Forgotten Relics Read online

  Rei slid the door shut behind her and looked around. The woman behind the counter disappeared into the back immediately. The air was fragrant with spices and herbs, almost suffocating in some areas. The shop walls were cluttered with various odds and ends with very little tie to one another. Crystals and gems set in gold adornments were piled in a display near the front of the store. Rei picked up a piece and smiled at the chipped, golden paint that disguised the wood beneath. Ornately carved blades and guns rested behind glass near the front caught her eye as she set it down. They were pretty to look at, but neither had any real purpose.

  “There she is,” a voice in heavily accented Banal said. “The Mistress of Plundering. Rei, how are you?” She turned to see a heavier set Vantani man bustling in from the back room with open arms. His arms and fingers were laden with crystal rings and bracelets. “What wonders do you have for me? I must say, I’ve been giddy with anticipation since your message retrieving something of interest.”

  “Nalju, you sure know how to flatter a girl.” Rei leaned against the counter. “It’s around back. A few of my men are guarding it.”

  Nalju barked orders in Vantan and Rei could make out a flurry of footsteps in the back of the shop. He guided her toward the cramped sitting area off to the side of the counter. Rei took a seat while Nalju busily closed the front display windows. The woman from the counter came in from the back bearing a tray of snacks and purple wine. Rei accepted the glass the woman offered her. She raised it toward Nalju as he seat across from her.

  “May prosperity be blessed upon your home,” Rei said in Vantan.

  “May your ship always sail true,” he replied in the same tongue before drinking eagerly from his glass. He set the half-empty cup on the table, looking amused as hers lowered from her lips. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to test the drink first,” he said in Banal.

  “Who’s to say I didn’t?” Rei switched back as well. “We’ve dealt with each other for how long now? I think we’re both above those types of tricks.”

  “You’re saying there’s honor among us scavengers?” He laughed throatily. “Now you flatter me.”

  Rei took another sip of the wine, the fruity liquid flooding over her tongue as another woman brought in a small case from the back. She knelt at Nalju’s feet in a state of reverence, offering it to him as one might have offered a sacrifice to the Gods of the Old Worlds. They’re afraid of what we brought and hope her pretty face will save them if Nalju isn’t happy with the merchandise. Rei thought, trying to keep the nervous look from her face.

  Nalju showed no sign of noticing her change in mood as he accepted the case. Two more women emerged from the back room. The jewels on the hems of their skirts shone in the light as they joined the first in her state of reverence, offerings on their laps.

  Nalju opened the first case, his eyes scanning the contents before he set it aside and beckoned for the next. The second woman offered hers with shaking hands. Nalju pursed his lips as he considered the contents. The women waited in a line on the hard floor. Rei frowned as the tension around them filled the air to unbearable levels.

  “The rest are like this?” he asked the women.

  “Yes,” the first woman spoke.

  She squirmed under Nalju’s glare. He used his Essence to lift the lid of the box the woman still held and pulled out a gold bar. He bounced it in his hand as though he were testing the weight.

  “Take them away and test it.” He ordered. The women scrambled out of the room.

  “If this turns out to be real... How did you manage it?” he asked once they were alone. “Actual precious metals are impossible to find, and the few mines that are still around are under Federation control.”

  “True.” Rei chuckled. “But the Federation is full of humanoids like the rest of us.”

  “Maybe, but I swear the Federation is getting closer to becoming an empire of automatons by the day. Just look in the market if you need proof.”

  Rei suppressed her shock at the casual statement. “Well, they’re not there yet. In fact you’ll find many in deep space who are in need of... companionship. Just find a decent bar at a scheduled stop and wait for them to walk in and spill their secrets. After that, it’s a simple illusion to make fantasy become reality...” She took a sip of her drink. “They have some exotic tastes.”

  “And then?” Nalju was on the edge of his seat.

  “A professional doesn’t divulge all her secrets.”

