Avalon

CHAPTER 02

“WELL,” THE MAN SAID. “IT’S NICE TO MEET YOU AT LAST, Jethro Seagrave.”

Jeth blinked first in surprise and then in outright fear. He glanced at Lizzie. “Didn’t you scan the ship to see if anybody was on board?”

Lizzie’s mouth fell open in a horrified grimace. “You didn’t tell me to!”

No, he hadn’t. Someone experienced would’ve intuitively known to do it. If we get out of this, I’m going to kill her.

Jeth faced the stranger again, trying to appear calm, like he wasn’t terrified to find an ITA agent waiting for him on board the ship he was trying to steal.

A slight man with a fit, wiry physique, the agent had a vague, forgettable appearance, the kind that would make him hard to pick out in a crowd. Jeth couldn’t place his age, but flecks of white peppered his black hair and age lines rimmed his dark eyes and thin mouth.

“How do you know my name?” Jeth said.

“I knew your parents. You’re the spitting image of your father. At least, you would be, minus those prosthetics you’re wearing.”

A funny, tightening feeling gripped Jeth’s chest, and he forced a deep inhale. Across from him, Lizzie was staring at the man like he was some kind of ghost come back to haunt them. She might be four years younger than Jeth, but she’d been old enough to remember their mom and dad and to bear the scars of their absence.

“I’m Marcus Renford.”

The name didn’t mean anything to Jeth. Lots of people had known his parents. They’d been somewhat famous for their deep space explorations and discoveries that were often sensationalized to the general public by the ITA. “Never heard of you. But if you’re going to arrest us, get on with it already.” And leave my parents out of it, he silently added. Fear still made his heart race, but anger over the subject began to temper it.

Unconcerned, Renford motioned at Celeste. “Why don’t you step up there next to Jethro?”

Jeth eyed the Mirage in Renford’s hand. He flexed his fingers, trying to figure out how long it would take him to draw the stunner from his own belt. Too long, he decided, assuming this guy was in a mind to shoot him. He glanced at Celeste as she stepped up beside him, hoping she could make a move. But like him, she’d stowed her stunner as well.

“You too, little miss,” Renford said, turning the Mirage on Lizzie. “And I must say that you are the image of your mother. It’s remarkable.”

Jeth bit his tongue, fighting the instinct to shield his sister. Lizzie stood up from the nav station and joined him and Celeste.

“It’s a shame, however,” Renford said, “that Robert and Marian’s children turned out to be criminals.”

Jeth smirked, masking his anger with sarcasm. “Well, one could argue that we’re just following in their footsteps.”

Renford sighed and shook his head. The reaction didn’t surprise Jeth. There were a lot of old people around who still admired his parents even though they’d been executed for treason. Just what his parents were supposed to have done, Jeth didn’t know. The ITA had classified the entire incident. What Jeth did know was that he wasn’t about to fall into the same trap of trusting the ITA.

“No matter,” said Renford. “I’m not here to arrest you.”

Hiding his shock at this news, Jeth said, “What do you want, then? In case you hadn’t noticed, we were kinda in the middle of something here.”

Renford snorted. “Indeed. But I couldn’t wait for a better opportunity.”

“But how’d you know to wait for us in here?” said Celeste, sounding spooked.

“I overheard Hammer talking about this job.”

Jeth frowned. Nobody just overheard Hammer. He was too smart, and his security was airtight. Officially, Hammer was the governor of Peltraz Spaceport, where Jeth and his crew lived. In reality, he was an interstellar crime lord, and the man behind everything to do with the Malleus Shades. Although, as the leader of the crew, Jeth had chosen its members, Hammer had determined the candidates.

But how could this guy know about the Shades, about this job?

Only one explanation occurred to Jeth, and it made his pulse skip a beat. Renford might be an Echo. One of the ITA’s special operatives. Most people didn’t believe Echoes existed, but Jeth’s mom had told him once that they were very real and capable of extraordinary feats. Including uncovering secret information about a man as powerful and well insulated as Hammer.

Jeth wanted to pursue his theory but held back. If this man was an Echo, he wasn’t likely to admit it. “If you’re not here to arrest us, what do you want?”

“I’ve come to discuss your next job.” Renford paused, eyeing all of them skeptically. “You’ve got to admire Hammer for his cleverness in using teenagers to steal for him. No wonder people fail to see you coming.”

Celeste made a noise of disgust and put her hands on her hips. “That’s right. But we only do jobs through Hammer.”

Renford cocked an eyebrow. “Only? But surely young mercenaries such as yourselves would be interested in exploring other, better offers.”

Jeth stared at the man for the span of several heartbeats, unsure how to answer. None of this made sense. “You want to hire us to steal something?”

“Yes,” said Renford at once. Then he paused, the silence a preamble. “From Hammer.”

Lizzie drew a startled breath, and Celeste visibly stiffened. Jeth managed not to react, although he couldn’t blame the others. Hammer might murder the lot of them for even listening to such a notion, let alone entertaining it. This was betrayal with a capital B. And people just didn’t do that sort of thing to Hammer. Not unless they hoped for a slow, horrible death.

Still, Hammer wasn’t here at present, and Jeth couldn’t exactly tell the guy with the gun to piss off. “Steal what?”

Renford’s easy smile pricked Jeth’s nerves. The arrogant asshole believes he’s won already. Jeth smiled back, content to leave him to his delusions for the time being.

“A ship, naturally. That is what you do, after all.”

Jeth slid his tongue along his teeth, feeling the urge to bite something. “Naturally. But which one?”

“Ah, that’s the catch. Hammer doesn’t have the ship yet. He intends to send you to get it for him as soon as you return from this job. But I’m here to convince you to bring the ship to me instead.”

