Cleon Moon (21 page)

“What is it? Have you identified those Starseers?”

“I’m still waiting to hear back from Lady Naidoo on that—I did send her the video and a picture of the dead one. What I’ve been doing is looking up our thrust-bike racer.”

“Why?” That was the last thing Alisa cared about right now.

“If he’s a local, he might know what happened to my brother and the others. I know you’re worried about your pretty soldier, but allow me to remind you that we don’t have any leads in regard to my people—or your daughter.”

Heat swarmed into Alisa’s cheeks. She did
not
need to be reminded about that, especially not by Abelardus.

“Why would some bike racer know anything about what was going on at an outpost?” she asked.

“There aren’t that many Starseers on Cleon Moon—or anywhere. We tend to know about our own kind, especially if they’re local. In addition to wanting to know where my brother is, I’d like to know if this group of… belligerent Starseers has been here long or if they just showed up. They might have come to kidnap the prince. Or they might have felt the Staff of Lore on the move and somehow anticipated that we would show up here. Or it might have something to do with both.”

“So did you find him? Can you contact him?” Alisa didn’t think a bike rider was much of a lead, but since she did not have a better one, she did not point that out again.

“I got in touch with him. He was terse, but he’s agreed to meet with me. Tonight. He’s staying in the city.”

“Doesn’t everybody? The dinosaur-infested swamp doesn’t seem like a nice place to build one’s mansion.”

“Some wealthy people have their own private domes.”

“Ah, do we believe the racer is wealthy?”

“If he’s using his talents to win repeatedly, why not?”

Alisa yawned again. “I was going to ask if you would accompany me to the warehouse where Beck was last seen. Are you determined to visit this lead first?” She did not want to delay in case Beck was in trouble. If Abelardus wouldn’t come, that left going by herself.

“I’ll go with you.” Abelardus reached out and touched her shoulder. “I’m not letting anything happen to you until you wise up and realize that I’m a much better prospect than Coma Cyborg.”

“You’re a much better asshole than he is,” she said, pushing his hand away.

“Why? I just want to help you.”

“I appreciate help, but I’d appreciate it more if you could do it without insulting him.”

“Not at all? That would be difficult.”

“Try.”

“I’ll meet you in the cargo hold in ten minutes,” he said. “I want to look up how long the driver has been here and winning. It seems a strange occupation for a Starseer to take up.”

Alisa waved in acknowledgment and headed to her cabin. She buckled on her Etcher and also jammed a blazer pistol into the belt. It was one of Leonidas’s many weapons, one that he had lent her and that she had used sporadically. It was a superior tool to the old bullet-chucker, but she was developing a sentimental fondness for her gun. She had been through a lot with it—and killed two dinosaurs. Dinosaurs whose heads needed to be turned in to the bounty place—wherever that was—before they started to stink. Maybe she would assign that task to Mica. That would give her plenty of material for unhelpful commentaries.

Alisa stopped in sickbay before heading down to the cargo hold. Leonidas still lay on the exam table, the rest of his armor and his clothing now removed, and a sheet draped over him. Alejandro had wired him up to deliver—and remove—fluids. Her eyes threatened to tear up. It seemed strange to see someone so virile and muscular hooked up to hospital paraphernalia. That was for sick people, not for hale cyborgs. Not for someone she had come to care deeply about.

She walked to the exam table and laid her hand on his chest, somewhat reassured by his even breathing. She had lost too much. She refused to lose him too.

“Leonidas,” she said softly, as if he could hear her. He
did
have those enhanced ears, after all. “I’m going to a dark, creepy warehouse owned by the mafia to very possibly get myself into trouble. I would greatly appreciate it if you would wake up and accompany me.”

She lifted her hand to the side of his face, brushing hair behind his ear, stroking his jaw. He needed a shave. She would do it for him when she got back.

“We didn’t find Jelena or Thorian, I’m afraid,” she said. “I’m hopeful that they’re in the city somewhere. There’s some Starseer thrust-bike racer that Abelardus thinks might know something. For the first time, I envy those Starseers their power. If I had a telepathic link to Jelena, I’d be able to sense when she was close, to reach out to her and let her know I’m coming. To speak with her even if we weren’t in the same room. That would be useful right now.”

