Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [237]
Strangely enough, Osquivel's cloud bands seemed different now, changed, as if lit from within. Brighter and less ominous. He couldn't imagine what might have happened to change a whole planet. It was as if the stain of the hydrogues themselves had disappeared.
He drifted among the rings, searching and thinking. Zhett had taken him out in a small grappler pod to tour the smelters and rubble prospectors, the small greenhouse domes, the recycling facilities, and the habitation complexes. Everything was silent and empty now. On one of the storage rocks he had tricked Zhett, strung her along. She had believed he was falling in love with her.
He couldn't imagine what she thought of him now. Zhett Kellum was a fiery young woman who had powerful feelings. He suspected she did not take humiliation well. How she must have cursed his name!
He had to be insane to steal a ship, escape from his powerful grandmother, and go AWOL from the Earth Defense Forces, just to find Zhett. And if he ever succeeded, how could he expect anything other than contempt from her? She would probably spit in his face--or worse.
Nevertheless, Patrick had to do it. He had no choice whatsoever.
Perhaps, if he could atone for his actions, make her see that he had changed and that he truly regretted what he had done, maybe then he'd have a chance.
Next, Patrick flew to the Roamer government center of Rendezvous--or what was left of it. Admiral Stromo's battle group had done its work well.
He had seen surveillance images of the massive asteroid complex. The Roamers had made once-useless space rubble into a thriving trade and legislative center. And the EDF's most powerful weapons had broken it all apart and scattered Rendezvous like a handful of gravel. In the short time since the pointless attack, the larger chunks had spread out, propelled on different trajectories by momentum imparted by explosions.
Patrick ached as he looked at the scene. This complex was the political equivalent of the Whisper Palace on Earth or the Hansa HQ. Roamers had never fired a provocative shot at any EDF vessel, as far as he knew. The clans had merely imposed sanctions after a legitimate grievance. Instead of trying to work out an adequate settlement, the Hansa Chairman had insisted on complete control instead of friendship. During her tenure, Maureen Fitzpatrick probably would have done the same.
No wonder all Roamers despised Eddies.
Patrick cruised slowly through the impossible rubble field, imagining how amazing this place had once been. Considering what had been done to them here, he couldn't believe the Roamers hadn't simply dumped their EDF captives right back out into space. Patrick supposed he should count himself lucky.
He drifted, following whatever course the mangled lines of gravity offered. He had a lot of time to think and a lot of thinking to do. He silently promised himself once again that he would find Zhett, that he would make things right. He didn't expect the task to be easy, but he'd had too many easy jobs in his life, thanks to his family. This was something he had to do for himself.
Patrick plotted his next course and flew off.
141
RLINDA KETT
The Voracious Curiosity drifted for days in open space. For Rlinda, it was the most enjoyable time in recent memory. "I forgot just how much fun a person could have, given a little bit of privacy."
BeBob wasn't complaining, either. They kept the Curiosity warm enough that the two of them could spend half the day without clothes on, if they chose--and they often chose just that. Rlinda preferred to keep the lights turned down low, for the mood. BeBob had seen her naked often enough, before, during, and after their brief and tempestuous marriage. She didn't qualify as one of those pheromone-enhanced models, but he never seemed to get tired of the view.
BeBob extricated himself from her and tried to move toward the Curiosity's galley to get a snack, but she didn't let him get away so easily. "Hey, I didn't