Trickster. Part 15

"I don't blame you." Ben put a gentle arm around Kendi. "But you may have to be content with just getting them out. Edsard Roon has all of SA's resources working for him, and we only have the resources of this one ship. If they catch us in any of this, every one of us, including Bedj-ka, will quietly disappear into the recycling vats or into the Collection itself."

"I've been thinking about that," Kendi said, leaning into Ben's embrace. "Maybe we should find a way to send Harenn and Bedj-ka back to Bellerophon, get them out of the way in case something goes wrong."

"Harenn won't go for it. She still feels guilty about saving Bedj-ka first. She wants to see everything through, make sure you find your family."

Kendi sighed. Ben was right--Harenn would hate the idea of being sent back home, but to ensure the safety of her son, he should order her to go. The problem was, he needed Harenn's skills and was afraid he wouldn't be able to rescue Martina and Utang without her.

There was another factor as well. Kendi was adult enough to admit that, despite all his a.s.surances to the contrary, he was d.a.m.ned angry at Harenn. He knew it was irrational, that there was no way for either of them to have known that rescuing Bedj-ka first had been a mistake, that if they had known, Harenn would have been the first to insist that they go after Martina and Utang right away. All this his head knew. The trouble was, his emotions weren't listening. Did he really need Harenn's skills that badly, or was he keeping her around out of spite? He wasn't entirely sure.

"I should go change," Ben said, letting Kendi go and starting to get up. Kendi caught his arm and stopped him.

"Why? You look amazing, Ben. Green eyes suit you. So does the darker hair. And the clothes."

Ben's face reddened but he didn't object when Kendi pulled him back onto the couch. Kendi sat on Ben's lap, facing him, and kissed him hard. Kendi felt his own desire rise. He wanted to be close to Ben, feel his body moving against his own. His hands moved behind Ben and pulled the other man closer with an ardor that surprised both of them. A maelstrom whirled around Kendi--love, desire, fear, anger, helplessness, frustration, joy. He had been holding it all for so long, and he focused everything into a single, powerful kiss. When they parted, Ben was panting.

"What's this all about?" he asked.

Kendi wanted to tell him, but it was all such a tangle that he couldn't find the words. He wanted to merge with Ben, become a single person, never be apart from him again. But all he could say was, "I don't want you to start getting ideas about Papagos-Faye."

"No fear of that."

"Let's make absolute sure."

Elena Papagos-Faye drummed her fingers on the cheap tabletop of the Pit restaurant with ill-disguised impatience. Devin Reap was a mystery, an enigma. His consultant file with SA was annoyingly brief. He had only been on the station for a few months. Before that he had worked tech for a pa.s.senger ship named the Merry Widow Merry Widow, but it had apparently gone into slips.p.a.ce just before the Despair hit and had never come back. Devin Reap had, by sheer chance, not been aboard because he had been taking a two-week vacation. That was all. Because he was a consultant who didn't work with cla.s.sified equipment or software, SA didn't keep an extensive background file on him. It didn't even list where he lived--just a com-link code identical to the one he had given her. A high-level check with Domestic hadn't turned up an address, but that wasn't uncommon--Reap was likely pirating quarters with someone. It was a common scam. SA partly based its rents on the number of people living in a given place, so two people who officially shared an apartment would one day come home to a rent hike, wiping out the main reason for putting up with cramped living quarters in the first place.

The fact that Elena couldn't learn more about Devin made him even more intriguing. Elena was someone who made her living manipulating information and data, and not having much information on this guy tantalized her. He certainly hadn't volunteered much about himself last night during their second date at the Pit.

Elena smiled, remembering. Their time together yesterday had been filled with entendres entendres that varied from double to quintuple. They had placed some bets and cheered the gladiators together, and Elena had used the latter activity as an excuse to rub up against him in the press of spectators. Devin seemed to be receptive during the entire thing, even flashed her a shy, boyish smile when her hand stole down into a more . . . private area. But when the Pit closed down for the evening, he had thanked her for a fun time, given her a quick peck on the cheek, and vanished. that varied from double to quintuple. They had placed some bets and cheered the gladiators together, and Elena had used the latter activity as an excuse to rub up against him in the press of spectators. Devin seemed to be receptive during the entire thing, even flashed her a shy, boyish smile when her hand stole down into a more . . . private area. But when the Pit closed down for the evening, he had thanked her for a fun time, given her a quick peck on the cheek, and vanished.