  Nalju frowned and flopped back in his seat. “You can’t tell me that it was that simple to get this.” A man exited the back room and gave the two a low bow. “Well?” Nalju asked.

  The man nodded and handed him another bar. Nalju looked from it to him, then waited until the man nodded again. He raised a hand and the first woman was back. She refilled the glasses, then offered them snacks from the tray she’d brought.

  “Everything check out?” Rei asked as she waved away their offerings.

  “Yes.” He didn’t sound too happy about it. “I can’t believe it though. It’s too good to be true.”

  “Oh?” Rei’s voice lost all humor. “Well, believe what your own people are telling you. You’re holding one of the last gold bars in the universe. You’ll make a fortune on it.”

  “You’re right, but–” he let out a laugh “–I see why those folks were interested in you, though I don’t think the metal was why.”

  “What people were interested in me?” Rei struggled to keep her voice as even as possible while her heart pounded in her chest.

  “Not sure who they’re loyal to. They didn’t strike me as Federation regulars, but they were very clear about what they were looking for. Or should I say, who.” He smiled widely. “Someone who is very gifted with both fighting and Essence. Someone with your basic look.”

  “What did you tell them?”

  Nalju shrugged. “That I didn’t know who she was. Like we said. We’ve known each other for a long time and there’s honor among the scavengers of the galaxy.” He drained his glass with a pointed look. “I didn’t like how some of them looked. They were shells. Like early model automatons before they started using Essence to add personality.” Rei opened her mouth to point out that it wasn’t how it worked, but Nalju continued, “It’s not all selfless. You’re my best supplier. Usually always on time and truly the Queen of Plundering.”

  “They say anything else interesting?”

  “Only that I should tell the authorities immediately if we saw each other. Then they’d be called in to take you into their custody.” He refilled his glass and raised it to her. “Apparently, you have a level ten sanction on you because of your threat level.”

  Rei raised her glass in reply. “Do you believe it?”

  “Only an idiot wouldn’t. You shrug off breaking into a top security vessel and stealing their entire cargo from right under their noses. Sure, your crew played their roles in the mission, but you had a crucial role in their success. No offense meant to your crews, but better crews have tried and failed.”

  Rei eyed him for several minutes in silence. Her fingers gripped and let go of the armrest of the chair repeatedly. “Will you keep quiet?”

  Nalju leaned forward, his eyes gleamed in the dim light of the shop. “Keep bringing me loot like this and it’ll be my pleasure. Trialg!” The first woman reappeared from the back as he stood. He took a small computer chip from her. “Your payment that we agreed on. As you pointed out, I’ll make a good price with all this when everything is done, so it’s worth every credit.”

  The woman offered Rei the chip in the palm of her hand. Rei accepted it, then cast her Essence over it. The chip responded; an ability built into the weakest computer chips to tell the inquirer what was on it. Putting it away, she stood. “If we come across anything else I think you’ll like in our travels, you’ll be the first we call.”

  “I’ll be looking forward to it. Tell me,” he began after she had taken a few steps. “What did you do to get them to come after
you?” Rei glanced back over her shoulder and he shrugged. “I’m keeping your secret. I might as well know why.”

  Rei considered it for a moment, her hand resting on the door handle. She slid it open. “I escaped and they haven’t found another cage for me yet.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Rei’s gaze locked on the photograph clutched in her fists. Despite being faded from water damage, the man and woman in the center of it were as clear as the day the picture was taken. Two girls sat on the ground in front of them, arms around each other’s shoulders. All four of them smiled at her. Rei’s eyes blinked rapidly to keep her tears at bay.

  A part of her had accepted that they had to be gone. The universe was big, but with how much she had searched since escaping, she would’ve heard something about them by now. Until she had unquestionable proof otherwise, she refused to give up hope entirely and that meant returning to places like their abandoned home. At least solving the mystery was a blissful reprieve from her troubles. She was accustomed to the fear she felt when she was near anywhere that was friendly toward the Federation but walking back to the Kathya after Nalju’s warning had frayed her nerves. She expected her captors to spring out of every shadow. Soon, her illusion mask became so strong that she knew it was obvious that she was hiding something.

