***
“Captain Bronwen! Such a delight to hear from you. How can I be of assistance?”
Jen arched an eyebrow as the broker’s ebullient greeting blared from her comm unit. “I’m supposed to be meeting you now, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“Yes,” Shan replied airily. “In fact, you’re late, aren’t you?”
“In fact, I’m not,” Jen retorted. “I was precisely on time. Would you mind telling your assistant to let me into your office, please? He’s being obstructive.”
“That’s in his job description, my dear. Hold on.”
The door to Shan’s office slid open, and the information broker stepped out, taking in the scene at a glance. “Oh, I see the problem,” he said smoothly, gesturing to Keera. “You have an appointment, but your companion is a new face. Introduce me, Jennifer, please—you know how much I abhor a knowledge vacuum.”
Jen didn’t miss the hard glint in his eyes. “Yeah. My bad, I should have thought of that. I’m sorry, Shan. Shan’Chael, I’d like to introduce my new crew member, Keera Naraymis, from Oceanhill. Keera, meet Shan’Chael, the best intelligence and networking broker anywhere in the galaxy.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Shan’Chael declaimed as he took Keera’s hand. “Delighted to make your acquaintance, Ms. Naraymis.”
“Likewise,” Keera returned, giving Shan a bright smile.
“You vouch for her?” Shan asked, fixing his gaze on Jen.
“I do,” Jen confirmed.
“Excellent. Do come in, both of you.” He ushered them into the office and sat them down. “Let’s get right to the point then, shall we, Jennifer?” he enquired briskly. “What can I do for you and your wanted changeling friend here?”
Jen shot a guilty look at Keera, comforted by the fact that the changeling looked at least as shocked as she felt. “How the hell…”
Shan tutted. “Jennifer, please don’t insult my intelligence, or my professional capabilities.”
“What level of wanted are we talking about?” Jen asked. “Since I’m similarly afflicted.”
“Oh, you’re just in local trouble.” Shan flapped a dismissive hand. “The Terran police are desperate to keep a lid on the highly embarrassing fact that a key suspect simply walked out of the capital’s most secure detention unit. And since the weapon used to murder two of their officers and one museum staffer was found on Solinas’ body, they aren’t actually looking for you all that diligently. Provided you steer clear of Terran space and take a few routine precautions, you should be fine.
“Miss Naraymis here, on the other hand…” Shan offered a pained little smile of commiseration. “The Marauders are perplexed as to her sudden desire to visit Ganymede, although not, as yet, any the wiser as to her motives for doing so. But the Consortium is somewhat put out, and has begun waving credits around on the black market for information.” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “I should say you’re safe enough for the moment, as the queries will take a while to permeate the underworld network, but if you’re planning to stick around you’ll need to be very careful.”
Jen nodded. “We’ll take care of it,” she agreed. “But speaking of Solinas…”
Shan’Chael winced. “Yes,” he murmured. “Jennifer, my dear, I’m so sorry. Both for your loss and for Solinas’ appalling conduct.”
“Did you know him personally?” Jen enquired. “Solinas, I mean.” She knew Shan had a core of agents that he kept close contact with, ones he trusted to handle difficult assignments and paid retainers to be available to him at any time.
“Not really. I met him a few times, obviously, but he seemed no different to most of the changelings one encounters out here.” Shan shrugged. “He was always keen to stress his independence. He was rather like you in that regard.”
“Are you still sore that I turned you down?” Jen grinned.
“I was devastated, my dear. I don’t handle rejection well,” Shan smirked.
“No kidding. Do you know if Solinas was a Sentinel?” Jen asked.
“No, I don’t.” The information broker frowned. “In my experience, the Sentinels are a paranoid bunch, and they don’t willingly disclose their affiliations. I assume that you think he was one?”
“It’s a theory,” Keera spoke up. “The only thing we know for sure is that he sabotaged Jennifer’s operation. He told us he was only interested in getting onto Earth unnoticed, and that he had orders to try to kill me.”
“And what’s so special about you, Keera Naraymis?”
