Rake tried to open his eyes, but light stabbed at him viciously. He immediately squeezed his eyelids shut again for a few moments before he tried again, this time more slowly. The light was vicious, but he persisted against the pain.<\/p>\n
Did I die again?<\/i> he wondered, then immediate dismissed the notion. No, if I had died again, I\u2019d remember getting another insurance policy. Last thing I remember is that skiptracer, and a shootout, and the air venting into space. If I were dead, they\u2019d have used my memories from before to bring me back, and I wouldn\u2019t remember the shootout. <\/i><\/p>\n
He congratulated himself on his reasoning. So, I\u2019m okay. But where am I?<\/i><\/p>\n
The light finally seemed to ease its attacks, and Rake slowly soaked in the details as they came into focus. The overhead lights hung from a metal ceiling, gently curving toward the floor. He was lying on a medical table of some sort, with a medical AI standing nearby in a powered-off state.\u00a0 A single viewport looked out into the darkness of space, providing an unparalleled view of brilliant stars.<\/p>\n
Cabinets lined the walls, all the workspaces clear of any loose items. Rake lifted his arms and found he was not bound\u2014in fact, there was nothing keeping him on the medical bed. He did some more mental math. Okay, so everything\u2019s neatly stored away and tidy as can be. Between that and the view of the stars, I must be on a ship. Given the firefight outside the insurance facility, it\u2019s probably the ship that shot the place up. And given that I\u2019m not bound, they\u2019re probably not skiptracers, either.<\/i><\/p>\n
So, someone rescued me.<\/i><\/p>\n
Rake slowly sat up, giving himself time to adjust. Dizziness swept over him, but he persisted, refusing to relent. When he was fully sitting up, he slowly pulled himself around to let his legs dangle off the bed. Ever-so-slowly, he eased himself off, carefully transferring his weight to his feet, supporting himself with his arms to ensure he didn\u2019t fall.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until he was standing with most of his weight on his legs that he realized he wasn\u2019t feeling any pain from his wounded leg. He looked down in surprise and saw clean white medical wrapping securely in place around his entire calf, from knee to ankle. He experimentally shifted even more of his weight to his wounded leg and felt barely a twinge from it. Definitely not skiptracers<\/i>, he decided. They wouldn\u2019t have bothered patching me up unless it was a critical wound and they needed me alive for the reward.<\/i><\/p>\n
As he straightened up, no longer leaning on the bed, he had another sudden revelation: he was dressed only in a thin medical gown. Rake glanced around, but saw no sign of his clothes. \u201cOf course not,\u201d he muttered. \u201cWith everything else packed away, they would have packed my clothes up, too. No loose objects on a ship.\u201d<\/p>\n
A whistle from the door brought Rake\u2019s head up and around. Leaning against the frame, arms crossed, was a gorgeous dark-haired woman, hair cropped well above her shoulders and hanging loosely around her heart-shaped face. \u201cI think I prefer to keep you like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike this?\u201d Rake repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cMostly naked,\u201d the woman said with a wink.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, right,\u201d Rake muttered, blushing before he could catch himself. \u201cIt seems you have me at a disadvantage,\u201d he answered. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to be on equal footing, maybe you should strip down, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed, a wicked sound promising all sorts of delights. \u201cWho said I want to be equal with you?\u201d She finally relented with a brilliant smile. \u201cCheck the upper drawer under the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rake bent over and pulled the drawer open, finding it empty. He looked up questioningly at the woman.<\/p>\n
Her smile was just as wicked as before. \u201cOops, my mistake. One drawer lower.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man glanced down at himself and realized the gown had ridden up when he had bent over. He blushed again, then shrugged and pulled open the lower drawer.<\/p>\n
He found his clothes neatly folded inside\u2014the trousers, shirt, and jacket he\u2019d worn in the insurance facility. Gratefully, he pulled the clothes out and started dressing, pulling on the pants before he shed the medical gown.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to do that,\u201d she said lightly. \u201cAfter all, it\u2019s nothing I haven\u2019t seen already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll keep that in mind,\u201d Rake said dryly as he pulled his shirt over his head. \u201cQuite the voyeur, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine way to talk to the woman who pulled your ass out of the fire,\u201d she said, her light tone contrasting her words. \u201cNext time a skiptracer has you, I\u2019m just going to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rake raised an eyebrow at her as he pulled his jacket on. \u201cWait, that was you<\/i> shooting at Slade?\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman raised both eyebrows in return. \u201cThat skiptracer was Slade?!<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t know?\u201d Rake asked in return.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney, when I got your message to pick you up from the insurance facility, I had no idea you were in that<\/i> kind of trouble.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cDamn, that was an enemy I could have happily never made.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPick me up?\u201d His head was spinning. \u201cI\u2019m out of it for a few weeks, and nothing makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman offered him another dazzling smile. \u201cYou don\u2019t even recognize me, do you Rake?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question set him aback. \u201cI know you?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head. \u201cFor shame, Rake. If your stored memories are that<\/i> old, we\u2019re never going to get you clear of this mess you\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rake studied her for a moment, and then a moment longer before he finally recognized the crystal blue eyes nearly hidden behind the dark hair. \u201cI\u2019ll be damned,\u201d he breathed. \u201cCaree Staka.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, you do<\/i> remember me. I was prepared to be offended,\u201d she said with a wink.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many years has it been since you and I pulled that job off New Recice?\u201d Rake asked with a shake of his head. \u201cWe were both still wet-behind-the-ears kids!\u201d<\/p>\n
