My sister was going to get us killed.
This was a refreshing change of pace since that was usually her complaint. It turns out, she was here early because of an unrelated incident that was being pinned on her. But they would have known this was her by the time that Guardian returned. Three years undercover, gone to shit.
“How did the Guardians find out about you?”
“I had a fall guy but the idiot got murdered.”
“They don’t know about our ties though, right? You’re safe here.”
Nia grimaced.
“What’s wrong?”
She rotated an unfamiliar gold ring on her index finger. “I don’t think I can lay low here.” Nia said.
“Why not?” I eyed her stiff shoulders, hunched over, as she avoided my gaze. It reminded me of the time she wore my favorite shirt and returned it with a gaping hole. I narrowed my eyes.
“Its just that…. With that unrelated incident; something valuable was stolen.”
“And they think you took it.” It's not a question as the answer was already in her face. “How valuable?”
Her eyes darted up to the ceiling. “Very.”
“Very?” I deadpanned, putting my hands on my hips. “Are we talking practically priceless bloodchrome vials or the firstborn child of the Voxum?”
She spun her ring more rapidly. “Both.”
My brows raised at that. I was joking about the firstborn child, even I knew the Voxum weren’t chosen through lineage or heritage. Did she have something to do with this priceless heist? What the fuck was more valuable than bloodchrome vials? Outside, wind whipped at the boat causing it to sway and creak. She and I stole this boat together when we came of age. I almost lost my foot that night but she refused to leave me behind.
At last I sighed, “Alright, you don’t have to tell me the details, what do you recommend?”
“The Guardians of the Monstravi had unlimited power on Erizen. Its’ only a matter of time before they find me here.”
“I wouldn’t say unlimited power, we’ve been stealing from them for decades.”
She gave me a look that said I was being intentionally dense. “Because they don’t care. You’re a pebble beneath a giants foot.”
“But this they do care about?”
“Yes. big time.”
I sigh. “Alright, what do you propose? We lay low at a safe house?”
“We hide off planet.” Nia grinned, and it was so mischievous it was like looking in the mirror. What the hell. I was the uninhibited, reckless sister. When did we switch roles?
“You can’t be serious,” Laying low for a bit was one thing, but leaving the planet? Abandoning my crew, our home?
“Oh, I am. Now that you are finally taking me seriously, how about we go over my plan while you pack?” she said.
“Nia…”
“Naomi.” She responded with one eyebrow raised. “Right now, they are unaware that I am even missing. My boss thinks I’m sick. We have a head start of at least two days. Turn on your pirate brain and hear my plan.” She crossed her arms and waited.
Nox waltzed in just then. He was here earlier and knew she needed to lie low.
“Fine, what are you thinking?”
“Sylvester can have the new ID’s ready in a few hours. The transport and the safe house will take longer to arrange though.” She said.
I huffed in concession and nodded to Nox. He wasn’t happy about us leaving, but understood the necessity. The watch was alerted to the risk and our scouts were spread further.
Now Nox eyed us in surprise. “Do I even want to know?”
“No.” Nia and I responded in unison.
Nox held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, I’ll call Sylvester and arrange transport to the space station.” He scrunched his face in thought. “It sounds like we’ll need to notify the family friend too.”
All three of us paused packing as we contemplated that. Nia nodded tentatively. “Yeah, we’re going to need protection… or at bare minimum his permission.” She looked at me as if gaging if can handle it.
Nox also eyed me with concern. “Are you sure it's really worth it?”
I blew out a breath. “Its not like I’d be able to avoid him… he practically owns that slice of space.”
Nox nodded. “Alright, I’m on it. How soon can you get to the first station?” He pulled out two bags, dumping them in front of us.
“We’ll be ready to fly the river within the hour.” I responded.
Nox and I had been working together for a decade now, not to mention growing up together. It was going to be strange being so far away. I opened my arms and he stepped into a hug. “Be safe you two.” He hugged Nia as well. “You’re my family. I want to hear all the details when you get back.”
Nia’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears. She just got here and was having to leave. This was not how either of us imagined our family reunion to go.
Nox stepped back, shaking himself a bit, as if shrugging off the sappy moment and putting on his captain hat. “I’ll get that favor in. Remember the meetup is always at his pub on the space station.”
“I remember.” I said.
He nodded, taking us in one last time, then turned and left.
Nia sat on the edge of the bed, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she stroked her stomach in a circular pattern. I got to packing.
“I want to thank you. I know you weren’t expecting to leave so suddenly and I appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
I dipped my head.
She faced me, lifting her chin in defiance. “But you don’t need to come with me. I can handle this.”
I shook my head again. No way would she survive out there alone. “You are not leaving this planet without me. Stupid decisions or no.”
She seemed conflicted at that. Anger and relief were warring in her posture and facial expressions.
“You know, for someone who never liked the pirate lifestyle, you took it to the extreme, becoming a fugitive of the Guardians. Are you sure they’ll find you?”