Alisa slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the faded bracelet, rubbing it with her fingers.

“I keep missing the mark,” she whispered, finding the words—her failings—easier to admit with Leonidas unconscious. “I’m not used to that. I have good aim; I know I do. Mouthy or not, I was always wanted on fighter pilot squadrons. So I don’t know what the problem is here. Am I not trying hard enough? I know I’ve been letting myself get distracted when I shouldn’t be. Maybe I need to be more focused. But I’m worried about that staff now. And I can’t leave Beck here to the suns know what fate.” She lifted her gaze to his chest, the way it rose and fell slightly under the sheet, as if he were only sleeping. But he wasn’t. “And I’m worried about you. If you need to go to some fancy hospital somewhere, I’ll make sure you get there. But Jelena could be here in this very city, Leonidas. If I leave when she’s only a couple of miles away…” She swallowed. “How can you be focused when you care about more than one thing? Do you have to choose? And what if in choosing one thing, you lose another? Why can’t I just make it all come out right? Aren’t captains supposed to know how to do that? I know I’m just a captain of a freighter with a tiny crew, but even that seems like too much responsibility right now. There are too many targets to aim at.”

Alisa slid the bracelet back into her pocket and tapped him on the chest. “This is the part where you’re supposed to wake up and tell me I’m not a bad mother, a bad captain.”

His eyes did not open.

“If this were a fairy tale, I might be able to wake you with a kiss.” She touched her finger to his lips. “Of course, you would probably have to be a beautiful princess and I’d have to be a handsome prince for that to work.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I’m not feeling overly handsome today, but let’s try it, shall we?”

Alisa leaned down, careful not to bump any of his cords, and pressed her lips to his. Sadly, it was only in her imagination that he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her on top of him, and passionately returned the kiss.

So, it’s the same as usual, eh?
Abelardus spoke into her mind.

Get out of my head!
She pulled away from Leonidas and almost roared the words out loud.

Just wanted to let you know I’m ready to go retrieve your missing security officer.

Can’t you use the damned comm?

Then I’d have to lift my arm and press a button. Tedious.

It’s amazing you have muscles.

You’ve noticed them? I’m touched. I go to great lengths to keep them firm and perky.

Alisa sighed and touched Leonidas’s face before reluctantly backing away. She did not want to leave him, but Beck needed her, and Jelena could be out there in the city somewhere. She needed Alisa too. Besides, having someone intruding on her private moment irritated her too much to stay. She might end up breaking some of Alejandro’s equipment.

She turned toward the hatchway while wondering if Abelardus would fight back if she broke something on
him
.

“Alisa?” came a croak from behind her.

She whirled back toward the exam table, half-fearing that it had only been her imagination, that she would find Leonidas still unconscious. But his eyes were open, his chin tilted down to his chest as he looked toward her.

“Leonidas,” she blurted, then screamed, “Alejandro! Get your hairy brown-robed legs in here.”

Leonidas groaned, in pain she thought, but then he said, “Sometimes, it’s a shame they enhanced my hearing so much.”

“Are you complaining? Or just teasing me?” she asked, giddy energy surging through her as she returned to his side to clasp his hand and lean down to kiss him again. She kept herself from making it a fiery one, especially since he seemed more surprised than amorous, but she vowed that someday she would plant one of those on him—and he would return it.

“Which one would be most inappropriate now?” he murmured, smiling faintly as he gazed up at her, his eyes warm.

“Complaining, definitely.”

“Then I was teasing.”

“Good.” She was thinking of kissing him again when Alejandro ran into sickbay, nearly tripping over the bottom of the hatch frame.

“Leonidas,” he said, genuine delight in his voice as he came around to the other side of the exam table. Alejandro touched Leonidas’s shoulder and called up the holodisplay with his stats on it. His face soon sobered, and Alisa worried the readout was unfavorable, but he told Leonidas, “I lost the staff.” His shoulders slumped in defeat—or shame.

Leonidas closed his eyes. “I feared that would be the result. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” Alejandro said, his gaze lifting toward Alisa. She clenched her jaw, expecting him to blame her, but he went on to say, “It’s mine. All my education, and I couldn’t think up a way to keep them from finding it. I couldn’t keep them from yanking it out of my hands.”

“They were strong, stronger than Abelardus,” Leonidas said.

