Incognito

Spaceport: Incognito Cat Marsters All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Cat Marsters

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is

illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary

gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison

and a fine of $250,000.

ISBN: 978-1-59596-854-8

Formats Available:

HTML, Adobe PDF,

MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader

Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

PO Box 1046

Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Sheri Ross Fogarty

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Spaceport: Incognito Cat Marsters Hot Pursuit… Jal is a bounty hunter, Kali his quarry. When he finds the former socialite disguised as a cheap whore, turning tricks on Spaceport Adana, he can’t believe his luck. All he has to do is return her to her fiancé, and he’s rich. So what if he’s sampling the wares on the trip home? It’s not as if it’s the first time she’s traded in sex. Except that there’s a reason Kali ran from her privileged background, and once Jal hears it, he’s faced with a dilemma. In the past, knowing his skip was facing certain death would never have bothered him, but this time all the money in the ’verse won’t compensate for Kali’s loss. Can he send her home, knowing she’ll be put to death, or should he believe her story and help with her mission -- which might end up getting them both killed? To further complicate matters, it’s very possible that Kali knows the secret to finding the one thing Jal has been searching for all his life…

Prologue The trader stank of sweat and oil and tasted of stale come as he forced his cock into her mouth. He wasn’t even hard yet, but Kali was good at fixing that problem. She’d lost her roll of dental dams yesterday when those three big Fedorans had paid her a thousand credits to fuck them all at the same time, down in one of the storage units. Which meant she’d have to shell out another couple of hundred credits for a shot from sick bay -- and buy another roll of dams. “Ungh,” the trader said, grabbing a handful of her ragged blue hair. “Ugh, yeah baby. Blyat, Nil Raja are the fucking best!” I’m sure they are, Kali thought, widening the back of her throat as Rufus had taught her, fighting the gag reflex and swallowing the trader’s disgusting member. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. If I were, I probably wouldn’t find this so repellent. She shifted on the cushion Nila had lent her, and glanced out of the corner of her eye to see if her big bottle of mouthwash was there. It was. Good. She was going to need most of it after she was done with this guy. Around her, the sounds of the station swirled and clanged. Behind her was the red light district, with its thudding beat and stabbing pink and blue lights. On catwalks above the walkway, Nil Raja prostis paraded in various states of undress, their bare crotches visible to anyone who looked up. Shouts and catcalls permeated the air, the Nil Raja negotiating prices and the fakes like Kali touting for business. The air was thick with the smell of sex, of oxidizing baridium and stale beer, and the ever-present background thrum of couples fucking. Beside her was Nila’s booth, and the wet, sucking sounds of another cheap blow job in process. In front of her, the customers and gawkers jostled in the narrow alley. Blow Job Alley, she’d heard a couple of Adana miners call it. Someone had called it Cunt Street,

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

-6-

which was a misnomer in Kali’s opinion. Cock was as freely available as cunt in the red light district. There was a soldier, just visible past the thick legs of the trader, a poorly paid one if he was in Kali’s vicinity. He already had his uniform untabbed and his cock out, and he was fisting it as he watched. The trader was thrusting now, gripping Kali’s hair so hard it hurt, grunting loudly as he jammed himself down the back of her throat. Kali swallowed, and the movement set off his orgasm, a couple of jets of filthy come down her throat. She shoved him away, her lips twisting with the taste, and grabbed her mouthwash. But he shoved his cock back towards her. “Lick it clean!” he demanded, and Kali narrowed her eyes. “I wouldn’t taste your disgusting jiz again for all the credits in the ’Port,” she said, and saw the light of rage come into his eyes. “Fucking blyat!” His hand was raised as if to strike her, but he was dozy from orgasm and Kali had always been quick. She grabbed his balls and twisted, and he hopped away, howling. “Go find someone else to kiss it better,” she said, as the soldier, clearly impatient for his turn, stepped forward. “How much?” he said. She sized him up. “Hundred,” she said, because he looked reasonably clean and she doubted he could afford more. “Fucking cheat!” the trader, clearly too stupid to give in, was crawling over. “Suka charged me a hundred-fifty!” “That’s because you’re a disgusting haang-jui,” the soldier told him, before clicking Receipt and pushing his cock towards Kali’s mouth. He kept his hand on his gun as Kali sucked him down, even after the trader had moved away. After he came he asked her where was good for a drink and a live show, and to show her thanks she didn’t charge him for the information.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

-7-

Her back ached, her knees were numb from kneeling, even with Nila’s cushion, and to be honest, her ass was sore from the pounding the Fedorans had given it last night. But the thought of those thousand credits, another step closer to earning her freedom, kept a smile on her face as the next customer stepped up.

