IceFlight Page 32

Darsey turned her back on the link so she wouldn’t have to watch Nightwing go. “What you don’t see can’t hurt you,” she whispered sadly, and then silently mocked herself. The childish thought was followed by a more adult admission. He’s gone. She closed her eyes tightly against that truth.

  There was renewed movement in the nest and Darsey finally looked around to see crew from every shift surging from the link and jostling to claim consoles. Jileea seemed to be ignoring them, with her gaze fixed on a gold circle floating toward her. The bracelet opened like a hungry mouth, then lunged for her wrist to snap tight. Jileea arched back in response, before settling deeper into the leader’s seat. She lifted a hand to beckon the nearest crewmember and the others began to queue before her.

  In her cell, Darsey took a deep breath and searched for resolve. She finally realized how much she’d been relying on Nightwing to save her, and that admission freed her from false hope. Her determination returned and she bent to retrieve Greon’s head from the floor. She refused to think about what she was actually holding and moved resolutely to the front of her prison. Stopping as close to the prison field as she could without crossing it, she carefully balanced the head at her feet. She placed it facing outwards so that the dead eyes looked into the nest. Their glassy stare seemed to focus on Jileea.

  The new Leader continued to organise her crew, apparently unperturbed, but when she glanced at the cell she blanched before looking quickly away. Minutes passed without Jileea looking back, while every pirate took a turn floating at her knee.

  Darsey watched the strange parade past Santa closely and it was bizarre enough to help her forget what lay at her feet. Each crew member stopped by their new leader and projected images from their coms. Darsey saw jewellery, faceted bottles, strange food and even a sculpture of two wrestling mutt. It seemed the supplicants were the ones who came bearing gifts.

  Jileea lounged in place, occasionally raising a finger in acceptance. When this happened the pirate in front of her would bow low, before turning to claim a console. Most of the officers turned away disconsolate to drift slowly back down the link.

  The queue shortened to one and then it was gone. Jileea’s gaze finally returned to Darsey’s cell and her lips creased at whatever she saw in Greon’s dead eyes. Darsey leaned forward, stretching over the bowling ball at her feet toward the protective field. Her hand reached that barrier and kept going. It slid straight through a supposedly impenetrable wall of energy.

  Jileea blinked and the renewed rhythm of nest activity faltered. Covert glances flicked between the crew, but their attention was clearly on their untried leader. Darsey rearranged her face into what she hoped was a mocking and confident grin, which seemed to work since Jileea rose from her throne. At least she had her attention.

  Just to be sure, Darsey waggled her fingers in the free air of the nest and then drew her arm back through the field. Jileea’s jaw clenched, but she managed a grimacing smile in response.

  The Leader wafted serenely above the active crew consoles, moving forward slowly and staring down every officer she passed. They quickly returned to their work, each one apparently engrossed, and she switched her attention to the approaching wall of cells.

  Jileea’s com halted her progress and she stopped in front of Darsey’s brightly lit prison. She waved her hand and the field guarding it disappeared. “Seems redundant,” she pointed out coolly.

  Darsey regarded the mermaridian thoughtfully as she continued to float outside the cell.

  “May I enter?” Jileea requested with unexpected courtesy.

  “Sure,” Darsey replied, nodding toward Greon’s head. “Watch the step.”

  “Indeed.” Jileea slid to one side before striding across the cell ledge.

  Darsey managed to wait until gravity had gripped her guest, but then she was talking. “I’m a problem,” she stated with urgent conviction. “I’m a problem already and I guarantee I’ll get worse. I know how to pass through barriers, so you can’t hold me. On top of that, your crew thinks I’m lucky, which limits your options. I know you don’t want trouble with any superstitions. If you execute me the chances are you wouldn’t survive, at least not as leader. But if you drop me at the next port, we both get our lives back. Deal?”

  Darsey’s proposal came to a halt and silver-gray eyes regarded her impassively. Had she spoken too fast? She steadied herself to stare back with the same lack of emotion and there was a moment of silence while they stood with gazes locked. “This could go on for some time,” Darsey said with all the sanity she could muster, and Jileea blinked.

  “It could pass a while,” she agreed, ‘and I do have other things to do. One such relates to you. Nightwing claimed there’d be an increased bonus to deliver you. It’s up to sixteen thousand credits.”

  “He lied,” Darsey stated flatly and, to her surprise, Jileea smiled.