Celeste tapped the toe of her boot, the sound punctuating her displeasure. “Why don’t you just take the ship yourselves? You are the ITA.” Her gaze dropped to the man’s badge for a second. “Isn’t that what you do? Confiscate things?”

Jeth managed not to snicker. Celeste had a good point, but he didn’t think it wise to openly provoke this man. Especially with his little sister in the danger zone.

The smugness receded from Renford’s expression. “I’m afraid it’s not so simple. The ship is lost. You’re meant to find it, not steal it.”

Jeth frowned, his confusion returning. They were thieves not salvagers. “Why us? We don’t do that sort of thing, and like she said”—he inclined his head toward Celeste—“you’re the ITA. Why not send your own people to find it?”

Renford adjusted his grip on the gun, the black hole of its mouth leering at Jeth. “Because the ship went missing inside the Belgrave Quadrant.”

Immediate understanding clicked inside Jeth, followed at once by a swell of dread. The Belgrave. That’s where it happened. Whatever it was that had led his parents down the path toward inexplicable treason and death had started in that strange area of space. It was known across the galaxy as the Devil’s Boneyard. Lots of ships had disappeared inside of it, never to be seen again. Equipment tended to malfunction within its borders, particularly navigational systems. The ITA had declared it completely off limits; even flying through it was illegal. Some people said the place was haunted or cursed.

Jeth didn’t know what to believe. All he could say for sure was that his parents had spent more time in the Belgrave than anyone else. It was one of their primary areas of exploration. Over the years they’d made unique configuration changes to Avalon’s systems in order to make her resistant to the Belgrave’s strange energy fluxes. Avalon was the only ship that could navigate the area with any hope of success.

Jeth unclenched his jaw, working past his surprise. “And you need Avalon to find it. That’s why you’re here talking to a bunch of criminals.”

Renford nodded.

Lizzie cleared her throat, the sound mocking. “So why not confiscate that ship?”

Jeth glared at her, wishing she would keep her mouth shut. Didn’t she know what kind of damage a gun like that could do?

The first hint of annoyance flashed in Renford’s eyes. “There’s no time for such things, little girl. Despite your belief that the ITA merely takes at whim, such actions must be justified, documented, and approved by the Confederation Board. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand the complexity of government.”

Lizzie looked ready to argue, but Renford ignored her, addressing Jeth once again. “Hammer plans to send you to find it as soon as you finish here.” He motioned toward the Montrose’s bridge. “The ITA has learned that two days ago one of his men intercepted a distress beacon from the missing ship’s flight recorder.”

A dozen questions occurred to Jeth. He settled on the first one. “Why does Hammer want the ship?”

“Why does Hammer want anything?”

Profit, Jeth thought, although he had a feeling this was about more than a metadrive. They were valuable, sure, but Jeth didn’t think Hammer would risk sending the Shades into the Belgrave only for that. Besides, why had his men been close enough to the Belgrave to intercept the beacon? Jeth supposed it was possible they’d been just flying by and caught it by chance, but given Renford’s interest in the ship, he doubted it. Too coincidental. Most likely, Hammer had been monitoring the area on purpose. Which meant that something extremely valuable must be on that missing ship.

So valuable I might earn enough to finally buy Avalon if I find it for Hammer.

The idea sent an automatic grin to Jeth’s lips, but he suppressed it before it could surface. He had to get out of this mess first. And if they didn’t make a break for it soon, they were never getting out of here. Someone might notice those unconscious sentries any moment. It was time to press.

He folded his arms across his chest, the position placing his hand within centimeters of the stunner’s hilt. “This has been real interesting, but I’m afraid we’ll have to pass.”

Renford shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “But you haven’t heard what I’m willing to pay yet.”

Jeth rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and what’s that?”

Renford reached a hand into his inside pocket and withdrew a thumb-sized object that Jeth recognized as a personal calling card. The card worked like a homing device, one that would allow them to contact Renford no matter where he might be in the galaxy. Renford held it out to him. “Bring the ship directly to me, and in return, I will give you Avalon.”

A noise of surprise threatened to escape Jeth’s throat, and he clamped his mouth shut. This man knew far too much. A trickle of cold sweat slid between Jeth’s shoulder blades and down his spine.

“I know you’re working to buy the ship back from Hammer,” said Renford. “I can expedite your ownership.”

Still, Jeth said nothing, his breath shallow. He didn’t want to believe this guy, but the promise of finally achieving what he’d been working toward for so long made his nerve endings tingle with hope. Even if they couldn’t confiscate the ship immediately, the ITA would likely be capable of wresting it from Hammer’s grasp without too much trouble.

They executed my parents.

“No thanks.” Jeth forced the words through gritted teeth. “I’ve no reason to trust the ITA.” He didn’t care what his parents might’ve done. They didn’t deserve to die like that, and he wasn’t about to either.

Renford scoffed. “Oh, and I suppose you have reason to trust Hammer? Come on now, Jeth. You can’t really believe he’ll let you have your ship, no matter how many jobs you pull off. Seems to me your little gang of thieves is too valuable for him to give you that kind of freedom. You might stop working for him, which would cut into his bottom line. That doesn’t sound like the Hammer I know. He never gives up his toys.”

Jeth opened his mouth to argue, his temper like a whiplash. He was not a toy.

Renford cut him off. “And there’s something else. If you bring me the lost ship, I promise to tell you what really happened to your parents.”

A shot of adrenaline surged through Jeth so hard, his vision blurred. Temptation opened up before him like a hidden trail in a dense forest.

He started to respond, then froze as noise erupted all around them.

The spaceport’s alarms were going off. Someone had found the stunned sentries.