Chapter One “You coming ’portside, Kit?” Jal asked as the docking clamps pulled the Nevermore into position. Kitana gave him a look of derision, which was mildly disconcerting on a Kitali’s face. Do I need your permission now? “Hey, I was just being polite.” The Kitali extended one elegant paw and licked it as if it was the only thing in the ’verse worth bothering about. Not many Kats allow humans this degree of familiarity, she said, her voice a purr in his head. “Yeah, yeah. I know you only stay ’cos of all the tasty vermin on board.” The ship gave a jolt as it was jerked into place, which sent Jal’s elbow smacking into the edge of the console. Kitana, by contrast, barely even seemed to notice. You really should clean this place up. It’s a dump. “And risk losing you, Kit? Never.” Kitana snorted, but she looked smug. Jal grabbed his docking documents and waited for the airlock to cycle open. He wasn’t worried about Kitana or Pavel. They could make their own way into the ’port if they were so inclined. “Welcome to Spaceport Adana,” said the official in her red and grey uniform. She gave him an up-and-down as she spoke, and smiled, smoothing her dark glossy hair. She was humanoid, but not human. The faint purple tinge to her skin gave away her mixed heritage. That, and the antennae which were scoping him out even as she checked his documents.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

-9-

Somebody wants to get in your pants, sang Kitana’s voice, and he looked around but couldn’t see her anywhere. Somebody ain’t gonna, Jal thought. Sure, the girl was attractive, but getting girls into bed required time and social skills. Neither was something Jal had in large supply. He wanted to get laid -- it had been weeks since he’d even seen another humanoid, and his onboard stash of porn just wasn’t doing it for him -- but he wasn’t about to waste time and effort getting to know someone when he could just go down to the red light district on Level 7 and get his cock sucked for a hundred credits. Oh, and don’t let her see behind the bulkheads, Kitana’s voice added. Bulkheads? Which bulkheads? He knew Kitana was hoarding treasure somewhere -- all Kats did -- but she’d never seen fit to share it with him, and they had an unspoken agreement that if he ever went poking around after it, she’d take it and leave. And, not that he’d ever admit it out loud, Jal was pretty fond of the Kats he shared his ship with. “I’ll need to inspect your ship, of course,” said the official, hitting buttons on her scanner, and Jal sighed and waved a bunch of credits at her. She looked disappointed. Told you she wanted to get into your pants, Kitana said, and Jal scowled, because the little Kat really wasn’t anywhere to be seen, which meant she was omniscient or something, which was damn annoying. Bite me, Kit, he thought, and gave the woman an extra hundred. She wrote her personal com address on his receipt, which he tossed, and went to find some kind of amusement on Level 7. Most spaceports outside IAC territory had areas of legalized prostitution. For a few thousand credits, prostis could even join a union which offered health benefits and the opportunity to offer their wares in a secure environment. Of course, most spaceports inside Alliance territory also had red light districts, but being illegal they were both expensive and dangerous. Jal, along with the traders and miners who frequented the ’port, preferred a safe environment when getting his cock sucked.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 10 -

He ran his credit balance through his mind. Hmm. He could probably afford a proper Nil Raja for an hour or two, or maybe he could hire a couple of girls if he didn’t pay close attention to their markings. Most prostis were reluctant to leave the safety of Level 7, which meant splashing out a few extra credits on a room if he wanted any privacy. He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked. Privacy could wait. He wanted to spend an hour or two exploring the body of a pretty girl, but right now, he just wanted an orgasm he didn’t have to bring about himself. Nila’s blow job booth was busy, half a dozen impatient miners waiting for her services, a couple of them already palming their cocks as they watched her blowing a Fedoran’s gigantic member. Dammit, he didn’t want to wait. Maybe one of the other girls was available. “You want blow job, mister?” said a voice, a young man, and Jal glanced at him. Slim-hipped, Nil Raja markings twining around his cock. Fake, of course. “You want elki-palki?” Jal shook his head. He’d tried it with male Nil Raja once or twice, but it hadn’t done much for him. He much preferred a wet pussy, a soft breast in his hand and smooth skin sliding against his. He could take a woman’s ass, though. Hmm. Maybe he’d find a girl willing to take it the back way when he was done taking the edge off. The booths were rarely manned -- or womanned -- by Nil Raja. That wasn’t to say the prostis sucking cocks for a hundred credits a time hadn’t painted themselves with the intricate markings of the Otha, the famous Nil Rajan whore caste, or dyed their hair blue, but Jal knew an authentic Nil Raja when he saw one. And he knew that the Otha, so exquisitely skilled it was said they could make a man cream his pants with a single look, had better things to do than to offer blow jobs for a hundred credits on the corner of Jianhuo and Niubi. The girl next to Nila was busy sucking the cock of a miner who had his eyes closed and an expression of intense concentration on his face. I hope I don’t look that