“I wish I knew,” Keera said wryly. “And I’d like to find out.”
“Curiosity like that can be hazardous to one’s health,” Shan warned.
“I’ll take my chances,” Keera countered, “since I have absolutely nothing to lose.”
“The thing I don’t get is why he bothered wrecking my job,” Jen declared. “If his sole purpose in going to Earth was to kill Keera, then it would actually have been smarter not to give us away.”
“Then clearly he had a reason to want to stop you from succeeding,” Shan remarked. “I did warn you that working for Snake-Eyes was trouble, did I not?”
“You did,” Jen conceded with a grimace, “but does third-party interference really count as fulfilment of your prophetic powers?”
“I predict outcomes, not specifics,” Shan chuckled.
“Getting back to the point, I didn’t tell Solinas, or anyone else, what we were stealing until we were on Earth.”
“Well, either he knew ahead of time, and put himself in a position to be recruited,” Keera interrupted, “or he didn’t, and reacted to circumstance when you clued him in. Clearly, something he wasn’t planning on came up.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Whether that something was the nature of that Templar artefact or the opportunity to take me out doesn’t change the need for more information on both topics. Who’s Snake-Eyes?”
“An odious little squit for whom Jennifer here has a perverse affection and from whom she persists in taking work, in spite of my good advice,” Shan supplied.
“He pays well, and until now I never had a problem,” Jen retorted. “Could you find out if Solinas was a Sentinel?”
“Not for a fee you can afford,” Shan replied. “That’s the kind of information people kill to protect, and my insurance waiver is astronomical. But you’ll doubtless be pleased to know Ms. Xox succeeded in having the charges against her dropped, and Mr. Honold has indicated to me that he’s available for work in free space. Dolos was on her way back to Korxonthos last I heard.”
“There’s a thought. How much would it cost me to re-hire Dolos?” Shan arched a sceptical eyebrow, and Jen laughed wryly. “It was worth a shot, right?”
Shan sighed. “You’re overlooking the obvious, my dear.” He looked over at Keera. “You’re trained in system infiltration, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Keera confirmed. “It’s a necessary survival skill in my line of work. Information is hard currency. The more you know, the better your bargaining position, period.”
“Oh, I like this one, Jennifer,” Shan approved. “Are you keeping her?”
“For the moment,” Jen said dryly.
“Pity.” Shan flicked an amused glance at Keera. “Well, if you should ever tire of Jennifer’s considerable charms, my dear, do feel free to approach me. I can always find work for intelligent beings, and my retainers are very generous by industry standards.”
“Do you two want to be alone?” Jen asked archly. Keera flushed, and Shan sniggered.
“Now, now, Jennifer. Jealousy doesn’t suit you.” The broker’s levity faded. “If you want my advice on resolving your predicament, follow the credits. Orden’s a coward. It shouldn’t take much to make him more afraid of you than he is of his distant employer.”
Jen nodded agreement.
“Now, fun though this is, I’m rather busy, so let’s cut to the chase. Even though I set you up gratis, Jennifer, I do feel compelled to abide by my service standar
ds,” Shan declared. “I’ll compensate you for Solinas defaulting on the job.”
Relief flooded through Jen. She’d been hoping that he’d say that. “Thank you, Shan, that’s very generous.”
“Isn’t it? Now, is there anything else?”
“You have your own information network, correct?” Keera asked before Jen could speak.
“Yes. Did you need something?”
“How much would it cost to get us access?”
“Whoa, wait a second,” Jen objected. “Who died and put you in charge?”
“Jennifer,” Keera looked over at her earnestly, “what this guy Orden knows, or even what his client knows, isn’t going to be the whole picture. If we’re going to figure this out, we’re going to need access to restricted information, data that can’t be viewed via public networks. And I’d like to be able to check up on what information the Service has released about me. That way we… I… can stay ahead of them.”
“What’s your requirement?” Shan asked.
“Ideally a hack into the Service’s network,” Keera replied.
“A secure hardline into the Consortium’s intelligence network would be neither cheap nor quick.”