  A tear splattered her hand. “Well, I had a good run of peace and quiet,” she muttered to the photo. “No rest for the wicked and it’s not like they’re the only planetary authorities looking for me. They just have a few more resources than most.”

  The door chimed and she quickly rubbed the tears away. The photo was swiftly shoved away in her bedside stand. “Give me a minute!” she called.

  She went into the bathroom to put water on her face. When that didn’t work another illusion seemed to be the best route to go.

  “Yeah?” Rei opened the door.

  Yeke’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your presence is demanded in the... uh... Drunken Inventor. And I’m warning you I can’t promise what they’ll do if I return empty-handed.”

  “Shit.” Rei pulled him into the hallway. “Let’s go. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  They walked in silence, Rei gazing out the windows that they passed.

  “What’s going on?” Yeke broke the silence as they waited for the lift. “You’ve been quiet since we’ve left Nalju’s. Did something happen and you’re just brushing it off since we managed to get what we asked for?”

  She shook her head with a tight-lipped smile. “Your chivalry is showing, but it’s nothing like that. Something did happen, but it was just a friendly warning from Nalju. I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around what it means for me.”

  “Which was?” Rei turned slightly toward him, a smile across her lips. Yeke took a step back. “Great, you have that look.”

  “What look?” Her eyebrow rose though the smile remained.

  “That one that says you have some half-baked plan up your sleeve.”

  Rei’s smile fell. “There’s no plan, yet. I might have one by the end of the night, but I’m not holding my breath. As for what Nalju told me... you’ll have to wait. It’s nothing overly new but I’m not ready to talk about it either.”

  “That makes it even scarier,” Yeke informed her as they climbed inside the lift.

  Rei winced at the groan it made, making a mental note to get Chia to repair it. The transport came to a stop several levels up. As the door, opened soft music drifted towards them.

  “Sounds like the party is well underway,” Rei commented. “Glad everyone found a way to enjoy their pay.”

  “It was one of the better hauls we’ve had lately,” Yeke pointed out. “They might as well celebrate it.”

  “I just don’t want to put a damper on the festivities.” Rei entered the open door and looked around. The room was packed; figures silhouetted by the lights of the dance floor. It was early enough that plenty of families were sitting at the tables to enjoy an evening meal away from their living quarters. Several nodded in greeting as they crossed to the bar. Rei offered a wave in return.

  “It never fails to strike me as odd that we have so many families here,” Yeke said. He leaned against the smooth wood of the bar. “An Oji ale.”

  A little boy and girl rushed past and shouted hurried apologies. “An Aesoi,” Rei ordered, which sent the bartender on their way. “Yeah, it’s pretty telling that a ship of pirates is better than what they were living in.” Her eyes fell over the room as a whole. “But that’s the beauty of this ship. It lets you carve a new path in the universe, no matter what it decides to throw at you.”

  The dull thud announced the arrival of their drinks. “You’re paying,” she told Yeke.

  “Why me?”

  “I’m the Captain.” It was one of the few things she openly used her authority for on the ship. “Besides, I got it the other night.” She smiled sweetly and walked away.

  “I so regret agreeing to that,” he hissed in her ear when he caught up and grabbed his mug from her.

  “You say that every time. We could stop it. It was just a way to make me feel better about being poor after we escaped the facility. You were fine paying and didn’t want me to spend all my credits.”

  Yeke opened his mouth to reply as she was pulled away from him. “There you are!” Foniac yelled. “We were just about to send Kuv out with a full search party to drag you here.”

  “Which I would have never done,” he said with a frown. “It would be their prerogative to not join us.”

