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

"Are you accusing me of stealing?" Eow gave an exaggerated look of shock and put her hands on her softly curved hips. "Is that any way to address one of Grimmag Ruby-Eye's made men? In addition to rebuilding his Tantalus III routes after the unfortunate demise of Mindol the Undertaker, I have also taken charge of our efforts here on Earth since Grimmag's lieutenant, Arjun Mukherjee, died so needlessly when the Bloodhawk attacked the Witch's Tits." She flashed a wicked smile. "Odd how the Bloodhawk's laser fire happened to hit him in the head… around a corner."

"You seem to be filling the shoes of so many dead people, Eow," Yiorgos said. "Who's next to help you move up the ladder?"

Eow scowled at the cyborg. "Anyone who gets in my way."

"And where is AVA?" Yiorgos asked, unperturbed. He pointed to the duffel bag. "Did you bring her back?"

Eow glanced down at the bag. "No, no. The Heart is safely tucked away, deep in a vault far below the surface of a nameless asteroid. Even I do not know where."

Dirken was astonished. "I figured you or Grimmag would try to ransom it back to the United Worlds!"

"Ransom it?" Eow said. "Not at all! Think about it. AVA's goal was to end conflict, albeit in a controversial way. But conflict is good for business. Wars between pirates, nations, and worlds means weapons sales… and slaves. Trade conflicts make for a thriving black market. Conflict between economic classes means drug sales. And besides," she turned and looked at Yiorgos, "no one wants some A.I. hacking into their systems. You never know what it might find in there." She stepped a little closer to the cyborg. "I wonder…." She pointed a claw at his head. "If I were to root around in that mechanical brain of yours, what trace of AVA might I find?"

Yiorgos swatted her hand away. She laughed and stepped back. It was the same lighthearted laugh Dirken had missed.

"So what's in the bag?" Dirken asked.

She smiled. "First, let me answer about the fighter. It is yours. Grimmag gifts it to you. When the Bloodhawk attacked the Witch's Tits and destroyed the hangar, Grimmag vowed revenge." She ran her palm along Dirken's stubbly jawline. "You saved him the trouble of hunting the pirate down. Besides," her hand slipped down his chest to his belly. "I have other fightercraft now and have grown tired of this one."

Dirken took a deep breath as her hand crossed his gun belt and slipped down over the bulge of his crotch.

"And the bag?" he croaked, trying not to seem aroused.

She pulled away, much to his disappointment, and reached down to open the bag.

Yiorgos eagerly craned his neck to look inside, then blinked in surprise as Dirken took his turn.

Inside were stacks of United Worlds hundred-chit notes. Dirken whistled.

"Two-hundred and fifty thousand," Eow said. "Just as he had negotiated with you in his Sanctum." She smiled at his bewildered expression. "What? Why are you surprised? Grimmag Ruby-Eye is a businessman first." She lifted her chin and said with pride, "He always follows through with his deals. Besides, you are in his good graces again. In fact, we may have use for you and your new starship. I will gladly hire you to smuggle some goods for us. Or, at least, provide security for our convoys."

Inwardly, Dirken was thrilled with the idea. He hadn't even lifted off and he already had an "in" with the mafia. But no drugs. Not after what he'd seen in the comet.

He hid his enthusiasm. "I don't know…. We have some gigs lined up." He turned to look at Yiorgos. "What do you think, partner?"

Yiorgos frowned. "I think we could use another weapons array or two. I say she throw those in."

Eow laughed, her fangs glistening. "How about some laser cores?" She reached back down to the bag and rummaged. "Speaking of weapons…." She pulled out a blaster.

Dirken immediately pulled his blaster and Yiorgos activated his plasma saber.

She laughed it off and held up her hands.

Dirken blinked and took a closer look. "My Gree-tech blaster!" He holstered the weapon he was holding and took a step forward to inspect the one in the bag. It was, indeed, his beloved blaster that had been lost in 'TakTrak's wrecked bridge.

"Another gift for you," she said. "Consider it an advance, if you'll take the job."

"Deal!" Dirken pronounced. Yiorgos sighed loudly, turning his plasma saber back into a hand. "How did you get it?" Dirken asked.

"A Corthian smuggler was cursing your name in a bar on Rigel, so I went over to him and his one-eyed pilot. I asked how he knew you. He wouldn't tell me, but he said this blaster had been yours. So I challenged him to a game of goron'oc for it and a bit of cash." She handed the blaster over to him. "He was a very good player," she continued, "but a poor cheater."

The blaster felt so good in his hand. Just the right heft. He turned and aimed it at a tree. The blast splintered the wood, leaving behind a massive, smoking hollow. He felt whole again — truly whole — for the first time since the last gig.

"Thank you," he said.

She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close. Her lips pressed against his. Mouth parting. Her rough tongue playing over his.

He put his arms around her and held her, one hand still holding the blaster. The fingers of his other hand ran through the soft, lavender fur of her back. Hard muscles beneath it flexed as she writhed against his chest and belly.

She pulled back, her whiskers tickling his cheek. She gave another light kiss, then purred, "I can think of a better way you can thank me." Her amethyst eyes looked deep into his with a mischievous glint.

"I can think of several." He kissed her neck and worked his way up to her ear, then whispered, "We still need to re-enact my capture