She checked the time on her ocular implant. He was three minutes late. This was their third date in as many nights--if you counted their first meeting as a date--and Elena had decided that tonight she would get him into bed if she had to put him in chains. And wasn't that a lovely thought? Watching those muscles of his strain against the metal, hearing him cry and beg as she held back from the one thing that he wanted. That all men wanted.

"What are you thinking about?" a familiar voice asked. Devin slid into the seat across from her in what they had already come to refer to as "their" booth at the Pit. The fights hadn't yet started, and the place was quiet.

"You," she replied. "You're late, you know. I'll make you pay for that."

"I'm sorry," he said contritely. "What can I do to make it up to you?"

His tone was absolutely serious, with no trace of innuendo. His wide, green eyes suddenly filled with tension, as if he were afraid she really were angry. G.o.d, he was so wonderfully malleable.

"I'll think of something," she murmured, and slid her foot up his calf.

He gave that shy smile that made her burn inside. "Have you ordered yet?"

They called for drinks and Devin asked her how work had gone that day.

"Well, I can't talk about much," she said. "Just about everything I do is cla.s.sified over there. You know, Devin, I could probably get you a job within my project. Something on the periphery. You said you haven't been offered any work in, what, a week? Two?"

"Yeah. The post-Despair recession. There isn't much work for us independents, with SA laying off its regular workers left and right. I have some savings, but they're going fast."

"Play your cards right with me, and I can get you something more permanent. And higher paying." Elena gave him a long look over her gla.s.s. "You won't have to pirate living s.p.a.ce with someone else anymore."

Fear filled his face. "How did you--I mean, I'm not--"

"You don't have to worry, Devin," she said, patting his hand. So her theory had been correct. "I won't tell anyone your little secret. If you keep me happy, that is."

"I'll do my best," he said, still shy. "I like you a lot, Elena. You're smart and beautiful and . . . and s.e.xy." The last word made him blush furiously.

She leaned across the table and stroked his well-muscled forearm. "Then why don't we go back to my place and discuss . . . new positions?"

"But the fights haven't even started yet," he said. "I mean, that Leeland guy is supposed to have his new gladiator up tonight. Everyone's talking about it. And we haven't eaten yet."

He looked a little scared. Too much too fast? Elena wasn't sure. She decided to back away, get a couple of drinks into him. A little tip to the bartender would make sure his drinks contained more than the usual amount of alcohol, though she didn't want him too too drunk. drunk.

"Of course," she said. "Antic.i.p.ation only makes it better."

They talked about nothing in particular as the Pit filled up and the first fights began. They watched a few on the in-house holographic display, and Devin pounded the table during the good parts. Elena watched in fascination. He was normally so quiet, but the gladiator fights seemed to bring out the screamer within. She wondered if it was the same for him in the bedroom.

After their dinners arrived, Elena asked, "So tell me about the Merry Widow Merry Widow."

Devin paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "The Widow Widow?"

"Your ship," she said. "You were supposed to be on board when it left port but you decided to take a last-minute vacation instead. Lucky for you."

He set the fork down, food untasted. "Yeah. Lucky."

"Tell me about it," she commanded.

"What's there to tell?" His eyes stared across the room at nothing. "I worked on the books, kept the payroll people happy. The Widow Widow made a regular shuttle run for pa.s.sengers and cargo around the Five Green Worlds. I decided I needed a break, so I sat the last one out on Klimkinnar. Then the Despair hit and the made a regular shuttle run for pa.s.sengers and cargo around the Five Green Worlds. I decided I needed a break, so I sat the last one out on Klimkinnar. Then the Despair hit and the Widow Widow never came out of slips.p.a.ce. Someone on the crew probably went . . . you know . . . and that was the end of it." never came out of slips.p.a.ce. Someone on the crew probably went . . . you know . . . and that was the end of it."

