Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [79]
‘Yeah, well, it’s possible that your sister’s got things on her mind,’ said Jo-Jo curtly. ‘Things shitty enough to bring her to you looking for help.’
Bethany froze. The robed woman stared at him. In fact, everyone in the room seemed suddenly on edge as if he’d crossed an invisible line of protocol.
The grey-eyed man leaned his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. ‘Seems like you’ve found a champion, little sister.’
‘A friend,’ Beth corrected him. She balanced on one foot like an awkward kid. ‘You’ve always said I don’t have enough.’
Her brother’s mouth twisted into something that should have been a smile but wasn’t. He settled back in his seat. ‘Sit, please.’
It was not a request.
‘Mr Rasterovich, meet Baronessa Fedor and her companions. She is one of the last remaining royals from the planet Araldis—or so she would have me believe.’
The young Baronessa held out her hand to Jo-Jo. ‘I am pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.’
Jo-Jo couldn’t think of anything else to do, so he walked over and shook it.
Something appalling happened when his skin touched hers. The worst of things. Perhaps it was the incredible softness of her hand. Or the way her erect posture seemed to be a brace against the hard life she led. Or maybe it was the deep, deep look of desperation in her eyes. But in that moment, the something that had glued Jo-Jo together for his entire life came unstuck. He found himself stranded between diffident and nervous—a place he had never been before. ‘J-josef,’ was all he managed to stammer.
‘Now, Baronessa, continue your story,’ said Bethany’s brother.
‘But it is not the business or the interest of these people,’ replied the Baronessa.
‘I think it is. Now continue.’’
The woman glanced at the soldiers. There was no mistaking the grey-eyed man’s imperative.
She took a breath. ‘My planet, Araldis, has been invaded by a tardigrade species known as the Saqr. A mercenary by the name of Ludjer Jancz, we think, is responsible for it. Mia sorella was killed in an explosion set by him. All the bambinos that she gave shelter to died as well: babies, barely able to suckle. The invasion is widespread with only a few survivors, who are in hiding. We did not bring this upon ourselves, nor are they likely to survive much longer if I do not bring help.’ She drew another shaking breath. ‘My bambino, Vito, is still there.’
Her bambino? Jo-Jo looked at her fingers and ears. She wore none of the traditional emblems of legal marriage.
‘Tell me about the survivors. Did you see a young girl alone anywhere? A part-Mio. She’s my daughter,’ Beth implored the woman.
The Baronessa frowned. ‘I don’t know how many are left alive in all. But there are some. The young Principe led them into hiding. That is why I am here. I must find a way to get help to them.’
‘Fedor is right. It’s a crap shoot down there. We only got out because she could fly the ‘zoon,’ added one of the mercenaries.
Jo-Jo took a sharp breath. ‘You’re an Innate?’
The Baronessa gave a faint nod.
‘Rare and intriguing,’ said Beth’s brother. ‘The Baronessa is a very special woman.’
Bethany took a step closer to her brother. ‘Lasper, we were there too—at any rate on Dowl station—when the creatures came. We missed the evacuation and tried to escape on a Savvy but the Saqr followed us to the dock. We had to go EVA on a lug. A Savvy picked us up.’ She shuddered.
‘You say your girl is on this planet, Beth. What of her father?’ asked Lasper.
‘He’d already gone with his ship. Left us there. I would have joined her on the planet but...’ This time she stared straight at her brother. ‘You were right. And I was wrong, Lasper. And I need your help.’
His grey eyes filled with an intense look of satisfaction. He stared at the crimson-skinned young woman. ‘And you, Baronessa?’
‘I went to OLOSS first. They wanted to impound both myself and the biozoon while they investigated the matter. They gave no indication that they would give aid. My .. . companion indicated that you might be sympathetic to our plight.’
The white-haired mercenary seated next to the Baronessa