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 11 -

stupid when I’m having sex, Jal thought, but then the miner came with a grunt, withdrew his cock and stepped away, and the girl was free. She wasn’t Nil Raja, although something about her markings drew his attention. For a second his heart skipped, but then he looked closer. She lacked the scarring on one wrist, and besides, her markings were all wrong. The pattern proclaimed Otha, but the exact details said Durgha, which was impossible. No, she wasn’t Sayana. Her hair was cut in a ragged blue bob around her ears, her lips and eyelids stained blue-violet. There were bruises on her upper arms, as if someone had gripped her hard, and what looked like bite marks on her breasts. She was dressed, if you could call it that, in a sheer pink top and a filmy skirt that displayed the Nil Raja whore caste markings, an intricate blue pattern that drew the attention to her breasts and her shaved pussy. It was the pussy which let her down. Some Nil Raja women had blue pussies, some didn’t, but they had very neat, small labia. To a layman, the difference probably wasn’t noticeable, but Jal had become familiar with many cunts in his time, and he knew the difference like a Kitali could tell what was real latinum and what was fake. “How much?” he asked, and she glanced up, looking tired. Her eyes didn’t meet his. “Hundred,” she said, and he nodded and handed it over with one hand. The other was untabbing his pants, getting his cock out. She didn’t look at him, just kept her eye on the credit scanner until it had processed his payment, whereupon she reached for his cock and smoothed her fingers over it. Jal leaned back against the sheer plasteel barrier that separated him from Nila and her current customer, a big green guy with tentacles and a cock that darted in and out of Nila’s mouth all by itself. “You got a name?” he asked the girl who was about to take his cock in her mouth. She looked surprised, then said, “Nirana.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 12 -

“Lund choos, Nirana. You know how to deep-throat?” “Fifty extra,” she said automatically, holding out the credit scanner. Jal narrowed his eyes -- it was fucking robbery, that’s what it was -- but he tabbed in the extra fifty credits, and stuck his cock down her throat. She was good. Almost Nil Raja good. Her mouth was soft and hot, her tongue wet as she licked him. No dental dam, which made a nice change. Good job he was up to date with his shots, though, because he doubted she was. Her hands gripped his hips as she sucked him deep, the back of her throat tickling his cockhead, and Jal started thrusting. Around him, the sounds of the ’Port faded, the cries of prostis touting for business, the moans of the man Nila was servicing, the slap of flesh against flesh in the bar across the way. He stared down at the blue lips swallowing his penis, the blue hair tickling his skin, and all he could hear was the wet sound of sucking as she took him all the way in. Her tongue tickled his balls, and he jerked as he started to come. She was fast, yanking her head back before he spurted down her throat, but not fast enough. He came all over her face, and she looked disgusted as she reached for a wipe to get rid of it. He half expected her fake markings to come off, but they’d at least been done properly. The pattern, which was immensely intricate and very beautiful, if totally inaccurate, swept under one eye and over the other, unmistakable to anyone remotely familiar with Nil Raja. Jal leaned back, vaguely satisfied, and watched her clean her face. His cock was still out, but she didn’t have anyone waiting so he didn’t see why he should move along. She’d been pretty good; maybe he could hire a room with her. She wouldn’t be expensive. “You can go now,” she said, poking at the corner of one eye. Her irises were bright blue, but she was probing her eye very delicately, as if she didn’t want to disturb the surface. Well, she was probably wearing lenses if her eyes were the wrong color. Jal knew all the fake Nil Raja tricks.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 13 -

Then the surface of her iris shifted, and Jal lost his breath. Underneath the colored lens, her eye was violet. Okay, don’t get excited, she can’t be the only woman with violet eyes. It was rare in humans, but not that rare. Think logically. Look at her face properly. Neat, pretty mouth under that blue stain, full lips. Long lashes, also dyed blue. Big eyes. A face that might be pretty if it wasn’t so gaunt and tired. Picture her with a few kilos more, her cheeks filled out, her face sweetly rounded. Pale yellow hair -- what do they call it, blonde? Those unusual violet eyes. Jal’s heart beat faster. It’s her. I’ve found Akalis Dalerian.

