Shadower (33 page)

He told the truth with genuine sincerity. The only information he didn't disclose was that the money was going to Shielders. Since the gold helped fund ships and weapons for the purpose of battling the Controllers, it was actually a strike against the evil system that perpetuated shadowers and grievous injustices.

Celie took a tentative step forward. "You're a shadower. Like my father. Like Pax. They were liars, both of them."

"So you don’t know if I’m telling the truth or not."

She nodded, her hands twisting her flightsuit. He could see she wanted to believe him, wanted to help Moriah, but fear and doubt held her back. "Celie, sometimes all we have to go on are someone's actions and our own instincts. You and I were alone together in a prison cell for almost an entire cycle. You were on my ship for another cycle. During that time, did I threaten you in any way or do anything to harm you?"

She looked down, shook her head. "No."

"Did Moriah ever accuse me of hurting her in any way? Do you know I treated the wound she received from the Jaccians?"

She met his gaze, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. She was a younger version of Moriah, in so many ways. "No, she didn't appear hurt after being with you. I-I don't know much about the Jaccian wound. Moriah doesn't tell me things that might upset me."

"Then what does your heart tell you, Celie? Am I a bad person?"

Moisture pooled in her eyes, and her face contorted with indecision. "I don't know!" She whirled, stepped toward the door. "You're a
shadower!"

He tensed, anxiety spearing through him. "I'm Sabin.
Sabin.
I kept the Anteks away from you, Celie. I returned you safely to your sister. I defended Moriah against two Jaccians, and treated her wound. I knew she was a smuggler, but I never turned her in. Think about that. I could have gotten a reward, but
I never turned her in.
I don't hurt innocent people." He flung his hand toward Radd. "Ask Radd. He's known me a long time." Despite that, no telling what Radd might say.

Radd placed a reassuring hand on Celie's arm. "He's okay, for a shadower."

She stood there for what seemed an eternity. Finally she nodded. "All right. I'll help you, but you have to promise you'll go straight to Moriah and protect her."

Sabin sagged against the wall in relief. "You have my word. I plan to stop Galen and make certain your sister is safe." What he did with Moriah after that didn't count.

He held out his wrists, and Radd pressed the sequencer on the lock. The shackles came off, and Radd released the chain. Rubbing his wrists, Sabin strode rose and strode to Celie. He gently cupped her chin, and her eyes widened. Uncertainty still lurked in their brown depths.

"You did the right thing, sweetheart. I'll do my best to keep Moriah and the others safe. But I need to know where they're headed."

She nodded. "The iridon will be delivered to Saron in two more cycles."

"Is there a specific location on the planet?"

"I don't know. Moriah's log didn't name one. Eark will probably give her exact coordinates when she gets closer."

"Okay. Don't worry about it. I'll find them."

"I'd better go with ya," Radd said. "Ya might need some help."

"I'll take all the assistance I can get." Sabin clasped Celie's shoulders. "Can you keep the other women distracted until after we're gone?"

She smiled for the first time. "Sure. I'll tell them Radd is bringing your meal. They don't want to come near you anyway."

"Good girl." He turned to Radd. "I'd like my weapons back, if you don't mind. Then let's get the hell out of here."

They circled Saron twice, running off space scum who had descended on the planet like vultures on a carcass. The rumors of the iridon shipment apparently had flown far and wide. Luckily, Sabin's new ship was impressive enough to convince most of the scum he was indeed a Controller agent, with the authority to arrest or kill anyone who crossed him. At the very least, the pirates weren't about to argue with his firepower. And the two who were foolish enough to challenge him regretted it.

Jarek maintained orbit farther out, weapons ready in case Sabin needed him. It proved unnecessary, though, and he flew in behind Sabin’s ship. They did one more orbit, this time to scan the planet's surface.

Saron was basically a stopover planet, offering fuel, supplies, and entertainment for space-weary travelers. Situated in a remote part of the quadrant, it wasn't heavily monitored by the Controllers. It also had a hilly, wooded terrain, making it a good location for illegal transactions.

