Page 155 of Sky Song
Simon said something in his strange language, and two of his henchmen moved to stand on both sides of Lyle. She was hoisted upright by a strong hand, and a long blue duster was thrown over her shoulders, shimmering under the lamp light like a wizard’s robe.
Her heart started racing. “Don’t kill him! He isn’t well.”
“Yeah, I couldn't tell. I thought he was meditating.”
“You aren’t funny. It’s all your fault, anyway!” Simon was pulling her away from Lyle, and she was resisting.
“How so?”
“You put the implant into him.”
“And it should have stayed put.” He issued another terse command, and the two Rix closed in on Lyle. One, a tall strapping male with striking if unyielding features - though still short of Lyle’s god-like perfection - inspected Lyle’s tattoos, and said in Universal, “This one is a convicted felon, Commander.” His statement had an implied question of why they had to bother with him.
Simon slowly turned his head, the heavy braid rasping against the fabric of his suit, the only sound. “Do you know who he is, Phex?”
“He’s a pirate, Commander,” Phex responded dutifully.
“Yes. His name’s Lyle. As in, Rayanor Lyrem.” When it failed to produce a reaction, Simon added, “Shadow Flyer.”
Phex’s well-shaped head jerked so hard on his thick neck, Cricket thought he might get a whiplash. “TheShadow Flyer?”
“Yes. We’re taking him with us.” A small smile hovered over Simon’s stern mouth, the first hint of a real man behind the defender façade. “Gotta step up our flying game. We wouldn't want to look like amateurs in front of him, would we?”
Phex’s energy rose a notch. “We are no amateurs, Commander.”
Simon sighed ever so slightly. “I was joking, Lieutenant. He’s unconscious.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The Rix had undergone an attitude adjustment. The two hovering over Lyle now moved almost reverently. They carefully picked him up and took him out of the mechanical room. Closing Simon’s magician robe around her, Cricket scuttled behind,firmly keeping Lyle’s motionless bulk in her sights. She sensed Simon at her back, and heard the footsteps of Paloma and Ren.
“Where are they taking him?” she asked without turning.
“To the cruiser.”
“Your cruiser? Is it far?”
“Not far.”
They came out of the corridor into the club. It was empty at this hour except for Zaron who pressed his back to the wall and sucked in his stomach as the Rix moved past him. Like an overwrought matron, he was stroking the soft fluffy fur of Hipper whom he held in his arms like an incongruous - and ugly - parody of a cat.
Their procession didn’t stop there but took the stairs up, and marched through the main floor outside.
Simon hadn’t been kidding when he said the cruiser wasn’t far. It was right there. In the grassy field that served as a parking lot for patrons’ riders, the fancy spacecraft simmered as if powdered in faery dust. It was sleek and light, hovering with a quiet hum, and Cricket’s heart did a somersault. It represented every hope and dream she’d ever had for herself and Lyle. Everything. It was beautiful. If only he were able to admire it with her.
She observed the Rix take Lyle to the lowered trapdoor and carry him inside. Simon lightly pushed her forward. “Go on.”
And just like that, she was inside, too. She turned to look around, and found Paloma and Ren next to her. The three of them shared a look, and Ren grinned. “Slick, innit?”
“It’s amazing.” Cricket smiled. “They came! It’s a miracle.”
Paloma wasn’t smiling. “It isn’t a miracle. Someone tipped them.”
“I did.” Cricket kept smiling. “When I wrote to mama, I begged her to appeal to Gemma, Simon’s mate. Of course, I had no idea Simon would come himself.”
“Simon. You know this dude?” Ren and Paloma were looking at Cricket funny.
“A second-hand acquaintance of mine,” she demurred. “Coincidentally, he was also Lyle’s handler. Isn’t it wild? It was Simon who wanted those medical records.”