That damned space cowboy wasn’t leaving. Kali wiped the last of his come off her face and straightened up. “I said, you can go now,” she said, rolling her shoulders as she got to her feet. “I got places to go.” He fastened his pants, frowning at her. “You done for the day?”

“Why? You wanna ask me to dinner?”

It was a joke. Some of the high-class Nil Raja prostis got wined and dined and

paid to swan around looking beautiful -- hell, that was how she’d first seen them. Back when you were too stupid to know they were whores, her treacherous mind said. Shut up. “I wanted to hire you for the night.” Kali paused in swigging from her mouthwash. “The night? The whole night?” He shrugged. “Well, a couple of hours at least.” She looked him over properly. She hadn’t bothered before. He wasn’t dressed in a flight suit like most of the space jockeys who came her way, and he wasn’t covered in mining grime either. He looked like a civilian, although in all probability he was just a trader taking some downtime. No… he didn’t look like a trader. Kali couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but he lacked the oily quality she associated with the men who bought and sold for a living. He was dressed in fatigues and a shirt that bore the ever-hilarious slogan Fuck the Nil

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 14 -

Raja, which fit tightly and displayed plenty of muscle. His hair was dark, thick and shaggy in a way that suggested it had closely encountered a pair of blunt shears at some time in the distant past, and not been tended to since. His face was all hard angles, probably even harder under the thick dark stubble on his jaw. He looked mostly human, but for the faint patterns she’d seen snaking over his cock and winding up over his stomach. Someone in his ancestry was Nil Raja. Which was interesting. It also meant he could probably tell she was a fake, but then so were most of the other whores on Cunt Street. That didn’t frighten her. What frightened her were his flat black eyes, lizard eyes, killer eyes. He didn’t look as if he ever smiled or had fun or cared, about anything. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m off duty.” She mentally calculated how much she could afford to spend on getting clean. Old-fashioned water and soap would be nice, but she’d have to settle for a supersonic shower. She could probably get clean in sick bay after they gave her the shot. “I’ll pay,” he said. “I wouldn’t do it for free.” She hesitated. Maybe she could spend a couple of hours with him, but right now she was exhausted. She’d been sucking cocks all day, she was dirty and tired and, if she thought too much about it, depressed as hell. “Look, I got things to do,” she said. “But maybe in a couple hours, if you can wait…?” She didn’t expect he’d say yes. So she was surprised when he said, “Okay. Twenty-one hundred in the Haze. We’ll discuss terms.” With that he turned and lost himself in the crowd, and Kali was more than a little disconcerted at how easily he disappeared. She shook herself, gathered her things, and made her way up a level to the nearest sick bay, where she shelled out more credits than she could reasonably afford on a shot to ward off all the things she’d probably caught, giving blow jobs without protection, and bought a large box of preventatives too.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 15 -

Maybe she should have taken some time out, gone to the clinic first thing in the morning. But there’d been a mining accident, and the medics had bigger things to worry about than one more whore dying of an exotic disease. That done, she slipped down to the lower levels and the storage locker with the broken lock she shared with a couple of other girls. It wasn’t warm and it wasn’t cozy, but it was a damn sight better than sleeping on the catwalks, and cheaper than any room she could rent. “Hey, Nirana,” said Bilka, a slave who’d escaped her indentured master and was turning tricks until she could afford a transport out of there. Pale and sick with some wasting disease, she spoke broken Common and spent a lot of time sleeping. Kali occasionally sneaked a few gew-gaws into Bilka’s things for her to sell to the ASGS. She’d no idea if the other girl knew about her charity, but she’d never said anything. “Saw on bulletin, whole load of trash come in. They find transport with hole in side, lot of stuff corroded but some lockers might have something in them.” Kali thought longingly about that ’sonic, and nodded reluctantly. Sometimes those abandoned transports held mountains of treasure. If she could find some and sell it -“Dollavera got it yet?” “Naw. It all in bad shape. He opening it up to scavengers. He buy whatever worth a few credits, but you gotta find it first.” “You coming?” Bilka shrugged her skinny shoulders. “Naw. Too tired. I gotta work later anyway.” “Do you feel well enough?” Bilka scoffed. “I lie there and they stuff hui into me. What I need to be awake for?” Good point. Kali dumped her box of preventatives and got out before Bilka depressed her any more.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 16 -