  “Of course he did. I was in-link and saw most-all that passed. He had no chance to clear contacts from some mystery kres. No, Nightwing wants me elsewhere. He has some profit to be made on the Rim. He must do. Why else barter control of the Bandit for a single lift Rimwards? If he knows of more wealth, I’d like a chance to share it. I’ve set us to follow the kres ship, with much care, of course.”

  “That’s nice,” Darsey answered bluntly, “but what about me?”

  “I could sell you again,” Jileea mused, but was stopped by a low growl.

  “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

  “Actually, I agree with you, human.”

  Darsey sighed and her hands relaxed from being fists. “So, what will you do with me?”

  Jileea offered a conspiratorial grin. “Whatever you choose.”

  Darsey tried to hold her face still and neutral, but her tone carried all of her suspicion. “Really?”

  “Truly. This offer is your-choice, but I do have a suggestion. Ask to be set free on Gratuity, with credit and a com.”

  “What?” Darsey’s throat constricted to choke further words. Hope left her momentarily faint, but then suspicion rose to revive her. This deal was way too good to be genuine and her mind raced, trying to understand how Jileea might benefit from it. She came up blank. “What do you get in return?”

  Jileea seemed unperturbed by the question. “In give-back I want an open, unspecified future deal. You’re in-luck at this time, girl, and I want some. Owe me a future deal and you’re free, with com.”

  “No,” Darsey protested instantly. “A future deal? You’ll turn up some day and tell me I have to pay with my firstborn child or something.”

  Jileea’s mouth puckered into a vertical line of astonishment. “Weird.” She shook herself, but her lips straightened. “Weird species. I won’t demand any such. I won’t demand at all. A future deal is made by you. When you realize you can do me a favor, at any time in your life, you’re luck-bound to do it.” She sniffed and her lips tightened in a sly grin. “My instincts say your future will pay better than an unknown kres slaver who might show, but might turn chick instead. Deal?”

  Darsey frowned and mentally reviewed Jileea’s description of a future deal. There were no obvious snags and freedom suddenly felt excruciatingly close. “What’s life without a little risk? Sure, you have a deal.”

  Jileea looked pleased, without being delighted. “I’ll download a com for you and we’ll seal. You can use Nightwing’s old quarters until we dock.”

  She turned toward the nest and gestured at a compression strip. A silver com appeared in front of it and a flick of Jileea’s finger summoned the gleaming circle. Darsey watched it grow with hungry intensity.

  Jileea moved to stand so near their shoulders touched, but her tone remained casual. “Will you take some advice?”

  Darsey offered her a brief, startled glance before turning back to catch the approaching com. “Probably not.”

  “Don’t hang your heart on a kres. Their royals are most weird.”

  There was no immediate response from Darsey, who was examining the com as it settle
d round her wrist. When it was safety in place she answered with quiet intensity. “I’ve no intention of hanging my heart, or any other part of my anatomy, anywhere near Nightwing.”

  “Good,” Jileea agreed brightly. “Truly good. He'll dock ahead of us at Gratuity and your new life has no need of such complication.”

  “There’s no complication,” Darsey insisted, and Jileea looked relieved.

  “Excellent. At least you’ve no such interest and you can certain-sure discourage his. He already has some strange beliefs about you. He claims to know how you pass through energy fields. He said it could hurt you, even be lethal. I’d tell you more if I knew, but Nightwing was the only genius in this crew. Still, don't be tempted to seek for him. There’s no evidence that his theories are truth and I’d not like your fresh-given freedom to be wasted.”

  “Ah,” Darsey breathed softly with sudden comprehension. She knew what Jileea wanted from her now, but stared down at her new com to hide that understanding. She stroked the silver band and then covered it protectively with her free hand. “You’ll let me go and let me stay gone?”

  “Ye, I swear it. On my Luck.”

  Darsey looked up again, gauging that promise before nodding in agreement. “Good enough. Let’s seal the deal.” She stretched out her wrist, sending careful mental commands to her com, and it linked briefly with Jileea’s.

  “Good,” the pirate leader approved, and swung toward the nest with a sweeping gesture for Darsey to precede her. “Welcome back to the universe.”

  Darsey started to step past, but was abruptly gripped hard by the upper arm. She glared at Jileea, who frowned back. “Don't ignore my advice, human. Curiosity, even about a life threat, is not worth reunion with that kres.” Jileea shook Darsey’s arm once, in emphasis, then propelled her forward and into freedom.

  33

  Reunion