"You had a lot of friends on board," she said. "And someone special?"

"I--I don't--"

"Tell me," she ordered again.

"Yeah," he whispered, voice barely audible. "I was going to ask her to marry me when she got back. I took the vacation time so I could shop for a ring."

How cute. And trite. Elena sat back in her seat, wondering what would happen if she ordered him to get up and do a cartwheel. "That's why you're not so sure you want to get involved with me, isn't it?"

"Don't get me wrong, Elena," he said quickly. "I like you a lot. I'm just not completely sure of everything yet."

"Perhaps I can firm things up for you."

They finished dinner in time to make their way to the Pit for the new Leeland gladiator. They tried to worm their way to the railing, but the cheering crowd was simply too thick. Snarls and howls rose from the fighting arena.

"Let's forget this and go back to my place," she shouted in Devin's ear. "It's too crowded."

"I want to try again," he yelled back. "Maybe I can muscle a place up front for the two of us."

Elena made an exasperated sound that was completely swallowed up by the noise of the crowd. "I need to go to the ladies' room," she snarled.

"Okay. I'll try to get closer."

Elena headed toward the human restrooms, furious. What was it going to take? He was emotionally vulnerable, probably h.o.r.n.y as h.e.l.l by now, and thought she was s.e.xy. It was infuriating.

She used one of the toilet stalls and headed for the mirrors to check her face. A few other women were there as well, including two who were obviously friends. Both went in for heavy rouge and eye-liner, and their hairdos ran toward big and tacky. Definitely low on the social scale. Elena was about to brush past them without a second glance when one of them said something that caught her attention.

"It's a male date rape drug," the first woman was saying. She had improbably blond hair and her dress showed plenty of cleavage. "He'll give you anything you want, and I mean anything anything."

"Really?" The second woman, a redhead, seemed skeptical.

"No joke. Hey, I work for bio-engineering, and this is the real stuff. It gives women a slight buzz, but it makes men both h.o.r.n.y and pliant. Something about the Y chromosome." She held up a vial of clear liquid with a giggle. "And the stuff keeps him hard as a rock rock. G.o.d, honey, he'll do whatever you want, and for hours hours. None of this in-and-out-and-done bulls.h.i.t. It's the greatest invention for women since the hands-free vibrator. You have to try it on Rick."

"It really works?"

"Oh, yeah. Here, honey. Just try it. What have you got to lose, right?"

The other women in the restroom had drifted out. Intrigued, Elena edged closer to the two friends. "Excuse me," she said. "I couldn't help overhearing. Is that stuff for real?"

The vial vanished into the blond woman's pocket. "Is what for real?"

"I heard you talking about that new drug," Elena said. "Is it for real?"

The woman's nostril's flared. Elena saw dark roots poking through the blond dye job. "Are you with Security or something? Listen, I was just joking around when I said--"

"No, nothing like that," Elena said impatiently. "Look, if that stuff's for real, I'll buy some."

"We should probably get out of here, Marlene," the redhead said.

"Is it for real?" Elena persisted. "I've got cash right here."

"It's for real," Marlene said cautiously. "I'm a secretary over in bio-enj, and one of the researchers owed me a . . . a favor. This stuff is so new, it doesn't even have a name."

Elena licked her lips. It would be perfect. Devin would be hers for the taking. She decided on the spot she had to get her hands on some of the stuff, whatever it was.

"I'll pay you a hundred SA chits for a dose," she said.

"No way," Marlene scoffed. "I only have two doses left. If I give one to Shirley here, that's only one left for me."

"Two hundred chits."

"Honey, you must think I'm crazy. My boyfriend's the best he's ever been when he's on this stuff, and I'm looking forward to some hot action tonight with him. It's not for sale."

"I'll give you fifty freemarks."

Marlene looked startled. "Hard cash?"

