Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [24]
‘Get yer own,’ whispered the Capo.
Jo-Jo was so close to the man that his spit made him blink. So close that he could see every minute detail of the Capo’s face beneath the layer of grime. So close . . .
‘Wait!’ Jo-Jo sat upright. ‘I know who you . . .’
‘Shut the fuck up or they’ll hear you,’ the Capo hissed. He raised his fist to club Jo-Jo but Jo-Jo warded him off with his forearm.
‘I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!’ he shouted. ‘I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!’
And he did.
And then the sleep dropped away and he found himself sitting upright in bed, shaking and still shouting the words.
He dragged himself straight into the wash cubicle and sat there until the tremors subsided.
It gave him time to sort his brain out - think over things.
He was on a half-crazy, pining ‘zoon travelling though Extro space with a bunch of self-serving, edgy mercs.
Something new. Think harder.
Rast Randall had strong feelings for Mira Fedor. Maybe as strong as his. That meant she must be feeling guilty as hell about losing Fedor. And worried. Jo-Jo could use that, and to a degree, he could trust it.
Slightly cheered, he went to the medi-lab and connected himself up to an IV of electrolytes. When the drip ran out he moved on to the cucina and forced himself to eat some bread and dried meat.
Better.
But the effort of the walk he then took up to the buccal almost had him vomiting up the food. And the shaking was back - though not as bad.
This time when he sank his fist into the pucker it opened.
Rast was reclining in the sink they called Secondo. She didn’t appear surprised to see him but her hand drifted to the weapon on her lap.
‘Let’s talk,’ said Jo-Jo.
She sat more upright at that, eyes narrow and suspicious. ‘Shoot.’
‘Tell me the situation out there.’ He lifted his head to indicate outside.
Rast chewed her lip before replying. ‘From what I can tell we’re heading to the outer reaches of Saiph. ‘Zoon’s sticking close to a bunch of freighters. Think it’s trying to muddy up its signatures.’
‘Makes sense.’
‘Lots of activity around the system, especially back near Rho Junction. My Extro space nav isn’t exactly sharp though.’
“Zoon’s got a connection with the Baronessa - maybe it knows where she is,’ said Jo-Jo.
‘I’m banking on it. And on the fact that it’ll let us do our thing when the time comes.’
What’s your thing? Jo-Jo wanted to shout at the merc. Desert two vulnerable women? But he bit the words back. He needed information and commitment. He wouldn’t get that from the likes of Rast Randall by being antagonistic.
His legs began to tremble, forcing him to sit down on the edge of the Autonomy nub.
‘Looks like you’ve just trashed a kidney and a liver,’ observed Rast.
‘Gotta get my HealthWatch upgraded. Forgotten what a real hangover was like.’ That was true. Jo-Jo had never felt this bad from drink before.
‘Yeah. Never know what you might pick up — the places you frequent.’
Jo-Jo hunched, not seeing the lighter side. ‘I’ve been thinking over some stuff. Strikes me there’s a lot of things that seem connected that shouldn’t be and I’m wondering why.’
Rast cocked an eyebrow and waited.
‘The Lostol getting on that ship with Berniere and Bethany on Rho Junction - I know him. His name’s Tekton. He’s a tyro to the Entity on Belle-Monde.’
Rast’s mouth fell open. ‘That was Tekton?’
‘You heard of him?’
‘Fedor says he’s the one who’s been buying up the quixite on Araldis. Carnage mentioned him too. You had some shit go down with him . . . something about a Hera contract.’
‘Shit’s the word for it,’ said Jo-Jo grimly.
‘So what’s he doin’ with Beth and the idiot scholar?’
‘Heading back to Akouedo, I’m guessing. That can’t mean anything good. Carnage and Tekton .. .’Jo-Jo shook his head, imagining the consequences of a partnership between the Commander and the tyro. He regathered himself. ‘You told me before that your allegiances are your own. You stand by that?’
Rast nodded and gave him a keen look. ‘Spit it out.’
‘Stuff is happening... I keep thinking that I’m understanding it, and then something