New Dawn (Divine War Book 1) (7 page)

When Maicee eventually exited from the shower room, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, he found Benho and Niku lying exhausted on the floor, the little Chamonkey still convulsing a bit from laughter.

“I didn't invite you here to tease Niku,” he said, throwing his towel over the back of a chair.

“You didn't invite me here at all,” Benho pointed out.

Maicee groaned. His head still ached somewhat despite the pain shot he'd taken when he’d awoken. “I know, I know.”

“He was so dead drunk, I had to carry him up those stairs,” Benho told a giggling Niku. “And the stench of him, you wouldn't believe it. You're lucky that you slept through the entire thing. And you,” he said, looking sternly at Maicee, “need to learn how to hold your liquor better if you're going to drink. I'm not always going to be around to roll you home.”

Maicee poured a glass of water from the large jug on the table. “Never again,” he said before chugging it down.

“That's what I always say too.” Benho grinned.

Maicee was about to protest that, unlike Benho, he actually meant what he said, but then the hand scanner beeped and the door opened, revealing a dripping Kabi.

“Damn rain,” he grumbled, fumbling to take off his cloak without shedding too much water onto the rush floor.

He brought with him the deep, succulent smell of tropical rain, a smell that reminded Maicee of summer days when the heat built up until it exploded into a storm, making him feel reborn and new.

“Hey, Kabi,” said Benho, getting up to take the man's cloak from him. “It's been a while.”

He delicately hung the brown cloak on a hook next to the door. He liked Kabi—he was one of the few decent people Benho had met on Carooine, though he had little idea why. Kabi just seemed to exude a sort of trustworthiness and steadiness.

“Hmph,” grunted Kabi in reply, trying to brush rainwater off his grey stubble hair.

Niku scaled Benho's legs, jumping up into his arms to get a closer look at Kabi whilst avoiding getting wet.

“You look frustrated,” she told the older man.

“Hmm,” he grunted again. “Sorry, it's good to see you, Ben.”

He too liked the boy. Maicee had always been a small child, and Benho had saved him from a lot of the bullying that he'd have otherwise suffered on the streets of Carooine City.

“Watch out for Niku,” he said, smiling at the Chamonkey. “She's got a nasty bite when the mood strikes her.”

To prove his point, Niku nipped at Benho's fingers, not breaking the skin but with enough pressure to let Benho know that she could really hurt him if she chose to. He looked down at the little grey fur ball with renewed respect.

“Be nice to him, Niku,” said Kabi with a laugh, pulling out a chair to sit tiredly at the dining table. “He did help save your life, after all.”

Niku snuggled against Benho's hand and softly licked the place where she had bitten, and Benho carried her over to join Maicee and Kabi at the table.

“Can I ask you something, Kabi?” said Benho, placing Niku down carefully on the table top before taking a seat.

“Sure,” said the older man, reaching into his pocket and finding a paper-wrapped package of Sigars.

“How did you create Niku?” the boy asked curiously. This had been bothering him since Maicee had drunkenly spilled the genetic secrets of the Chamonkey the night before. “I mean, gene modification has been banned for as long as I can remember, so we're not taught anything about it. And, well, I'm interested. Interested in the theory. I understand the basic concept; I just don't understand how it's done.”

Kabi stood and lit his Sigar from the hanging lamp before sitting and drawing a satisfied mouthful of smoke. “You won't find any information in that medical library of yours,” he said, knowing full well that Benho hated a mystery and once sparked, his curiosity would drive him to find answers. “Much of the related information has been deleted from records, and what remains is highly classified.”

“So how come you have the information, then?” said Benho.

Kabi laughed. “That's a story in itself. But I've made a solemn oath not to tell it.” He eyed Benho and grinned maliciously. “I could tell you...”

Benho's eyes lit up at the thought.

“But then I'd have to kill you,” finished Kabi.

Benho wasn't amused. He might enjoy teasing others, but he wasn't always so great at being teased himself, Maicee knew. It was one of his friend's few flaws.

“Is it because of the Supreme Emperor's laws?” Maicee asked Kabi. “I mean, why we can't practice genetic modification anymore.”

