Chapter 7: Stray | page 5

Under Gripper’s watchful eye, the Blue Phoenix limped to Stray. On the eighth afternoon, as the ship dropped out of superluminal flight, the sandy beige planet leapt into focus outside. A computer-generated landing signal gave Tiberius clearance to land in Gharib, one of the four large cities of Stray.

Talons clicking on the plastic chair, Orphia watched coldly over the captain’s shoulder as he brought the Blue Phoenix down through the thin atmosphere. A few shiny, crystalline flecks of blue phenno flaked away in the heated air. Duaal petulantly watched Tiberius’ landing from the copilot’s seat, far smoother than his own had been, back on Axis. The old Prian cop flipped on the intercom.

“I want to see everyone in the cargo bay before you all fly off into the city. We’re here to get something done, don’t you forget,” he said. As an afterthought, he added: “Coldhand, this notice doesn’t apply to you.”

Duaal laughed at Tiberius. “You do like to rub it in, don’t you?” he commented.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

Duaal glared out the solar shield at the fat, swollen red sun hanging in the sky. Another hot day. It was always hot. He pulled on his gloves and stood. Tiberius coaxed Orphia up onto a leather sleeve and headed down out of the cockpit. Duaal followed.

Kessa was waiting with the others assembled in the hold, hovering behind the gentle Xia and eying Maeve warily. The princess was about as welcoming as a block of ice.

Scratch that. A block of ice would be great in this heat. As a drawn gun, then.

Despite the fairy’s prominent role in saving the Dailon girl from the Sisterhood, Kessa still treated Maeve warily, spending instead her time with gentle Xia or talkative Gripper. Tiberius looked at the pregnant woman and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

“No, not you,” he said. “We’re pretty sure your Sisters aren’t here or haven’t sent word, but not sure enough to let you out into the city.”

Kessa looked disappointed, but nodded her assent. Three days confined to the Blue Phoenix had her itching to go outside and stretch her legs, but the need was hardly enough to risk the life of her unborn child.

Tiberius pointed to Maeve. “Take Xia and go see what you can find out about the Sisterhood’s presence here. Check everywhere. We need to make sure this place is safe for Kessa and her little one,” he ordered. “Gripper, get working on those repairs. If we’re wrong and this place is trouble, I want to be ready to fly at a moment’s notice.”

“Can do, Claws,” Gripper said. “I bought the parts back on Axis. All I need is enough ground time to get them done.”

“Get on it. I’ll go talk to Xyn about getting some more phenno. Duaal, we’ve had an extra mouth for the last week. We need food.”

The captain pulled a red cenmark chip from the breast pocket of his black vest and tossed it to Duaal. A snap of his fingers and a murmured word guided the card to the mage’s hand like a softly drifting feather.

“Stray gets shipments from the entire galaxy,” Tiberius told Duaal. He stroked one of Orphia’s wings. The hawk closed her black eyes, but made no other sign of pleasure at the caress. “Take your time and look around, use whatever’s left over on that chip to get something for yourself. But stay sharp. Stray can be dangerous.”

“I know,” Duaal said. He smirked at Maeve. She didn’t get extra spending money, did she?

Gripper grumbled a little about not being invited to go shopping, but quieted when Tiberius looked at him. “Xyn’s shop isn’t far from the landing pads,” said Tiberius. “This shouldn’t take long. I’ll be back to the bird in less than an hour. I expect you to have some progress to report to me, Gripper.”

He punched the airlock controls and opened the hatchway. Kessa wandered back towards her quarters, alternately humming and grumbling softly while she held her hands protectively around her belly. Gripper waved to her back and knuckle-walked the other direction towards the engine room to begin his work. One by one, the crew of the Blue Phoenix strode from the ship and scattered to carry out their orders.

- End Chapter 7 -