“I may have betrayed the trust of a certain powerful individual, in addition to the relationship with the thiefs. So yeah. The Guardians will definitely find me on this planet. It's just a matter of time.” Nia said.
This kept getting better and better. I had so many questions, but there was regret in her tone and I wondered what happened to make her look so sad. But now was not the time.
Bags packed and loaded, we returned to the kitchen to say our goodbyes to Nox.
“Are you certain I can’t come with you?” He asked as he handed over two canteens of water.
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“The clan needs you here,” I said. “Is the rendezvous arranged?”
He nodded. “Yes, you’re to meet up with Sylvester at Northern Ozoma Port. From there, I have a ship you can take to the pirate ring where Jin will pick you up. After that, we’ll have to minimize our contact. The less I know the better.”
“Thank you Nox, you’re the best.” Nia hugged him one last time.
A look of concern shadowed his face. “You’re certain we have two days? That they don’t know where you’re from?” He asked.
“Certain? No. However, they think I’m from some town up north. I have no actual ties to you or the pirate clan as far as they are concerned.” Nia responded.
I frowned. “But what about their powers? Aren’t some of them unnaturally good at tracking?”
Nia paled. “Yes, that’s why we needed to get going. Just in case. And we’ll keep our cloaking on the second we leave this station.”
I heaved a deep breath. This was it, leaving home. I’d traveled off station of course, but we had no clue how long we would be gone. Nerves were making me jittery. “I need to stop by Benny’s. Also I would like to say bye to Rosemary and the kids.”
Nia shifted on her feet, her brows pulled in worry. “I suppose so, but we need to hurry.”
We made our way out, waving goodbye to Nox, one last time. I tried to savor the sights and smells of my home, trying to memorize the way the ships shifted and creaked. The scent of barbequed birds hung in the air, children were laughing as they raced past, while workers grunted. Vibrant shades of pinks, purples and reds painted the ships around us in their reflections as the sun began to set.
I paused in front of Benny’s shop which was around the corner from where Lucy was docked. It’s a three day journey to the port though and Lucy was not designed for longer duration trips. I would have to leave her behind with Rosemary. The thought of leaving my hoverbike behind was almost painful. Maybe I could cram her in my bedroom if she wouldn’t fit in the storage room on the small transport. Benny turned to face me, a smile on his face once he finished up with his last customer. I handed him the teas. “Hi, Benny.”
“Naomi, these look delicious. Thank you. I see your sister is in town. It's been a while hasn’t it?” He asked while turning to set the little canisters on a shelf over his stove.
“Yes, we’re going on a trip together actually. So, I won’t be around for a bit.”
“Is that—“ A gurgle cut off his sentence, his back still to me.
“Benny? Do you have heartburn again? It's really not healthy to drink a gallon of coffee a day.” I leaned to the left trying to see his face. His whole body had gone unnaturally rigid.
“Benny?”
Something was shifting under the fabric over his back. It almost looked like something was sliding around under his clothing, though I couldn’t fathom what. Maybe a blood leach somehow got on board? I needed to get to him, but he kept his door locked after a robbery a few weeks ago.
He gargled again, louder this time. The sound so disturbing the hairs on my arms stood on end. Something was very wrong with him.
“Benny?” I asked again, but this time my voice came out thin.
I reached, leaning over the bar but my fingers wouldn’t reach. Just as I was debating climbing over the barrier, he stumbled around, facing me but not seeing me. He was gripping the counter on his right and the wall on his left, trying to keep himself upright, his knuckles white. I opened my mouth to speak when crimson blood oozed out of his eyes and ears.
I gasped, frozen in shock. What was happening? Was he poisoned somehow? I’d never seen anything like this.
“What’s happening?!” I said loudly.
Nia ran over. I was still standing right in front of the tiny bar window, blocking him from her view. His skin started to lose its elasticity, sagging on his jowls, his neck, his collar bone.
Benny’s face was melting.
Something slithered under his skin, then began to push its way out of him, shedding Benny like a molting insect.
Benny, the gossip slinger and tea master. He’d been here since my first heist over a decade ago. His eyes were too wide, the orbs excreting out of his skull, his entire face drooping over his neck. Something was in there, replacing him.
I was shaking all over, my mouth open, gasping. Frozen in horror. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t look away.
My stomach lurched, bile leaping up my throat.
Nia shoved me aside.
She stopped short, all the blood drained from her face. She took a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs, “GUARDIAN!”
The moment she got the warning out, Benny exploded, showering Nia and I with gore. Blood and tissue splattered my face, my clothes, my hair. A large man that was very clearly not Benny towered before us.
He was covered in gore.
A large hand reached up and slowly wiped across his eyes, revealing streaks of silver skin. Golden glowing eyes with tiny black pupils opened and focused on my sister. He grinned, triumphant.
“Nia.” He growled, drawing her name out in both a command and an admonishment.