Up on Level 7 there were whole hierarchies of whores. The Nil Raja were at the top, beautiful creatures with impeccable skills, who owned exquisite bars and brothels where the beds were soft and clean and no one ever interrupted with a placard demanding an end to the filth and depravity. They even had a union. They had health benefits. Down on the street, where a blow job could be had in the open for a hundred credits, the freaks and no-hopers like Kali turned tricks and longed for more. A lot of them were in it professionally, eager to be accepted into the union, like Nila who was good at what she did, but unfortunately had faked her Nil Raja markings too badly to ever be accepted. I’ll get out of here soon, Kali told herself. Just a few thousand more credits, and I’ll be gone. She’d given up on the hope of ever finding Ciana or the slavers who’d stolen her. It was just too long to keep hope alive.

Chapter Two Jal was mildly surprised to see “Nirana” walk into Haze at five after twenty-one. She looked, if possible, in an even worse state than the last time he’d seen her. Her sheer, filmy clothes were streaked with slime and rust and what might just have been blood. Her skin was black with grime, gleaming like an oil slick, her hair hanging like string. She gave him a black look and stomped over to the table. “Say one word and I’ll castrate you,” she warned, throwing herself at a stool. “Will ‘hi’ be okay?” Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t make a move to attack him, so Jal figured he was safe. Normally, he wouldn’t worry much about the threats of a girl who was half his size and skinny to boot, but he’d spent the intervening hours reading Akalis Dalerian’s file. He’d glanced over it for the pertinent details when Rufus Badahof had hired him, but he hadn’t paid much attention to her education. Unlike most people with her background, she hadn’t paid her way out of military service. She’d taken her mandatory two years, being shifted within six cycles to Special Forces, where she stayed an extra three years before meeting Badahof on leave, and quitting the military to marry him. Akalis Dalerian, contrary to appearances, could probably take most men in the room in a fight. Of course, assuming Sabian Talano, Haze’s fearsome bouncer, didn’t take her out first. Akalis, as he’d decided to think of her, followed his gaze to the big guy leaning against the wall, and he was mildly gratified when Talano gave him a brief nod. He was even more gratified when Akalis looked slightly impressed. “You know Sabian Talano?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 18 -

“We’ve met.” Talano had assisted in the takedown of a half-Zondiran skip Jal had been on the tail of a year or two ago. He was one of the few people Jal had much respect for. Akalis leaned closer, and asked, “Do you know who Emylie is?” “Who?” “Oh.” She leaned back, disappointed. “The little girl who follows him around. No one knows if she’s his daughter, or his sister, or what, but she’s the only person he’s ever been known to smile at.” “Not true. I’ve seen him smile at K’Mere.” He nodded at Haze’s resident Kitali, holding court by the bar with a bowl of sake. Akalis turned to look at the Kat, and he saw a faint smile come over her face, too. It suited her. Jal found himself thinking he’d like to see her smile more often, but that was a stupid thought, totally irrelevant to his aims. But she was smiling at the Kat, and that was something he could use. “You like Kitalii?” She watched K’Mere lounging on the bar like she owned the place, flicking her tail and cleaning her claws, her smile lingering as she turned back to him. “I do. They’re so beautiful, and they don’t take shit from anybody.” Her eyes sparkled a little, and Jal saw something of the beautiful girl in the holos Rufus had sent him. Her voice had smoothed out, too, her accent becoming a little more refined. “Plus, if they can get a guy like Talano to smile, they can do anything.” “They got you to smile,” Jal pointed out. “True.” Said smile faded. “So they must be special.” She looked down at her grime-encrusted fingernails. “Look, mister, I just came here to be polite. I don’t expect you to pay me for nothing, not the state I’m in. So I’m gonna go now and find someplace with a proper shower, okay? It was nice meeting you.” She slid from her stool. “You didn’t meet me, you sucked my dick for a hundred and fifty credits,” Jal said. “You don’t even know my name.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 19 -