“No.” Kabi shook his head. “This law is far older than the Supreme Emperor's reign. The decision was made many centuries ago. Maybe one day I'll tell you the whole tale. For now, though, I've got other concerns.” He sighed.

Niku made her way over and rubbed her head against his hand. “What is it, Kabi?” she asked gently.

Kabi sucked at his Sigar, releasing a large plume of smoke before answering her. “What worries me most is trying to get you home safely,” he said finally. He scratched his nose with one finger before adding: “It looks like all the pirates and smugglers of Carooine sailed off into hiding when the Imperial Navy dropped anchor in harbour. Can't blame them, I suppose. But I've been trying to find a way for us to get out of here all night, and have found exactly nothing.”

“You want to smuggle Niku out of here before you and Maicee go off on your around-the-world trip?” Benho asked, curiosity once more piqued.

Kabi glanced at Maicee, glad that the boy had decided on his own to come, though Kabi would have forced him if necessary. He wondered what had persuaded him to come along, but decided to let the issue lie. He'd got the outcome he'd wanted, and questioning it would be foolish.
Something that a lot of other people could profit from learning,
he mused.

“Yes,” he said shortly, in answer to Benho's question.

“Hmmm,” said Benho, thoughtfully, then nodded. “Maybe I can help.”

“And how would you go about doing that?” asked Kabi, a glint of interest in his pale blue eyes.

“I could tell you,” Benho said, then shrugged. “But then I'd have to kill you.”

Maicee laughed, joined by Benho, and even Kabi smiled.

“Fine, have your secrets. Every man must,” Kabi said, when the boys had settled down again. “But you'll have your price, because every man must have that too.”

Benho nodded. “I have my ways. I'll help you find a ship out of here; you have my word. But, yes, there is a condition.”

“Which is?” Kabi asked.

“Which is that you take me with you,” Benho said flatly.

Kabi scratched his nose again and looked suspiciously at Benho. “You seem eager to leave. Not in any trouble, are you?”

“No, no,” Benho said airily. “It just so happens that I too need to leave Carooine, and I'd rather have you three as travelling companions than a shipload of pirates or traders.”

He stood up from the table and looked at his chronos. “Do we have a deal?”

Kabi looked at the boy. Something was going on here, and he didn't know what. And he didn't like not knowing what was going on. However, his needs coincided with Benho's, and if the boy could help, well, fine. “You don't even know where we're going,” he said.

“Britannia,” Benho said. “Maicee told me. Hip, cool, and far away from tropical humidity and rainstorms. Can't go wrong there.”

“Fine. Get us a ship by tomorrow night, and we've got a deal,” Kabi said.

“Perfect,” Benho said with a grin. “Now if you'll excuse me, a prior engagement awaits.”

He winked at Maicee, who had a fair idea of what his friend's prior engagement was, and left the apartment. It was a good ten-minute walk back to his own place, and he didn't want to be late. He thought of Sa-li's hips swaying in her short skirt.
Nope. I definitely don't want to be late,
he thought, hurrying his steps a little.

*

The metal bed frame creaked rhythmically. Clothes, both male and female, lay scattered in a trail from the door to the bed, and the heavy, musky scent of hormones was in the air. Sa-li giggled and moaned, and Benho's breath came faster. Glistening skin sliding against skin, sparkling in the early afternoon sunshine, Benho wondered how he could ever think about leaving this woman. It was only when he was spent and the room descended into peaceful silence that he began to think with his brain again, rather than with other parts of his anatomy. This was something that had to be done. And who knew, one day, maybe he'd be back for her. Looking at Sa-li's long black hair spread out on his pillow, he sincerely hoped that he would be back for her.

For now, though, he needed her help, and that meant asking for it. And letting her know that he was leaving at the same time. He just hoped that she wasn't going to kick up a fuss about it.

“Sa-li,” he said, stroking her arm. “You wouldn't happen to know of anyone with a ship who wouldn't mind making a little money on the side, would you?”

She lazily opened one deep blue eye. “Thinking about smuggling something in?” she asked.

Benho shrugged. “More like smuggling something out,” he said and paused. “Myself and some friends,” he admitted after a while. “I can't tell you any more than that.”