“I don’t need something that solid. A single login with borrowed credentials is enough.”
“I don’t see how that would help you much.”
“No,” Keera agreed blandly, “you wouldn’t.”
Shan chuckled. “Smart girl,” he approved. “Jennifer, I can supply Keera’s request as part of your compensation. The access plus ten thousand credits. Or, thirty thousand credits in total. What’s your preference?”
Jen scowled at Keera. “You really think it’ll help?” she asked doubtfully.
“I really do.”
“If you’re fucking me over...”
Keera rolled her eyes, her embarrassed flush deepening as it shifted to anger. “Do you really think I’m that ungrateful?” she demanded hotly, something that looked like hurt squalling briefly across her expression. “Add it to my damn bill if the money is that important to you.” She stood up and smiled at Shan. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Shan’Chael. I’ll leave you and the mistress here to your discussions.”
Jen opened her mouth to protest, but the changeling didn’t give her the opportunity, stalking out of the office without a backward glance.
Shan’Chael pressed his steepled fingers to his chin as he regarded her. “Feisty, isn’t she?” he murmured. “Might I speak candidly?”
“Sure, why not?” Jen huffed.
“I was sorry to hear about Mr. Jones. I know he was your friend. And I know Solinas’ betrayal is the sort of thing you’d take personally, but don’t take your anger out on your only ally. It’s unworthy of you, and counterproductive.”
Jen flushed. “Shan, I’m sorry, I really didn’t…”
“Not me, Jennifer,” Shan cut her off impatiently. “Miss Naraymis.”
“She’s not my ally. She’s…” Jen floundered to a halt. “I don’t know what she is. Aside from a pretty, stuck-up pain in the ass.”
“Enemy of my enemy is a stronger bond than most people understand,” Shan observed. “It can certainly eclipse material gain, or even friendship. Now, listen. A Consortium-trained field agent is worth their weight in antimatter to any endeavour. The Academy’s selection process is rigorous, and only the very best operatives are assigned to sensitive political missions.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “You have a fantastic resource at your disposal. Use her wisely.”
“She’s indentured to me for twenty grand. If you’re that impressed, feel free to buy me out,” Jen grunted sourly. Fifty grand would be a lot more useful than a mouthy changeling and ten.
“I’d pay her four times that per month as a retainer and count it cheap at the price,” Shan said quietly. “But if I’m any judge, she wants the truth as much as you do, perhaps more, and that would be a distraction. Keera Naraymis can help you far better than I can. Don’t let the opportunity go begging.”
“Noted,” Jen replied curtly, unsettled by Shan’s obvious interest in the changeling’s skills. She sighed. “I just… I dunno, Shan, how d’you trust someone who can be anybody?”
“How do you come to trust anyone you don’t know?” Shan’Chael countered. “You learn from experience. Of course, occasionally you get burned, but that doesn’t mean everyone is out to get you.”
“I hear you.” Jen got to her feet. “If she’s that much of a badass, I’d better go apologise. Get us the access and the ten grand, please.”
“Wise move, Jennifer,” Shan said cheerfully. “I’ll call you tomorrow with the details for the transactions.”
“Thanks. See you later, Shan.”
Keera was waiting for her in the hall, staring out of the window, still seething judging from the tension in her shoulders. “I got the access,” Jen offered tentatively. “Hopefully you can put it to good use.”
Keera turned and looked up at her, irritation still sparking in her eyes. “Thank you,” she bit out.
“Just get it off your chest,” Jen instructed, braced for a tongue-lashing.
Keera let out a slow, controlled breath. “What’s the point? Either you can trust me, or you can’t. That’s all there is to it.”
“It’s not that simple,” Jen protested.
“Yes it is, Jennifer,” Keera retorted tiredly. “I’m your slave. I’m totally dependent on you for everything. You can get rid of me any time you choose. I’m completely at your mercy. So what do you need from me? A promise that I’ll never lie to you? You can have it. Honesty, first, last, and all of the time, I swear to God and all the Creators.” Tears burnished the changeling’s eyes to a brilliant shine. “Just… please… don’t make me useless as well as hopeless.”