  Foniac shook her head. “Oh, you Zirs and your codes of conduct. Anyway, now that you’re here, how about you fill us in about what you were hinting at this morning?”

  “Why don’t you let them sit down?” Kuv blinked.

  “You know better, Kuv. I’m surprised she didn’t demand it sooner.” Rei chuckled. “Luckily, I want to get it done and over with.”

  Rei paused to take a sip of her drink. Kuv, Aede, and a few others sat upright, alert, and clearly ready to make mental notes on what she was about to say. Others, like Foniac, sat relaxed in their chairs as though ready to hear a good story. The temptation to put off her announcement rose. She felt pressure on her back, and she glanced down to see Yeke’s arm snaked behind her.

  “The intel I got paid off and I might finally be on the way toward answers.”

  “Answers to what?” Foniac asked.

  Rei looked around the room to make sure that no one was listening. “About why my family might have been taken.” She could feel their eyes bearing into her. “We’re still sifting through what we brought back, but it looks promising.”

  “Do we know how much of a detour will we have to make?” Kuv asked.

  Rei shrugged. “I have no idea yet. But I...” She stared into the liquid of her cup. “Damn it, it’s not fair. I need to see this through—no matter what. I looked for them after they vanished. Well, as much as I dared to. Eventually, my luck ran out. And... yeah, you know the rest.”

  Yeke shifted in his chair. “Rei?”

  Rei felt her face heat up. She hadn’t noticed that she’d been rambling. “Sorry.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “I suppose I should just come out and tell you... The Federation’s looking my way again. Nalju warned me.”

  “Damn,” Yeke muttered. “Don’t they ever give up?”

  “Only if whatever they lost either becomes obsolete or breaks completely,” Aede said darkly. “And since our Rei has the fortitude of this ship, that won’t happen anytime soon.”

  “They’ve taken a renewed interest in you before,” Kuv pointed out.

  “Apparently they approached Nalju directly. Gave him a description that matched mine—minus a few updates.” Her illusion flickered just a moment, then snapped back to full strength. “Offered him a huge reward for my location.”

  “Do you think Nalju’s tempted to turn you in?” Aede asked.

  Rei shook her head. “We’re too valuable to him. Still, it chang
es things. Especially what I was going to do with what we found regarding my family. The heat might be too much. Doing jobs won’t be affected. We go in, get what we’re after, and get out. Our buyers prefer us to come to them, so they won’t trace us to the Kathya. We have to be ready for anything though.”

  “You not think of leaving?” Grandma made her jump as she gripped Rei’s shoulders from behind her. “You won’t... you can’t...”

  “Why not, Grammie?” Aede asked.

  “Ship strong... together. Apart... scary, weak. Death certain...” Her grip tightened. “You can’t... you are key between dueling powers.” Grandma’s eyes took on that ghostly, white glow. “If they get you, destruction will come.” She dropped her hands to her sides and the glow vanished. She shuffled away, mumbling.

  “What the hell was that?” Yeke demanded.

  “A warning,” Rei said. “As though I needed much convincing to stay in the first place.” She turned to Aede. “If she says anything else, let me know.”

  Aede nodded. “If you’re staying, then what’s the plan?”

  Rei leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “I’m not sure how to give the Federation the slip yet. Searching for answers about my family is a bit easier. I’d liked to start with the papers from the safe. We need to find an expert we can trust though since none of us know much about biological applications for Essence. I have a feeling if we find some, then we can find out everything in those papers—including why my parents had them in the first place.”

  “I can help out there.” Chia leapt onto an empty chair.

  “Where have you been?” Foniac demanded.

  “I had some sensitive experiments to set up,” she replied. “By the way, Captain. It will be ready to open tomorrow.”

  “Good,” Rei said. “So, you’re willing to put us in touch with people?”

  “Yeah, Yeke filled me in. They’ll be more than happy to help out.” She smirked. “They’re top of the Essence-based scientific community on the planet and often provide me assistance—off the record, of course.”