Sa-li looked at him, pondering what her reaction to this should be. She had long experience with men and knew damn well that the one thing that would drive Benho away would be to try to stop him from leaving Carooine. On the other hand, if she helped him, then he might one day return to her.

“You can't tell me more because you don't trust me?” she asked, pretending to pout.

“No, I trust you!” Benho said seriously, sitting up. “But some things are best left unsaid. Information can be dangerous, you know. And I wouldn't want you to get hurt.”

Hmmm. She had been joking, and it amused her that he would be so serious. But there was something in his voice. This was obviously not something to be joked about. She thought for a few minutes, her fingers drawing gentle circles on his chest.

“I heard from one of the band members that Lucia has a personal ship,” she said finally.

“Lucia the singer?” Benho said, surprised.

“Mmm. And that she occasionally dabbles in... well, things,” said Sa-li. “Would you like me to set up a meeting?”

Benho nodded, his mind being rapidly distracted by Sa-li's moving fingers. “That would be nice,” he croaked. “I'll owe you one.”

“Well,” purred Sa-li, “maybe I'll take a little down payment right now.”

She sprang up, pushing Benho down onto the sheets, straddling him and letting him see the full sight of her curved body. If she was going to lose him, even if only for a while, she'd better make the most of him while she had him. Benho laid his head back and groaned. Damn, he was going to miss Sa-li.

*

The troop through the residential quarter to the outskirts of town had left Benho, Maicee, and Kabi dusty and feeling more than a little out of place by the time they reached the quarter where Carooine's mansions and villas lay. The evening was just beginning, and in their own part of town, the night stall holders were already plying their wares, music playing, bells jingling, and the voices of the haggling shoppers calling in hoots of laughter and snorts of derision. Here, though, all was quiet, except for the soft hiss of watering machines on large lawns and the hum of insects taking advantage of the last of the day's heat to feed.

“It looks like that's it,” said Benho, examining the paper he held in his hand and then pointing at a large white house.

Most of Carooine was sand coloured with a little red dust thrown in for good measure.
Keeping this place looking white and pristine must be a nightmare
, thought Maicee as they walked towards the towering gates. Beyond the gates he could see an immaculate garden, with no sign of a living soul.

“She certainly knows how to live,” Maicee grunted as Kabi lifted a hand and rang a bell.

“Dolean residence,” said a disembodied voice.

“Yes, this is KabiOnn, and I believe Ms. Dolean is expecting me?”

There was a quiet click as the gate unlocked, and raising an eyebrow, Kabi pushed through.

Beds of brightly coloured flowers lined the path from the gate, widening into a large circle before rejoining and leading to the front door. In the centre of the circle sat a fountain, spraying jets of multi-coloured water high into the air, where they turned into mist and floated down to the ground. Maicee licked his lips and tasted no hint of salt in the mist. On an island that had little natural fresh water, Lucia must be very rich indeed to be able to keep a garden such as this. And just how had a singer come to make so much money? Sure, she was famous enough in the small confines of Carooine, but surely not this kind of famous.
Perhaps
, he thought, as they approached the door,
she’s more renowned in her homeland
.

They reached the cool shade of the porch that stretched over the front door, and once more Kabi raised a hand to ring a bell. This time there was no voice; the door simply slid silently to one side. After a moment of hesitation, the three men stepped inside.

What none of the three noticed was the two Imperial soldiers watching them disappear into the house through the gates. The two soldiers looked at each other, came to some sort of silent agreement, then settled back to wait for the prescribed time.

*

They were shown into a large room, open on one side to the gardens behind the house and littered with couches, cushions, and low tables. Lucia rose as soon as they entered, her long red hair tied up in an elegant knot, clothed in a white robe that was almost transparent. Benho's eyes nearly fell out of his head as he tried desperately not to see anything that might overexcite him.

“Welcome to my home, KabiOnn,” said Lucia in her husky, lightly accented voice.

She held out her hand for Kabi to kiss, which he did whilst never breaking eye contact.

“It's a pleasure to see you again,” he said.

“The pleasure's all mine,” said Lucia, eyeing him. “You've become quite the celebrity. The last I heard, you were being hunted by Magi Lords.”

Kabi laughed. “From what I hear, you've become quite the celebrity yourself, Captain Seagull.”