Jen couldn’t meet the changeling’s imploring gaze. “I won’t,” she promised guiltily. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I want to believe that,” Keera whispered.
“And you’re not my slave,” Jen declared. “You work for me. It’s a small distinction, maybe, in our current economic situation, but it’s a distinction that matters to me, OK?”
Keera mustered a small smile. “OK,” she agreed.
“Good.” Jen activated her comm wristband, and shot a quick point-to-point message to Keera’s device. “Here. That’s the security code to the Fortune. You head back, see about setting yourself up a little more permanently. The bunk in the med compartment’s not comfortable—try one of the ones in the wardroom.”
“You’re leaving me with access to your ship?” Keera queried in astonishment.
“Well, yeah. It’s your home now, too. And besides, what are you going to steal, the ration packs?” Jen laughed. “You’d be doing me a favour.”
Keera nearly grinned. “Fair enough. Where are you going?”
“I figure we could both use a little distance,” Jen hedged. What she really needed was to reconnect with a little normality, but it would be worse than cruel to say so to someone who couldn’t do the same. “I’ll be back in a few hours, tops.”
“All right.”
“Do you know where you’re going?”
“Yes. I’ll manage. Secret agent, remember?”
“Yeah. Well, just stay alert and don’t wander. Lowmarket’s not the sort of place you want to head into unprepared. You know, without a heavy fire platoon for backup, kind of thing.”
“I’ll be fine, Jennifer,” Keera promised. “I’ll see you later.”
Jen watched her until she reached the mass transit station, then made her way a few blocks down the strip towards Lowmarket, hanging a left at the Busted Flush. Please, Tamal, don’t have company, she half-prayed as she chimed the bell at her destination. She wanted very badly not to have to make any more decisions for a few hours.
The lock indicator flicked to green, and she headed inside and up two floors. Tamal was waiting at his open apartment door, and looked her up and down slowly. “Hey, Jen, how’ve you been?” He
sounded utterly unsurprised to see her.
“Pretty shitty. How ‘bout you?”
“Oh you know,” he flashed her an easy, confident grin, “I’ve been getting by. You comin’ in?”
“You don’t have company?”
“It’s been a slow week,” Tamal smirked. He stepped back to permit her entry, and she sighed contentedly as she stepped over the threshold. Tamal was in no way, shape, or form someone she could have endured a relationship with, but his steady, unwavering commitment to no-strings fun made him one of the more stable associations she had, and right now, she needed that stability, needed to ground herself in one thing that had nothing to do with Earth, changelings, conspiracies, or conflicts.
“So where’ve you been?” Tamal broke into her train of thought. “I ran into Shan at Vertigo last week and he said you were out in civilized space?”
“Long story.” She arched an eyebrow. “You know what I could really use right now?”
“I can guess,” Tamal grinned, giving her a salacious wink, “but go ahead, you tell me.” He stepped closer, hooked a finger in her collar.
Jen smirked up at him as she let him draw her close. “A drink, a fuck, and a complete lack of curiosity about the last two weeks of my life.”
Tamal gripped her hips and pulled them tight against his own. “I’m pretty sure I can provide all of those things,” he asserted. “As long as you don’t mind the first two being all out of sequence, and maybe a little repetition.”
“Hell no,” Jen breathed, the last words she managed to utter before he shut her mouth with a hungry kiss.
KEERA
Hel’s Market, Hel, Asgard System, Neutral Space
Keera woke with a start.
Panic flared momentarily as she looked around her unfamiliar surroundings, dissipating as her brain kicked into gear and she recognised the wardroom of the Bronwen’s Fortune. Sitting up, she took a look around. The wardroom was just as functional a space as the cockpit, every bulkhead lined with storage compartments and workbenches, every surface bearing the scuffs and scratches of hard use. What little upholstery there was on the seats and the bunks was worn and threadbare, but everything was in good working order, as far as Keera could tell. None of the fittings and equipment were particularly new or flashy, but everything looked solid and carefully maintained.