The world around us was a frenzy of panic. People were running for their ships, others aiming for the panic room deep in the middle of the facility. Nia grabbed my arm and dragged me away. She was aiming for the jet we were supposed to take, a crowd of people blocked the way. I jerked her towards Lucy instead. We ran as fast as we could, dodging and weaving until we reached her. I hopped on front, revved the engine and flew at breakneck speed out of the shield towards the main river gorge, Nia clinging desperately around my waist.
I headed North since that's the direction of the port and there was another maze of tributaries we could lose him in.
“Where is he?” I yelled over my shoulder.
“He’s stolen a burner, he’s tailing us. Floor it Naomi!”
I pushed the bike harder. I hadn’t even gotten around to loading my share of the bloodchrome to the engine. Depending on what vehicle he stole, we might not make it. Even if we outran him, we’d run out of fuel before we made it anywhere. The two of us couldn’t take on a Guardian. Especially not one that did… whatever the fuck that was.
I chanced a glance behind me. The ROG port was no longer visible, but the Guardian was close enough to see the details of his face. The whipping wind tore at his hair, possibly silver beneath the dark crimson blood. His silver skin and hair made him easier to spot in the rapid fall of darkness. Hopefully, the deep black of night out here would throw him off. City Guardians weren’t used to it. I turned off all the lights and focused on my steering.
“Do you have a gun?” I asked Nia. We needed something to slow him down.
“Yes.” I felt her pivot behind me, aiming for the Guardian. My armor would come in handy right now. I needed to focus, just pretend we were on a raid. I pressed the activator, my mask and helmet sliding into place. In it I could see a 360 view around me.
She shot three times in succession but they all went wide. Her aim had gotten rusty in her years away. Shit, he turned on the shielding cloak. Nia stopped shooting. He was still visible to me since our bikes were linked for heists, but her shots would no longer penetrate.
A bend in the river was coming up. I turned on our shield and cloak to give us extra protection, straps flew across us to keep us down. I could barrel roll if needed, but he was gaining on us. I took a risk and flew over the embankment. The guardian followed, and something struck him from the shadows. It missed.
Dammit.
“Why isn’t he shooting at us?” I didn’t have to yell anymore, Nia had donned her helm as well so we could communicate.
“When he cleaves a body, he can’t take anything with him.”
Now that she mentioned it, he was wearing Benny’s clothes. Even the apron. I couldn’t think about Benny right now. Focus on surviving a god touched Guardian first. Mourn later.
A horrific thought occurred to me.
“Nia, can he cleave one of us?” My heart was racing at the thought. My stomach churned.
“No, we both have our armor on now. Plus, he wants us alive. The only reason he even got into the clan was because of those damned holes in the shield.”
I may never turn off my armor again. I would sleep in it for the rest of my life.
I turned hard right at the last moment where the river split. He veered back around, we had a little bit more of a lead on him now.
Night had fully descended. I needed to use it to my advantage. I veered right along the edge of the winding river, nearly brushing the unforgiving bluffs. He followed and was so close, he could almost leap onto our bike. I veered. Again he followed. Not good.
“How did he know where we are?” We should be barely visible. He had no armor or helm to see our signatures and the shield muffled sound too.
“He can sense bodies with which to cleave into. That’s how he pinpointed us so well.”
Even through our shield? There was no way I could trick his senses. Up ahead a cliff face was coming before the next bend. “You remember our first heist together?”
She leaned to look around me. “Do it.”
She tightened her grip even though we were strapped in. He could see us, but not necessarily our surroundings. Time to test that theory. I aimed straight ahead as if there were no sharp bend coming up.
“Now!” Nia yelled. I pulled up so hard we flew straight up then flipped backwards, then leaned right and shot forward down the 90 degree turn. His heat signature pulled up at the last second but not before scratching the cliff. He spun out rolling end over end in our direction but then evened out. We had more space between us and his craft was damaged, but I was hoping for more.
A warning light flashed in my vision. Bloody beasts we were low on fuel already.
“Nia, we didn't have much time. I couldn’t shake him.”
“I know, I’m thinking.” She shot at him but it bounced right off. “We’ll have to ask the river for help.”
What?!
“Come again? This “river” would devour us. You know that.”
“The river isn’t what you think it is.”
“I don’t have any thoughts on what it was. It's dangerous. That’s all we need to know.” I interjected.
“It's the tendrils of the Monstravi, like their version of a vascular system, a highway of sorts. The Monstravi want us to survive.”
What the fuck was she talking about?! “I don’t understand,”
“I’ll explain later. Fly lower, almost touching it.”
I obeyed, reluctantly.
Nia was humming something, the sound surprisingly clear and loud. I could feel it reverberating through me. How was she doing that? Her arms were glowing. Wait, was that bloodchrome engraved into her very skin? What had my sister been doing at the Academy? This was not apprentice level studying.
“Now dive!” She demanded.
“No.” Absolutely not. I would rather take my chances with him.
Nia grabbed the handles and forced us into a dive. The mysterious River of Gore I spent my life avoiding contact with, swallowed us whole.
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