The First Nova I See Tonight by Jason Kilgore (best ereader for pdf and epub TXT) 📗

one knew where it was located or who created it. The governments reacted by blaming each other. Intercontinental and interplanetary war seemed imminent."

A technician dropped a laser calibrator with a clatter, momentarily interrupting Dirken's thoughts. It was hard to keep it all in his head. What's a ganglion, again? Something that would make it impossible to destroy? Dirken asked, "If they couldn't destroy it, then how'd they stop it?"

"An intern with a basic understanding of computing noticed an incredible amount of server communication activity at the insurance company's headquarters where he was working. He connected the dots and simply cut the communication lines. Since AVA was independently-powered, it wasn't destroyed, and thus the ganglia weren't activated. You see, quantum computers need standard communication arrays to communicate, but because of the 'spooky action' they know if the other units are still active."

Dirken blinked. This was getting too complicated, and he didn't know what "spooky action" was. Something scary? He had lost track of the two groups of mafia goons. Had they been coming this direction?

Yiorgos seemed to notice Dirken's confusion and waved his hand, his way of changing topics. "Nevermind. Speaking of communication lines, let me hack into the system here and see what they are saying about us."

"Be careful."

Yiorgos tilted his head, eyes going unfocused, as he concentrated on the computer side of his brain. Little twitches of his head gave hints about how he was interfacing with the wireless network.

The computer engineer, a short, hairless Jen'torian with dark gray skin and sunglasses covering each of his four large eyes, stepped down the ramp from the cockpit. He murmured in characteristic Jen'torian, drunk-sounding style, "Twansationshangesfishish," his voice muffled by a breathing apparatus to filter out the level of nitrogen in the atmosphere. Dirken had to get him to repeat the statement twice before he realized he meant "Translations change is finished."

As the engineer walked away on his four spindly, wobbling legs, Yiorgos came out of his computing mode. Took a deep breath.

"Well?" Dirken said. This was taking too long. They needed to leave.

Yiorgos frowned at him. "Give me a minute, will ya? Going into a system like that one is like swimming down the throat of a Cordracus slime whale." He shivered. Shook his head. "We need to leave right away." He reached down and picked up the sphere. "There's a coded communication about us, and it's marked 'urgent,' but I couldn't read it. Perhaps just as alarming, there's a notice that just came in about the Bloodhawk. Your Dracordan was right. He's alive and he's enlisted at least another ship. They were seen coming out of a gravwell at the Struve star system. He's headed toward the jump point that leads here. They'll reach the system within the hour."

"Shit," Dirken said. "Let's get out of here."

But no sooner had they turned toward the cockpit when a dozen of the mafia goons came running from around the back of the fighter, including the Pleiadean cyborg armed with a dual-emitter pulse rifle from the corridor checkpoint. Turning, Dirken saw six more guards come from the other direction. Eow and her friend from the lounge, Dimitri the Giant, were with them. Every one of them, except for Eow, had a weapon trained on Dirken and Yiorgos.

Dirken raised his hands. "Whoa, fellas, let's not do anything hasty."

Eow took a step forward, that dangerous sparkle in her eyes. "Hey there, space jockey. I promised no harm would come to you. Grimmag Ruby-Eye wants to talk with you and Yiorgos, that's all." She nodded toward Yiorgos. "About that metal sphere in your bag."

Dirken put on a smile, hands still raised. "Well why didn't you just say so? No need for all the weapons." He rotated slowly, judging the level of threat and possible exit paths. There was no way to get into the fighter without getting filled with burning holes. "We'll be happy to talk with the don."

Two Rigellians and a Reptiloc stepped forward, took their blasters, and patted them down. But the Reptiloc's meaty, three-fingered hands somehow missed the slim stun grenade in the thigh pocket of Dirken's pants. He found the gambling money in Dirken's pocket though, pulling out a handful. Coins dropped to the floor.

"Hey! Hands off!" Dirken said. "Fucking thief!"

The Reptiloc just sneered at him and pocketed the coins.

"The cyborg's right forearm converts to a plasma sword," Eow warned. She gestured to Dirken's partner. "Yiorgos, if you please."

Yiorgos scowled, then he set the Heart down and detached his forearm. He handed his forearm over to Eow, who then handed it to a guard. Glaring at the Ananak, Yiorgos half-turned and said to Dirken, "Didn't I tell you not to trust her?"

Eow rubbed her hand across Dirken's cheek, soft and gentle. Gave a sultry smile. "Do as you're told and you'll be fine." She leaned forward and gave him a long kiss, her tongue milling with his, then she pulled back. Licked her lips. "I'd hate to have such a handsome face spoiled."

He didn't kiss her back. "Your kiss is poison," Dirken said, his voice low, staring back into her amethyst eyes. Those… sparkling, gorgeous eyes that flashed like gems. He didn't want to admit to himself how the kiss really made him feel.

Eow looked away, bent and picked up the duffel with the Heart, then she and the guards escorted Dirken and Yiorgos back toward the interior of the comet.

Dirken looked over toward 'TakTrak's ship and saw the Corthian standing at the bottom of the gangplank, watching Dirken go by. 'TakTrak called up the gangplank and his pilot, Feleesha, appeared from the airlock, then turned to watch Dirken pass as well. Feleesha gave him the usual look of disdain. 'TakTrak was harder to read, as were all of his species, but his posture suggested… what? Not alarm. Disappointment? Then they were out of sight behind other parked spacecraft.

Eow walked just ahead of the group, silky fur scintillating over her slim figure with each step. Even now, despite the double-cross, he found