A dull thud from overhead indicated that Jennifer was up. She’d returned late, and had been considerate enough to try not to disturb her, but Keera had been too agitated to succumb to deep sleep, and the hiss of the airlock opening had woken her from her troubled doze. She’d lain quietly, listening to the human thumping around, trying to get to grips with the idea that this was her new employer, her new life, her new home.
She couldn’t figure Bronwen out. Her abrupt offer of salvation yesterday had been as unexpected as it had been generous. Given their conversations up to that point, Keera couldn’t quite believe that the freighter captain had been prepared to offer her sanctuary. She clearly didn’t trust Keera, judging from her reaction in the information broker’s office, so why would she open herself to such a perceived risk?
Keera decided not to overthink it as she pushed the covers back. Whatever Jennifer’s reasoning, she would reveal it in her own time. Meanwhile, Keera would gratefully accept whatever shelter she was offered. She supposed in some way she should be humiliated by her sudden demotion to mercenary’s dogsbody, but truthfully, she was too relieved to really care. All things considered, she was far better off than she could have been.
The hatch from the access companionway slid open, and Jennifer looked in. “Morning. I’m making some coffee. I don’t have any tea, sorry.”
“Oh, I’d love a coffee,” Keera replied.
Jennifer’s eyebrows rose. “Really? I didn’t think aliens were much into it.”
“I acquired the taste. Then I got addicted.”
“Yeah, that’s how it goes. Coffee it is, then. How d’you take it?”
“Just black, thanks.”
“OK. Back in a minute.”
Keera got up and dressed, noting the creases and stains on her clothes with distaste. She was going to need something else to wear soon if she was staying in human form.
Jennifer returned bearing two mugs. “It’s not very good,” she apologized, “but there’s caffeine in it.” She took a gulp of her drink as she proffered one mug to Keera. “Sleep well?”
“Not really. The bunk is comfortable, but I couldn’t settle. Just unfamiliar surroundings, I guess.” She sipped at her coffee, schooling her face to a neutral expression at the rough, artificial taste. Something else she was just going to have to get used to.
“Yeah. So… about yesterday,” Jennifer said after an awkward pause. “I’m sorry for accusing you. That was a shitty thing for me to do.”
Keera risked meeting the human’s gaze. “It’s OK. I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to push you. It’s difficult for me to let go of making my own decisions. Everything I know was snatched away in a day. This new… life… is going to take a little adjusting to.”
Jennifer chuckled dryly. “Yeah, I can relate. I felt much the same before you walked into that interview room. I just… I’m told I can be a bit of a bitch when I’m pissed at the universe. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
Keera offered what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Well, you haven’t exactly experienced me at my best either. Truce?”
Jennifer nodded. “Truce. All right, so… what do you want to do first?”
“At the risk of sounding completely ludicrous, I’d like to go shopping.” Keera gestured to her wrinkled clothing. “If I’m using a human form in public, I’m going to need some different clothes. I have a few changes of underwear, but this everything I’ve got. It doesn’t blend in very well in the street here either.”
“Yeah.” Jennifer chewed her lip for a moment. “I don’t have very much credit, even counting what Shan gave me—most of that has to be set aside for fuel and docking fees. I can spare maybe a hundred credits, and I know a place in Lowmarket that does some pretty cheap basics.” She hiked her thumb at one of the cargo compartments set into the wall. “There’s some stuff of mine in there you could try. It won’t be your size, though.”
Keera blushed, embarrassed at her assumption. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise…”
“That I’m flat broke?” Jennifer snorted sardonically. “Why the hell else would I be trying to rob high-security museums?”
“For the challenge?” Keera suggested, trying for humour, and gratified when a smirk tugged at the human’s lips. “Keep the money. If it’s just us aboard I can manage without clothes some of the time anyway.”
That observation was met with a predictable leer, which Keera declined to dignify with a rebuke as she crossed to the compartment Jennifer had indicated and rummaged through it quickly. The clothes were two sizes too big—Jennifer had six inches on her in height and was considerably more muscular—but she found a hooded sweater she could roll the sleeves on, and a pair of cargoes she could tie short at the ankle. Thanking her foresight in having remembered to shove her running shoes in her bag, Keera headed into the washroom to change.