Caree grinned. \u201cThat didn\u2019t stop us from doing some stupid things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably why<\/i> we did stupid things,\u201d Rake replied with a broad smile of his own.<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, is that the only reason we\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHell, no,\u201d he interrupted. \u201cIf that was the only reason, you think I would\u2019ve called you when I\u2019m in trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways the charmer, Rake. You haven\u2019t changed a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou<\/i> have,\u201d he commented. When she raised an eyebrow, he said, \u201cYou\u2019re all the more beautiful for it. Besides, the Caree I worked with off New Recice would never have walked into the middle of a shooting match.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did no such thing,\u201d she sniffed disdainfully. \u201cI started<\/i> that fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, uh,\u201d Rake said awkwardly, \u201cif you have some idea what\u2019s going on, I\u2019d love to know. I kind of woke up from a tank and have no idea what I\u2019ve gotten myself into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caree grimaced. \u201cI was hoping you took a flash of your memories before you died so that you would know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what do<\/i> you know?\u201d he asked. \u201cHow did you know where to find me, or even that I needed help?\u201d<\/p>\n
The dark-haired beauty blew out a sigh. \u201cOf course, on to business.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay.\u201d She shrugged, a liquid motion that drew Rake\u2019s eyes. \u201cI\u2019ve just\u2026missed you.\u201d She held up a hand to forestall his reply. \u201cBusiness first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, first question,\u201d Rake said. \u201cWhere are we?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEdge of the Terra system,\u201d was Caree\u2019s answer. \u201cWe\u2019re mostly powered down, passive sensors only, and our core is cool enough that we should be invisible against background noise unless someone\u2019s running active scans. And if they are, we\u2019ll pick them up with the passives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if we need to run, how long will it take you to be ready?\u201d he asked with a raised eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve already got an emergency jump plotted,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got enough power in the capacitors to hit the point drive, but we\u2019ll have nothing left when we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a lot<\/i> of juice in the caps,\u201d Rake commented. \u201cBit past spec, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled. \u201cSince when are you<\/i> concerned with legality?\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead of answering, he changed the subject. \u201cSo how did you find me? And why were you out here in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n
Caree paused for a moment before answering. \u201cJust over three days ago, I got a transmission from you out at Clarion. You wouldn\u2019t give me the details, but you said you were in a lot of trouble and didn\u2019t think you\u2019d survive. You told me you had a life insurance policy at one of the Terra insurance companies and you\u2019d need me to pick you up in a few weeks if things went south.\u201d She grimaced. \u201cYou told me you needed someone you could trust if you were going to slip the skiptracers chasing you, that you\u2019d need to lay low for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven what we left of that insurance station, I\u2019d say I was right,\u201d Rake grumbled. \u201cSo I didn\u2019t tell you anything more? Any hint at what kind of trouble I was in?\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head. \u201cNot a word, other than to say how bad it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, at least one skip figured out I had a life insurance policy,\u201d he said grimly. \u201cNot only that, but he figured out where they\u2019d be bringing me off ice. And where there\u2019s one, there will be more.\u201d Rake contemplated for a moment before asking, \u201cSo where are we headed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was hoping you would have an answer for that question. I came all the way to Terra to get you\u2014we had no job that would\u2019ve taken us this close to civilization<\/i>,\u201d she said, adding a slight mocking tone to the final word.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me think on it a bit,\u201d Rake said. \u201cActually, no need to think about it.\u201d He took a deep breath. \u201cSet a course for Clarion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caree stared at him. \u201cUm, wouldn\u2019t that be where you were killed? Are you sure no one is going to still be looking for you there?\u201d<\/p>\n
