Mercenary Courage (Mandrake Company) by Lionsdrake Ruby

Author:Lionsdrake, Ruby [Lionsdrake, Ruby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Published: 2015-02-13T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Viktor was tired of his own thoughts. Without access to the network so he could research his suspicions, so he could relieve his curiosity, there was no point in thinking them. A half a day in jail, and he was already longing for his punching bag so he could relieve the tension in his limbs. Instead, he did pushups. He had stopped counting long ago. He simply performed them until his muscles gave way and he had to drop to the floor. Then he rested, contemplated how he could possibly trick the sensors into thinking there was a fire in his cell, and did another round.

“Visitor for Mandrake,” someone up the corridor said. A buzz sounded, and a door lock was released.

Viktor jumped to his feet and thought about grabbing his shirt—he had removed it so he wouldn’t sweat in it, having no idea when he might get to bathe or do laundry next. Most likely, it would be Borage returning with news, but he found himself hoping to see Ankari stroll into view, a quirky smile on her lips. He wouldn’t mind being caught shirtless for her.

Stop it, he told himself. Thoughts of nudity, and what nude people did together, were not the priority. The priority was his need to know that she was all right, that his impulsiveness in the burning pet store hadn’t resulted in trouble for her. He also felt bad that he had walked away, the flex-cuffs securing his wrists, without looking back and meeting her eyes in some silent exchange that might have let her know how much he cared. But if the security guards had not known she was with him, he hadn’t wanted to be the one to alert them.

“Mandrake again?” someone else responded, the guard on the inside of the cellblock most likely. “Who knew that thug would be so popular?”

“Jealous, Marks?”

“Nah. So far, it’s only been men who visited him. If anything with breasts comes to see him, then I might be jealous.”

“Anything? I didn’t know you had such low standards. Maybe that pet store that blew up has some apes that would do.”

Viktor ignored the rest of their lewd banter, because his visitor had walked into view. Captain Xu. Still clad in his black Fleet uniform, he stopped in front of the cell, clasped his hands behind his back, and stared at Viktor. His bronze face was unreadable. His almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, but that might have signified irritation, scrutiny, or thoughtfulness. Viktor folded his arms across his chest and stared back. He stood six inches taller than the man, and his biceps were probably larger around than Xu’s thighs, but the captain did not look like someone who was intimidated easily.

“What were you doing in that pet store, Mandrake?” Xu asked.

Viktor had anticipated a half a dozen questions, with inquiries about the alien technology chief among them. This hadn’t been on his list.

“Getting lab rats for my microbiologist,” he said, suspecting the truth would sound ridiculous enough that Xu wouldn’t believe him.

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