Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I groaned at the mention of that name. Frux was the Union Rep assigned to The Illyrian—he was the one and only crew member I hadn’t chosen myself. Instead he had been chosen by the head of my Family—the Chieftain of Clan Savage—which meant he was completely untouchable.
Frux was a real son-of-a-bitch who knew his status and liked to lord it over the other crew members. He had silver horns—the mark of only the most trusted Enforcers—and he never missed a chance to brag about it.
He also never missed a chance to complain or cause trouble. I had been to my Chief several times, asking to have him removed, but no luck. He was some kind of distant relative of the Chief—a second cousin twice removed by marriage on his wife’s side. It wasn’t a close connection—but it was close enough to keep Frux on my ship, no matter how much I hated the fucker.
“You’re right,” I said to Yorrin. “Frux will cause a stink. But I hate to let the boy go—he’s a fucking phenomenon. I’ll never get a chance at a navvie that good again. I’m surprised the Imperium hasn’t snapped him up for one of their long-range Battle Cruisers already.”
“That’s what I’m saying—keep them both,” my pilot said. “Let the men see for themselves how good he is. That way, when this mission is over, you can keep the boy and give the smelly one the heave-ho.”
I nodded at Yorrin’s wisdom. I knew he had nothing to lose or to gain in this situation, since he refused to take any pay for his work, wanting only to spread the good news of his deity to the universe. And he had always given me sound advice.
“All right,” I said. “There are two bunks in the navigator’s quarters anyway—they can bunk together.”
Yorrin frowned.
“Is that wise, Captain? The Galafruxian is bound to be resentful that you’re hiring another navvie along with him. Won’t he retaliate against the boy?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “Galafruxians might be smelly bastards, but they’re also avowed pacifists. He won’t do anything to the boy. Well, except for stink him out.” I shook my head. I really had to be sure that the big bastard took a shower.
“As you say, Captain. Your word is law. I pray that Amok will bless your decision.” Yorrin bobbed his furry head and withdrew, leaving me to plot exactly how I was going to get both of my navvie candidates to agree to come on the Triplex mission…
8
JESSINA
Iwaited nervously, wondering what Turk’s decision would be. Part of me wanted to reveal my true identity and beg him for help…but another, larger part knew that would be the height of foolishness. He didn’t know he was my Fated mate so he wouldn’t go against a Clan Chief—aka my father—to keep me from getting married, especially when the Binding Contract had already been signed. I was on my own here, with nothing to recommend me but my skill at navigation.
From across the bridge, the slimy Galafruxian was glaring at me. He wasn’t making any secret about the fact that he hated me now—his purple eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets with the emotion.
I tried to keep myself busy and ignore him and his evil glaring. I was clearly the better navigator—if he couldn’t handle that fact, it was just too bad for him. But what was taking Turk so long? How could he have any doubts about who he should give the job to?
At last the pilot—who looked like a sloth from Old Earth—came ambling out of the back room. A few moments later, Turk followed. We all turned to face him and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Would he turn me down just because I looked too young? Curse that stupid Synth dealer! He should have given me some whiskers at least.
Turk came around and seated himself in the padded chair in the center of the room—the command center—the captain’s chair. It was slightly raised, sitting on a pedestal that allowed it to swivel in all directions. As he sat, he turned toward us and beckoned.
“Gurflug and…boy, I don’t know your name,” he said to me, frowning.
“Oh, uh…” I almost blurted out my real name, which would have blown my cover immediately. Then I thought about calling myself “Jess” but that was too close to the truth too. Finally I settled on my middle name—Cassandra. In Brute crime families, your middle name is sacred and nobody outside your family knows it. That’s so it can be used as a password in times of trouble or distress. It was the best solution I could come up with on the spur of the moment.
“Cass,” I said to him. “You can call me Cass, Captain Turk.”
Turk raised his eyebrows, his bronze eyes narrowing slightly.