Sabin figured the iridon exchange would take place away from the primary area of activity. About one hundred kilometers from Saron's main landing field, his sensors found what he was seeking—two ships on the ground. More than likely, they were those of Moriah and the smugglers delivering the iridon. A third, lone ship was moored twenty or so kilometers beyond that. He hadn't chased off any ships that appeared to be Galen’s, and he wondered if this ship might be his.

Anticipation and adrenaline thrumming through him, he brought his craft down near the base of a hill situated between the two groups of ships. Jarek landed on the other side of a thicket of trees. The sun, a fiery orange ball, was beginning its descent. Nightfall was two hours away.

Jarek joined Radd and Sabin outside the ship. "Where's your partner?" he asked Sabin. "Didn't you say he was headed this way?"

"He should be here any time. It seems the person delivering the iridon is someone McKnight has been tracking for over a while."

One cycle ago, Chase had learned Dansan was making the iridon delivery, and he'd headed for Saron immediately. Dansan didn't have a bounty on her head, though, and Sabin had no idea why McKnight was so obsessed with finding her. Still, he knew of Dansan's reputation. She was ruthless and lethal. She was one more element of danger in this situation. How could Moriah take so many risks?

"Let's see who's around." He raised infrared binoculars to his eyes and turned slowly, scanning at full range. He picked up seven life forms near the two ships. "They must be Moriah, Lionia, and Kiah, Dansan and her people," he speculated, uneasy that Moriah's group was outnumbered.

He wouldn't put it past Dansan to double-cross Moriah, take the credit disc, and keep the iridon for herself. But as resourceful as Dansan was, she probably knew the Leors were behind the purchase. He hoped the woman had enough sense not to tangle with that race. Galen, on the other hand, was arrogant and overconfident, and probably wouldn’t hesitate to cross the Leors.

Sabin turned, continuing his surveillance. Five kilometers from the two ships, four life forms rapidly approached the first group. Galen or other marauders? "There’s another group moving on Moriah and Dansan, and they're traveling fast. Get the skimmer," he ordered.

They quickly unloaded the land craft and took off toward the two ships, Jarek piloting. Watching through the binocs, Sabin cursed. "The new group is almost to Moriah and her people. How far are we?"

"Six kilometers," Jarek answered.

Damn. They couldn't take the skimmer much faster, because they were weaving through the trees. Concern for Moriah sent Sabin's heart racing. Why had she put herself in this danger? He tried to push away the emotions that kept nagging at him. He'd known at a young age he never wanted to lose a loved one again; never wanted to feel the overwhelming grief and loneliness when that love was ripped away. Moriah didn't even care about him. She'd lied to him, used him, and left him. Alone, which was probably for the best.  It was the safest existence.

A rumble caught his attention. He heard the roar of a ship taking off. Up ahead, a large black spacecraft lifted, then arced away. That must be Dansan leaving. He returned to the binocs. Only one ship now, with three life forms beside it. And the four approaching life forms had circled around them and were closing in. Blazing hells! "Go to full speed!" he yelled.

Jarek opened the throttle and the skimmer hurtled toward the converging groups of people.

But Sabin knew it would be too late.

*  *  *  *

Watching Dansan's ship speed across the horizon, Moriah breathed a sigh of relief. The woman gave her the creeps, with those pale eyes devoid of any humanity. Knowing her treacherous reputation, Moriah had been prepared for a trap. She and Lionia and Kiah had all worn protective body suits and blast helmets, and carried extra weapons. But it had gone down without a hitch.

Now the iridon was safely loaded on the ship, and Dansan was gone. Galen and all the other lowlifes Sabin had been so worried about hadn't materialized. Or perhaps his dire warnings had just been a ruse to get her to reveal the delivery location.

A wave of pain swept through her. A shadower couldn't be trusted.
Never.
Not even a handsome shadower with a seductive body and bone-melting, husky-voiced promises. She'd have to deal with Sabin when they returned to Risa. Suddenly tired, she pulled off her helmet and turned toward Lionia and Kiah, who had also removed their helmets. Lionia, who disdained armor, took off her protective vest.   "Come on," Moriah said. "Let's get out of here."

"Now don't rush off on our account."