"Hard as diamonds." She held up a wad of plastic bills. Marlene eyed it with undisguised greed. SA paid most of its employees in company chits which were only spendable on SA station, and a fair number of employees discovered that their salaries weren't quite enough to make ends meet after paying SA for rent, food, clothes, and other necessities. SA rarely had problems retaining its workers, as a result. Only certain employees were able to specify a salary paid in freemarks, and Elena, of course, was one of them.

"Come on, Marlene," Shirley said, plucking at Marlene's sleeve. "I don't like this. Let's get out of here before Security shows up."

Marlene kept her eyes on the money. "It's all right, Shirl. Listen, hon, maybe I could sell you a dose but . . . " She hesitated and Elena forced herself not to fidget. Then Marlene shook her head. "I don't know. This stuff's hard to get, and who knows when I'll be able to get my hands on some more? Plus, my boyfriend's a real minute man, if you get my drift. I don't think I can give this up. Sorry."

The chance was slipping away. Recklessly, Elena yanked more bills from her pocket. "I'll give you a hundred freemarks. That has to be, what, a month's rent for you?"

Marlene wavered again. "I--I don't . . . "

"Marlene, come on on," Shirley whined. "This is really making me nervous. She's gotta be Security."

"A hundred and twenty," Elena insisted. "That's all I have on me. Come on, help me out, here."

"Well . . . " After an achingly long moment, she finally held out the vial. Elena handed over the money and all but s.n.a.t.c.hed the little bottle from Marlene's carefully-manicured hand. A thin smile crossed Elena's face. Devin would learn what it meant to say no no to her, he would, indeed. to her, he would, indeed.

Now that the deal was done, Marlene seemed to lose her earlier reticence. "Using the stuff's a little tricky, hon," she said. "It has a strong smell, so you can't just slip it in his drink--he'll notice. You have to persuade him to take it on purpose instead. I put some in both our drinks and tell my boyfriend we'll get a little high together. It doesn't affect women much--just gives us a little buzz--but it'll be different for him, you just wait. Best part is, when it wears off, your boyfriend'll think the whole 'do as I say' s.e.x thing was his his idea." idea."

Elena grinned. "Sounds perfect. Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Marlene said, turning back toward the mirror to examine her lipstick. "And I mean that literally."

Elena left the restroom, the tight smile still on her lips. She found Devin in the press around the Pit, obviously still unable to find a way closer to their favored spot at the railing. The little vial in her hand gleamed like a diamond. If no one will give you what you want, sometimes you just have to take it.

"I can't get closer," he complained over the noise.

She took his arm and pulled him away. "Come on," she yelled. "I have a better idea." He let her lead him away from the Pit and out the door into the street corridor. Vehicles buzzed by and the lights of FunSec glittered and swirled around them. Humans and non-humans walked, lurched, crawled, and scampered up and down the sidewalk. Overhead, the lattice of walkways swarmed with beings.

"We're going back to my place now," she said in a voice that brooked no argument. "It's time you moved on, Devin. Besides, we have to discuss your new position, remember?"

"Elena, I don't--"

"Now, Devin," she snapped.

"All right." His voice was meek again.

With a triumphant smile, Elena flagged down a cab. Men like Devin Reap wanted to be given orders, wanted to obey. She probably could have gotten him faster if she had simply ordered him to come along with her.

During the cab ride, she gave him gentle, careful caresses. The feel of hard muscle under her questing hands was an incredible turn-on, especially when she knew that soon he'd do anything she said, anything at all. For his part, Devin kept his eyes down. Once he shyly touched her knee but otherwise kept his hands to himself. When they arrived, Elena paid the driver and led Devin to her front door, which was set into an anonymous row of similar doors. She opened two locks, pressed her thumb against a pressure plate, and opened the door.

Elena, of course, ranked a great deal of s.p.a.ce. She had five rooms to herself, all of them with extravagantly high ceilings and a wide expanse of floor. The furnishings were simple and minimal, to further emphasize this latter quality. Elena's quarters also had large windows that looked out into deep s.p.a.ce, though she could change them into holographic scenes of anything she wished. Devin looked around, obviously awed.

"Clarence," she said, "deactivate interior security cameras."

"Acknowledged," replied the computer.

"Wow," Devin whistled. "You could put three of my apartment in just this living room."