The pilot shook his head. \u201cI died a few days ago, and word officially made it onto the ComNet if my insurance policy was invoked. Anyone who was looking for me there will know I\u2019m dead and gone.\u201d He offered a cynical smile. \u201cIn fact, they\u2019re probably combing Earth, Terra, and the rest of the Home Region, waiting for me to show up at an insurance company.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman paled. \u201cSo it would probably be best to get us out of the Home Region,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Rake nodded. \u201cSo, Clarion.\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned at him, but the expression didn\u2019t detract a shred from her beauty, which Rake was trying very hard to ignore. \u201cWhat are you hoping to find there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo things,\u201d Rake answered. \u201cFirst, maybe I can kick up something to tell me why<\/i> skiptracers were hunting me down with intention to kill. And second, I want my ship back. I\u2019d bet every credit I have left that my ship is parked somewhere in that system.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPilots,\u201d she murmured. \u201cYou\u2019re all alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
He snorted. \u201cWhat does that make you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Caree offered another dazzling smile. \u201cI\u2019m the captain, not the pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, then, captain<\/i>, you\u2019d best give the orders to get us moving,\u201d Rake said with a broad smile and a nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d she said with just a bit of stiffness. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a few minutes, once we have this boat under way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rake watched her leave, admiring her backside the whole time. When she had disappeared from sight, he forced himself to sit down and think.<\/p>\n
Okay, Rake<\/i>, he told himself, start from what you know. First, you know you died sometime in the last few days. Your death was reported on the ComNet, and your life insurance policy brought this body off ice with your last memories restored. Sometime between that flash two weeks ago and the day you were killed, you got yourself into some kind of trouble\u2014something deep. You were killed, most likely on Clarion, but that didn\u2019t satisfy whoever was after you, since a skiptracer showed up here at Terra to try to grab you.<\/i><\/p>\n
Not only that, but he did it inside an insurance facility. <\/i>That realization worried him. Not only was this something bad enough to get you shot, but it was bad enough for a skiptracer to break all rules of decorum to make sure you didn\u2019t make it out of the facility free. The credit payout on your head must be <\/i>huge. Large enough to risk breaking dozens of laws to get.<\/i><\/p>\n
Well, at least I know I\u2019m not wanted by any of the Home Region governments. <\/i>He smiled to himself. They would\u2019ve had uniformed officers there to arrest me, not some skiptracer.<\/i><\/p>\n
I must be in trouble on one of the Outlying Worlds, or with one of the kingpins.<\/i><\/p>\n
Rake frowned. This business doesn\u2019t lead to a lot of friends, but I must not have thought I could trust <\/i>anyone if I called Caree to pick me up. We haven\u2019t spoken in years, but she was always as good as her word.<\/i><\/p>\n
The pilot continued to sit with eyes closed as he continued to poke and prod at the few facts he knew, trying to wring out any more information, but they were as dry as stones. Even with the distraction of his own thoughts, and the deep-seated fear underlying them, he couldn\u2019t miss the sensation of a point-to-point jump.<\/p>\n
Rake didn\u2019t understand exactly how point drives worked\u2014for that matter, he doubted more people than a handful of astrophysicists in the entire Expanse truly understood it. The usual metaphor for the technology was enough to satisfy his need for knowledge.<\/p>\n
Developed several centuries ago, point drives were the solution to the speed-of-light limit. Instead of hurling a craft at transluminal velocities\u2014long discovered impossible\u2014point drives bent space itself to allow immediate transition from one spot to the next. When Rake was a child, he had been taught the concept with a single sheet of paper. If a person lived on that paper, in two dimensions, he\u2019d never experience the third dimension that was being bent. When the paper met, he might be able to pop from one half of the sheet to the other, without actually crossing the open paper between the two points.<\/p>\n
Point drives had major drawbacks. Properly calculating a point-to-point jump was nearly impossible, because the calculations required knowing about every single mass object larger than a few specks of dust between a ship\u2019s current position and its intended destination, as those objects affected how space \u201cfolded\u201d. Because of the sheer complexity of it, all ships except exploration craft were limited to pre-existing transition points, and point drive exploration had been dead for nearly twenty years\u2014the war between Earth and Terra had seen to that.<\/p>\n
And there was always the effect point-to-point travel had on humans.<\/p>\n
A quarter of humans weren\u2019t affected at all, but for the rest of humanity, using the point drives was an uncomfortable experience.<\/p>\n
Rake always likened the sensation to being ripped away, completely disoriented, and then dropped in a new place. As a pilot, he had a fairly keen sense of direction and could virtually always keep his bearings, but jumps left him dizzy for half a minute or so.<\/p>\n
This jump was no better. In fact, it was much worse.<\/p>\n
Rake woke up on the deck of the medical bay, staring up at the light overhead. An ache at the back of his head pounded in time with his heartbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cOw,\u201d he muttered. \u201cWell, that was ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRake?\u201d a voice called on the medical bay\u2019s intercom. \u201cRake, are you still there?\u201d<\/p>\n
He pulled himself to his feet, using both hands to keep himself steady. \u201cI\u2019m here, Caree.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was hoping to hear that,\u201d she said steadily. \u201cWe\u2019re being hailed, and they\u2019re looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rake tried to open his eyes, but light stabbed at him viciously. He immediately squeezed his eyelids shut again for a few moments before he tried again, this time more slowly. The light was vicious, but he persisted against the … Continue reading