She whirled around. A man stepped into the clearing, flanked by three others, all heavily armed. She recognized one of the three immediately. Turlock. He sported his favorite weapon, a long-barreled blaster. She focused on the leader. He was the man she'd seen on Sabin's video viewer. Galen. He was compact but muscular. His neatly trimmed hair and beard were gray. He looked ordinary enough, except for his eyes. They were pale, malevolent, and maniacal.

He spoke again, his voice low and well-modulated. "Please don't try to be heroic." He patted the pulse rifle he carried. "Life is cheap. But I've been known to spare cowards."

Moriah met his chilling stare. "What do you want, Galen?"

He tilted his head arrogantly. "Ah, you know me. My reputation precedes me." He bowed with a flourish of his hand. "Galen Kane, at your service. No, make that at
my service."
He straightened, a sinister glint in his eyes.

This man had been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent Shielders. Moriah grew cold inside. "What do you want?" she demanded again, refusing to show fear to this madman.

"Please." He rolled his eyes in mock dismay. "I think it should be obvious why I'm here. This iridon delivery has been big news for cycles now."

Spirit, Sabin had been right. "I don't know what you're talking about," she hedged, slowly inching her hand toward her holster.

"Oh, I think you do. No sense playing games. You're outnumbered, outgunned—oh, and out of iridon." Galen raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Turlock and one of the men moved toward Moriah, while a third strode toward the ship. She reached for her gun. She was fast, but the men were faster. Their weapons snapped up and discharged. She aimed at Turlock and fired. She heard a cry behind her. Automatically, she whirled.

Kiah! The Leor female lay crumpled on the ground, her magnetic bow clutched in her hands. Blood pooled nearby. Lionia was also sprawled on the ground, two meters from Kiah. Both women must have drawn their weapons when the men moved.

"No!" Moriah screamed. She started toward the women, but common sense kicked in. What was she thinking? Galen was behind her. She swung around, bringing up her gun. A fist crashed into the side of her face, sending her reeling sideways. She staggered, battling to regain her balance.

A cruel yank on her hair brought her up short. A hand gripped her arm and dragged her back. "Drop the weapon," Galen hissed in her ear. "Drop it
now."

The gun fell from her nerveless fingers. Kiah. Lionia.
Spirit, let them live.
She tried to turn her head to see them.

"No. Don't look at them.
Look at me.
Always look at me when I'm talking." His voice rising, Galen jerked her hair harder, forcing her head back in a painful arch.

She stared into icy, remorseless eyes.
Kiah, Lionia.
Her body trembled violently. Their deaths were all her fault. Galen smiled diabolically. "You don't mind if we take your ship, do you? So much easier than transferring the iridon. Besides, you won't be needing it."

Releasing her hair, he stroked her bruised cheek. Her body registered the pain, but her stunned mind ignored it. She could think only of her friends lying on the ground. "The swelling will go away," he said, his hand resting against her face. "I can't see any sense in killing you, like those two there. Not when you'll bring a good price at Slaver's Square. Waste not, want not."

She would rather die than ever again be a slave. Hatred swelled, sharp and overwhelming. She forced herself to push away her grief and clear her mind. She had to be levelheaded and ready for the first opportunity to get free. Then she'd seek revenge against this monster.

"Moriah. We meet again." Turlock's grating voice came from her right. "It looks like I get another one of your ships."

Damn, her shot had missed the bastard. She didn't bother to turn her head. "You can burn in the Abyss."

"Children, children," Galen chided. "We must get along—at least until we sell you, my dear, to the slavers."

Her ship's thrusters roared to life, and she realized Galen's man had managed to override the security codes. Bitter despair pooled in her chest. Her odds of escaping or surviving were growing slimmer by the millisecond. What would happen to Celie?

A sudden blast of weapon fire burst through the air. Turlock let out a bellow of pain. Galen turned, and Moriah saw her chance. She wrenched away from his arm and dove for the ground. Grabbing her gun, she rolled up in a crouch.

Turlock writhed on the ground in front of her, clutching his chest. Galen aimed his rifle toward her, but before she could shoot, another blast knocked the rifle from his hands. With a snarl, he reached for the gun on his belt.

Moriah took cover, hurling herself into the edge of the woods and behind a tree. While she wanted to kill Galen and finish off Turlock, she didn't know who was shooting at them. Safely out of the open, she readied her weapon.