Despite Deidra’s fear that Sharki would make a sex slave out of her, all evidence hinted his V-Zons had been out to kill.
* * *
While we still had power, we made our wary descent to the far side of the grey-green planet that waxed in her sun Vala’s pale light. Thetis Station we gave a wide berth. We’d taken care of Sharki’s lightfighters for now, but I had no doubt he’d send out more on our tails before long.
I ran my eyes over the holo index. AI computer nav said Tyrone City was our best bet for repairs. Blackwater and Narpoon Town were other possibles. Deidra verified each with a sullen nod.
We entered the atmosphere and swung in on a sharp angle, over swamps and mangroves, me gritting my teeth, hoping that Goliath wouldn’t fail us. That trail of smoke behind us didn’t look too encouraging.
Thetis was a gloomy world set with perpetual clouds and a windless stained backdrop of sky, dusky yellow and now morphing into a puce green.
Goliath was sputtering, her engines sounding rougher every minute. The thin trail of smoke streaming from her tail piece was ever widening.
The first lights of the capital city winked off in the distance.
“We’ll give Tyrone City a wide miss,” I confirmed as we swung low over the brooding terrain. “Not an inspiring landscape by any standard.”
“Just a few shallow puddles the locals call lakes here,” Deidra said, inclining her head to stunted trees and meandering dirt roads.
We followed one of the wider roads. Up ahead, cranes, gantries and other heavy equipment sat lined around the edges of a sizeable complex. Would serve as a good cover.
“There—that yard over there. We can hide out and make repairs. Someone’ll have the smarts to fix this ship, judging from all those rigs and cranes.”
“You think?”
Deidra thumbed through the index. “Just another crazy crog who has multiple businesses going.”
“Crog?”
“It means, refinery man. Lots of ’em here on Thetis. Beryl’s as common as sand fleas.”
“Good to know. What other businesses he have?”
“Says here, dog yard, or animal yard of some sort, repair station, heavy engines and whatnot, welding shop, yada yada, cutter and refiner of raw beryl.”
“Sounds good enough. I’m surprised Sharki hasn’t gobbled up places like this. A jealous, spiteful man like that. You’d think he’d string the owners up by the toes, all of them competing against him.”
“Nah.” Deidra barked out a laugh. “Sharki’s got these small-time locals beat with his big ass solar gun. Churns out a hundred times the output of all of them put together down here.”
I looked at her with curiosity. “Why so glum? You should be happier than a pig wallowing in shit to have escaped him.”
“You don’t know him. If only you knew the half of it.”
Marty spat. “I could give two shits about this Sharki. He’ll get a fistful of my brass knuckles.”
She scowled, turned her back and looked off into space. “Idiot,” she mumbled under her breath.
I laughed. We were all going to get along fine…
Chapter 3
Goliath hovered over the refinery and landed amidst the sprawl of equipment in the open yard. Deidra moved away from the controls, evidently eager to be first off the ship.
I motioned my firearm. “No, you’re staying back aboard.”
“Like shit, Rusco, I’m in this as much as you.”
“Should I bind her?” Marty suggested.
“Do we have to take it that far?”
“Lock her in the forward bin then,” Marty advised. I herded her over with my rifle while Marty grinned.
She shoulder-checked by me with a strangled howl. “What the hell are you talking about? I thought I was your ally?”
I rubbed the sting out of my arm. “Not just yet. You haven’t earned my trust. Remember you were ready to stick an ice pick in my head. Sorry, but if you think for a second, I’m sure you’ll agree.”
Marty hauled her roughly into the forward bulkhead and slammed the door shut. He set the electromag combo lock to auto and gave it a twirl. “Little birdie’ll sit tight till the cows come home.”
I grunted a mirthless laugh. “Yeah, you tell ’em. Let’s see what we can dig up in this dog yard out there.”
Marty took an extra R4 from the wall, stubbly cheeks creased in a smirk. I gripped my rifle. I was getting sick of that smirk. But then again, I guess he was sick of mine.
We stepped out of the cargo hold, fingers ready on our guns. Low cement walls to either side, wavy wire fence and electro-gates at front and back. Crushed stone along the edges, otherwise grey hardtop up the middle. Smoke came from our rear vanes. I followed the trail of grey curly vapor as it licked around the landing gear and paused, shaking my head in dismay at the big gaping hole to left center. Some score marks pocked the middle of the fuselage. Armored plates torn back and colored fluids leaking from exposed pipes. Damn, she’d taken a beating. Goliath was not looking good. Marty stared, tugging at the bristle on his chin.
This place was a lonely one. To my ears came an eagle’s cry over the distant trees, or some hybrid of one. Pale lavender-green sky. High cirrus clouds filtering the faraway sun’s light, casting a somber glow on the stark terrain around. Must have been a chore to terraform. To each side stood rusted cranes, paint-peeled scaffolding, battered crucibles and metal bins. Air still as death. Hammering drifted our way, and the fires of forges along with men’s raucous voices. I caught the hint of movement behind the stacks and tensed.
We were not alone for long.
“Hey, you bozos,” a
