just see the top of Starlight’s hull when our luck ran out. Four people stepped out in front of us, their weapons clearly visible. I’d bet good credits that the stooped, older man in front was the person who’d tried to rob me when we’d arrived.

Two of the mercs beside him were the ones who had followed us earlier, except they’d lost some of their extra layers and gained a few weapons. The woman in tan held a plas rifle cradled in her arms, and the man in black and green had a drawn pistol and a holstered plas blade.

The third mercenary was a young man in his late teens or early twenties, twitchy and nervous. He was holding his pistol too tightly with a hand that trembled. He would be trouble if things went badly.

I kept my expression even, but my smile was sharp and dangerous.

“Odd time for a walk,” the older man called.

I shrugged. “It’s a free planet.”

“Where is Megan?” he demanded.

“Who?”

“Trust me, girl, you’ll be better off if you talk to me rather than waiting until Mr. Gail gets here.”

“More people are heading this way,” Kee murmured over the comm.

“I’m not waiting for anyone. Move now or I will assume you have hostile intentions,” I said, my voice as cold as the wind tugging at my clothes. The two mercs behind the speaker held their weapons like they knew what they were doing, but the kid was clearly out of his depth. Going through them wouldn’t be my first choice, but I couldn’t wait for their backup to arrive, either.

“You’re outnumbered,” the older man said. “You’re coming with me, one way or another, but if you put down your weapons and give yourself up, I’ll let your friend go.”

He absolutely would not—I wasn’t born yesterday. “Are you sure Mr. Gail is worth dying for? I survived fighting Valoffs for a decade; I can certainly survive you. But I’m feeling generous. Leave now and I’ll pay you five hundred credits each. Stay, and I will consider you an immediate threat.”

The dent to our budget would hurt, but it was better than getting into a firefight.

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