“One is apparently a descendant of Alcyone. The staff glowed as he carried it off the ship.”

“Ah,” Leonidas said, a disturbed expression crossing his face.

Alisa did not want him worrying about that now. He ought to rest. Later, after they found Beck, Jelena, and hopefully even the prince, they could contemplate ways to get the staff back.

“Then perhaps I can feel slightly less ashamed about not being able to stop them,” Leonidas said.

“You killed one,” Alisa said.

“Did I? I wasn’t sure. I was…” He glanced at her. “Distracted.”

“Distracted? I think we know each other well enough now that you can admit when you’re in so much pain you think you’re going to die.”

“Hm,” he said. Not exactly agreement. Or a confession to pain.

“I’m relieved you didn’t die,” Alisa said softly, glancing at Alejandro, now wishing she had waited to call him in until she’d had more of a private moment with Leonidas. But he was studying Leonidas’s stats and did not seem to be paying attention. “I thought it was the same thing that happened to the people defending their outpost.”

“That thought crossed my mind when I was in extreme… distraction.” He smiled at her. “Cyborgs aren’t supposed to admit to pain. We are extraordinary soldiers who do our duty without complaint.”

“Is that in the Cyborg Corps Handbook?”

“Chapter One.”

She snorted. “I believe you.”

“You appear normal,” Alejandro said, staring at the holodisplay and sounding utterly puzzled.

“Is that a problem?” Leonidas asked.

“You were in a
coma
.”

Alejandro scrutinized Leonidas from head to toe, then physically tested his reflexes. As far as Alisa could tell, Leonidas responded normally. Alejandro scowled and tapped the machine that had done the brain scan, as if it might have lied to him.

“I can’t believe you’re even talking right now,” Alejandro said. “Comas take
days
to recover from.”

“How long was I out?” A concerned expression crossed Leonidas’s face.

“About six hours.”

“Oh, is that all?”

“A coma is a coma. You shouldn’t be fully conscious yet.”

“I’m not sorry.” Leonidas reached for the IV, as if he meant to remove it himself.

Alejandro swatted at his hand. “What are you doing?”

“I would prefer to recover in my room. This table is drafty.” Leonidas peeked under his sheet, giving Alisa a glimpse of his brawny chest. “And I’m naked. With a tube coming out of my—” he glanced at Alisa, “—naked parts.”

She snorted at this editing and decided it wasn’t the appropriate time to mention that she wouldn’t mind seeing his naked parts.

“Then I’ll get you a blanket,” Alejandro said. “You need a couple of days to rest. And to be monitored. Quit
touching
things.”

“I feel fine, Doctor. Cyborgs are designed to heal fast and function even in suboptimal conditions.”

“You don’t have implants in your brain, do you? I thought they left that alone.”

“For the most part,” Leonidas murmured.

Alisa squeezed his hand.

“You should be as susceptible to brain issues as the rest of us,” Alejandro said.

Leonidas lifted a single shoulder and repeated, “I feel fine, Doctor.”

“Humor me and rest anyway. In
here
.”

“I will agree to resting if you’ll agree to unhooking me from everything.”

Alejandro scowled.

Leonidas arched his eyebrows.

“Fine,” Alejandro grumbled and went about the task.

Alisa averted her eyes—mostly—when he lifted the sheet. She kept ahold of his hand, and Leonidas did not object. He leaned his head back on the table and closed his eyes. A good patient.

“Captain Alisa,” came Abelardus's voice over the comm system as Alejandro finished. “I am waiting for you.”

One of Leonidas’s eyelids opened. Amazing how much disapproval that one eye managed to convey. “Are you going somewhere?”

“To find Beck. He’s missing.”

“I’ll come with you.” Leonidas sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the table. So much for being a good patient.

Alejandro made sounds of extreme protest and finally managed to articulate, “You promised to rest!”

“That was before I knew my captain needed me.” Leonidas looked down at the sheet, which had nearly fallen off. He pushed it back over his groin. “Also, I’d appreciate it if you told me where you put my underwear.”

“I strenuously object to this. No matter how you feel, you should be monitored and rest for at least two days.” Alejandro planted a hand on his shoulder and scowled at him. “Ten minutes ago, I wasn’t sure whether you would live or die.”