Page 51 of Captain's Treasure
The male should be in the cargo hold. Unless she’d canceled the contract. But how could she pay back the deposit? Not to mention the forfeiture fee.
Following them around for the entire cycle netted him no information. They’d gone to various vendors and bars. Nothing unusual. Probably seeking more crew. To go to Kolben? She’d obviously delivered the spider cargo based on the factThe Treasurewas no longer in the quarantine bays. If only he could have seen them struggling to round up the creepy crawlies. If she didn’t have another contract, she was prodding the wrong wormholes. The bars she visited were for crew, not distributers. She made it to Morgual and back. So what was she up to?
His comm beeped. Jarn. Another love Cyra was keeping Varik from. He should be sharing meals with Jarn especially after leaving him on his own during the fake test run. Cyra and her shadow appeared be returning to the docks. His surveillance would have to be on hold until the next cycle. He sent a message to his lover that he would be home soon. First, he had to check in with Twalley.
“The part should be available in a cycle or two at most,” Varik lounged in the chair in Twalley’s cluttered office as if he wasn’t aching to get back to Jarn.
“No rush. There’s been another delay in the research funding.” Varik masked his frustration, it was clear that Twalley was nervous already with his hair on end and his avoidance of Varik’s gaze.
Fake sympathy was called for. “Oh, no. What’s happened? Can I help?”
Twalley puffed out a breath and blinked up at Varik. “Nothing technical. A form that was missed with the University’s accounting office.” He waved his hand. “A minor set back. I’m sure it will be fixed in a cycle or two.”
Varik had heard that before. “Excellent.” He stood. “Then I better check on that part. I don’t want any delay to be my fault.”
“Thank you so much, Varik. You’re a life saver.” Twalley beamed at him.
Varik exited the office barely containing his rage. A cycle or two meant ten based on the previous delays. If Cyra left Cassan before he could follow?—
Killing Twalley and taking his ship was an option. Except that was a high-risk solution when they were on Cassan. Station security would get involved. There would be questions and complications with the title transfer he wasn’t prepared to address. Better to subdue Twalley once they were underway, distanced from security, and staffed with a crew loyal to Varik.
The bigger issue was figuring out where Cyra was taking his ship next. She should be going to Kolben. Din’Gale had been a surprise, but still within his trackers perimeter. How could he make sureThe Treasureand theHarlan Johnsonwouldn’t pass each other coming and going?
He couldn’t. Yet. Jarn waited at the door of their room like an excited puppy. If only he could take him out in public, treat him to a restaurant meal at a nice place. But he had to maintain the image of a mostly unemployed engineer, hungry for work. If Twalley should spot them…well that would be a disaster.
“Hello, love.” Varik tugged Jarn to him, petting him and kissing him. The boy was so loyal and once Varik had his treasure back, he would treat Jarn like the prince he was. “Hungry, baby?”
“For you.” Jarn gave him a soft smile.
Varik stroked his cheek. “I have to feed you or you’ll waste away to nothing.” Varik released his lover with a slight nudge. He checked the food replicator. Basic nutrient paste only. The basic foodstuff would keep most beings alive and was unlimited in all modern replicators, but damn was it nasty. Not even to keep up appearances could he face another serving of that slop. “What are you in the mood for? Anything? I’ll order delivery.”
“Can we afford that?”
Jarn had no idea Varik could afford that and much more. “Twalley gave me a bonus for getting the ship back to Cassan without having to call for rescue.” Or he should have, the cheap bastard. “Let me spoil you for once.”
“Could we go out?” The wheedling tone grated. Give the boy an inch, he took a mile.
“Unfortunately, I have an early morning appointment. I need my rest. If you don’t want me to order?—”
“I do. I do. What about this place?” He held up his comm opened to a menu that featured historic Earth comfort food.
The synthetic animal fat would give Varik the shits, but whatever. “Sure, baby. Order me some of whatever you get. I’m going to wash up.” He dropped a promising kiss on his lover’s lips. They’d eat, fuck, and sleep before Varik left to track Cyra, eventually he’d get his opportunity and a plan would come to him. But he had to stay focused.
Varik arrived back at the dock in time to see Cyra and her shadow depart. Shortly afterward, a Blaque Poll native based on her eyes trotted down the ramp. Her movements were seductive. Varik wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that ass. How had Cyra secured one of the best navigators around? Because that’s what anyone from Blaque Poll did. Captains paid a fortune for their services, and Cyra had no credits. Unless she’d gotten a huge contract with his ship. Varik clenched his jaw and waited. Veda was still on the ship. Following Cyra had netted him nothing. If he could get into the systems, he could find out everything.
About the time his patience had run out, and he’d been ready to abandon his hides hole, Veda appeared, along with his ex-lover—Blaize. He recognized the redhead in full light. The ramp closed behind them. Varik’s blood heated. The ship was empty, and he’d didn’t need a ramp to access his treasure. After ferreting his way through the external access panel into the main systems, he whistled. Blaize had been spending some significant time down there. She was such a tight-ass about everything, but that didn’t make her the better engineer. The surfaces were spotless. Connections tight and labeled. The cables neatly bundled and suspended in anti-gravity sleeves. All the stuff he’d planned to do when he got around to it oncehepossessedThe Treasure.
Good. It would be that much nicer when he took her back. First, he had to put some insurance in place that he didn’t lose track of her again. Then he’d see where they were headed.
Barking drew Varik’s attention. What the hell? Was the cargo full of dogs? Sweat broke out on his forehead. He hated canines after a particularly vile incident with a married lover’s spouse g-years ago.
He finished up quickly and disappeared the same way he’d come in fortunate no one had returned before he’d had a chance to put everything in place because findingThe Treasurewhen she was headed to the god forsaken galaxy that contained Kolben would have been like searching for an atom in a black hole.
Varik wasn’t sure if he felt like celebrating or drowning his sorrows. It didn’t much matter since he was in a bar and had lost track of the number of drinks he’d had. Every attempt he’d made to secure a contract on another ship had been a failure. Either the captain and crew were not the type that he would be able to manipulate, and he backed out, or they would back out once they found out which ship he used to work on. The stories of what the slut Cyra had done somehow tarnished his reputation and he couldn’t get an offer. It was as if fate was working against him.
How the fuck was he going to get to Kolben? Even with the insurance in place, no way would Captain Twalley not see a deviation of that magnitude from their planned trajectory. It was questionable if his tiny ship could make such a voyage.
Varik had heard Cyra had been asking around for more goods to deliver, so she couldn’t have a full load even with the beasts he’d heard. He should have sucked up his fear and checked the cargo bays before he left. No matter what they were transporting, it would require a fuck ton of fuel. Especially with the slightmodificationhe’d made. But he’d have to get toThe Treasurebefore salvagers found her floating in deep space.Aftereveryone, and everything, had perished.