“Keera?” Jennifer’s voice sounded over the comm as she was dressing. “Come to the cockpit when you’re ready. I’m just running a few checks. I brought your coffee up.”
“I’ll be right there, thanks.” Keera knotted her laces, looked herself up and down, and sighed resignedly. It would have to do. Until Jennifer was more comfortable around her, it was better to appear as familiar as possible.
Jennifer was slouched in the pilot’s seat, gaze flickering over a scrolling screen of data. “I’m checking the new nav updates we got from Traffic,” she explained. “Their encryption’s sometimes a little shaky, and people have been known to hack the data.”
“Why would they do that?”
“To make ships disappear. One digit out, here and there, and suddenly you’re millions of klicks o
ff course and staring at a Reaver squadron.”
“How delightful,” Keera observed with a shudder.
“Yep. Welcome to Asgard. So,” Jennifer sat up straighter, turning her chair slightly, “let’s get down to some planning.”
“Right. This Orden Snake-Eyes,” Keera began, reaching for her coffee. “What’s he like?”
“He’s an arrogant little bugger. Vain, flamboyant, loves the high life, has a harem of girls he rotates through. Always on the lookout for fresh meat, too.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”
“He can be,” Jennifer conceded. “I mean, he’s striking to look at, he’s smart, he’s witty….”
“He’s rich.”
“Right. That always helps.”
“So he’s a big fish around here?”
“He certainly likes to think so. For sure he’s one of the bigger independents on Hel.”
“And we want to shake him down for information.” Keera settled back, taking a thoughtful sip from her mug. “Is he easy to approach?”
“Unfortunately not.” Jennifer frowned. “Since I failed to complete his contract it’s unlikely that he’ll want anything to do with me right now.”
“And you don’t know where he lives?”
“I do, but again, I won’t get in if he’s not interested. And he won’t talk business if I manage to corner him in public.”
“So we need to find another way into his apartment. If we do rough him up a little, are we going to attract any unwanted attention?”
Jennifer thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so. There’s no police force here, and he’s not affiliated with any of the cartels. He has a goon squad who run errands for him, but they’re real meatheads, only good for following orders. What d’you have in mind?”
“I take it you’re fine with losing him as a source of employment? He sounds like the kind of man who’d hold a grudge.”
“Yeah.” Jennifer sighed. “It can’t be helped, I suppose. No way you could just hack his files? Shan just sent your credentials through, by the way.”
“Oh, that’s great, but no I can’t hack his communications. Not without more information than his nickname and his sexual appetites.” Keera frowned. “I’d need at least a contact address.”
“I don’t have one. He contacts me, not the other way around, and he reroutes his comms through an encrypted dead-drop. He’s pretty paranoid.”
“In which case, sniffing around his network trying to pick up the information will just tip him off. And if we can’t do subtle, element of surprise is the next best strategy.” She spread her hands. “I can’t get the information from him without implicating you, since it relates to the job you were doing. I’m sorry. I can handle it on my own if you prefer, but I can’t isolate you completely.”
“You can handle it on your own?” Jennifer queried sceptically. “You’ve been on Hel for less than twenty-four hours, you don’t know anything about him other than his nickname and some gossip, and you’re just going to waltz into his apartment by yourself and scare the info out of him?”
Keera shrugged. “I do need a few more details, but yes, more or less,” she agreed.
Jennifer stared at her until she felt her cheeks heating with embarrassment. “Are you really that good?” the human asked eventually, doubt clear in her expression.
Keera nodded firmly. “I am,” she assured her new boss. “But I appreciate why that might be a lot to take on faith. So why not tag along?”
Jennifer cocked her head to one side. “All right,” she decided. “This I have to see. You look so damn harmless I have a hard time imagining you terrorizing anyone.”
Keera smiled wryly. “You’re forgetting something.”
“What’s that?”
“Looks can be deceiving.”