Star Keeper (Galactic Shield Book 4) by J.N. Chaney & Scott Moon

Author:J.N. Chaney & Scott Moon [Chaney, J.N. & Moon, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2023-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

22

Two glorified footpaths brought us into familiar territory. I saw space needles reaching up to platforms lost in the haze of the atmosphere and wondered at the disparity between what was above and what was below. Modern didn’t mean prosperous and ancient didn’t mean dilapidated. The passages we left behind had been engineered on a foundation of volcanic glass. Clawed feet had traversed them for thousands of years without serious erosion.

The fringe of Bipek City lacked construction that would last the ages. Everything in sight looked ready for replacement, including the people and the clothing they wore. While bright colors were in fashion with the younger Raziks, the materials of their outfits faded quickly. Shirts stretched in odd places. Pants split at the knees and frayed at the hemlines.

We stopped on a street crammed with imitation cave apartments. Most were in disrepair. All were marked with crude graffiti. This was nothing like the art Katrina Snow created on Jenna’s World. I could imagine her sneering at the obvious gang markers—warnings against trespass and at least one inscription that stated Hakdra was a punk.

I pointed at the off-color phrases. “That guy seems popular.”

“Hakdra is a common name among police officers. It goes back to a class system we abandoned a long time ago. I think I know who this man was. Before I was called to serve as Justak, this area had a Corporal Hakdra Kann. He kept crime low but wasn’t much better than the criminals he beat down. Word was he made captain, or retired. Rumors vary.”

“Why is that tolerated?” Kyn asked.

“It isn’t,” Mach snapped. He cursed at his radio, tried several channels, and dropped it into a pocket of his tactical vest. “Raziks make terrible witnesses. They want the problem removed, but once an arrest is made, few can be bothered to show up in a court of law. Add intimidation and bribery to the mix and it is an imperfect system.”

“That would present many difficulties,” Kyn said.

I kept my mouth shut. My experience with police corruption and what it took to launch an internal investigation was complicated. One of my friends lost his career to what he claimed were false allegations—though we both understood it was more complicated than he made it sound. More than a few investigations had been aimed at me and my crew, and to be fair, we pushed the rules to the breaking point more often than not.

I stared toward the spaceport and the spire that marked it. Local ships and containers were slowly raised along rails disappearing into clouds. The gray day suited my mood. I needed to eat and sleep for half a week. Momentary fatigue distorted my vision. Humans weren’t meant for this place. Bipek City and Razik-doom was far more alien than we pretended it was.

“Are you well, Breaker?” Kyn asked.

“Just missing the team and hoping I’m doing the right thing.”

“You are pursuing dangerous criminals. My faith in your judgment is absolute.”

I laughed and patted him roughly on his upper arm.

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