“I don’t need to.” She was already turning away. He had to get her back. Had to talk to her, ask her what she knew -Oh yes, and she was worth money, too. “Not even if I tell you I have a supersonic shower and two Kitalii on board?” That made her pause. “Two Kitalii?” she said over her shoulder, and Jal allowed himself an internal smile. “Yeah. Well, Pav’s only a baby, he’s not a full Kitali yet.” Akalis went very still. “A baby Kitali?” They were rarely seen, he knew. He’d never seen one at all until Kitana dragged one on board a couple of cycles ago, a tiny scrap of fur with huge ears and big innocent eyes. Pavel’s legs had been so short he was still crawling everywhere, and Jal had felt a couple of cracks form in the shell around his heart. “Yeah. Cute little bugger, too.” He drummed his fingers on the table as she turned back to face him. “Tell you what. I’ll let you come see my Kitalii and use my shower, and when you’re clean you suck me off again.” He saw the light in her eyes. A supersonic shower for the price of a blow job? He didn’t know how much it cost to hire one, but he’d bet it was more than a hundred credits. And he was throwing in the Kats, too. “Okay,” she said, after a moment, “but I’m going to tell the union where I’m going. They got security services, you know. If you try to take me off the ’Port.” Jal forced himself to keep a straight face. Anyone turning tricks on Blow Job Alley sure as hell couldn’t afford union membership. Not to mention that he didn’t expect she was desperate to stay ’portside, either. “Deal,” he said, and held out his hand in an old-fashioned gesture. Evidently she understood it, because she took his hand in hers, her fingers strong and elegant even if they were covered in grease and grime, and shook it. He watched the way she moved as they made their way through the busy ’port back to the Nevermore. Long strides on bare feet -- too poor for shoes? -- and her chin up. Something she’d learned in deportment classes, no doubt. Still, she didn’t seem to be

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 20 -

ashamed of the way she looked -- neither her transparent clothes nor the oily black film that covered her from head to toe. “Nevermore?” she asked, reading the name off the side. “Actually the Nevermore II,” he said. “My old ship was a Raven-class fighter.” He waited for her to ask what that had to do with anything, and was thoroughly shocked when she said, “I’d have called it ‘Quoth’.” He shot her a sideways glance as they waited for the airlock to cycle open, and she returned it defiantly. “Yes, I can read.” “I’m just surprised you’ve read that,” Jal said honestly. The door clicked open and they stepped inside. The Nevermore wasn’t a big ship, but since it was built for half a dozen and he was the only humanoid aboard, that just gave him more space. The Kitalii had commandeered one of the double crew quarters, Jal had another and the third he’d made into a cell for transporting skips. The main section of the ship was kitted out with holoscreen and galley, a corridor leading to the airlock, small sick bay, and cockpit. He debated whether to throw her into the cell straight away, but before he could even make the decision, Kitana’s voice echoed in his head. You found her, then? How did she know? “Kitana’s probably in her quarters,” he said to Akalis, who nodded and followed him, as if it was perfectly normal for a Kitali to have her own room. No! Make her wash before she comes near me! I do not want that garbage crap all over my fur! Jal ground his teeth, but said, “You should probably use the ’sonic before you go see her, though. She doesn’t much like dirt.” Akalis gave him an odd look, but nodded, and he led her through his quarters to the cubbyhole that housed his bathroom. “One sanifac,” he said. “All yours.” “One what?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 21 -

Clearly she hadn’t spent much time on board ships. “Sanifac. Sanitary facility?” “Oh,” she said, looking around the small space. “I… thought you said something else. Thanks.” He nodded, went out and shut the door. Why, he wasn’t sure, since he’d pretty much seen everything she had to offer anyway. “Kitana?” he called, going to the next cabin and tapping on the door. “Can she come in when she’s clean?” The door slid open. Kitana sat on the bed, Pavel rolling around by her feet -neither of them could have opened the door. Kitalii. I suppose so, Kitana said. But I don’t see why. “She likes Kats.” He grinned. “But I don’t see why.” Kitana hissed at him, and he stepped back out again. He swung into his seat at the command console and brought up a record for Akalis Dalerian. Her picture smiled back at him, a formal portrait done when she came of age. Shimmering pale hair, tanned skin, and those astonishing violet eyes. The Akalis in the hologram was healthier-looking than the skinny girl showering in his ’sonic, her cheeks fuller and her clothes beautifully tailored to a slender body, taut with muscles. The Akalis who’d sucked his dick for a hundred and fifty credits had lost her bloom, her skin dull, her body bony. Not the sort of girl he’d usually go for. But… His cock stirred at the memory of her mouth wrapped around it. Well, she’d promised to suck him off again in return for using his facilities. No reason why he shouldn’t hold her to that before he locked her up. He closed his eyes and thought about those markings on her body. The twisting pattern on her wrists. There was no way she could have come up with that all by herself. She had to have copied it from Sayana. She had to have met Sayana.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 22 -

For the first time in twenty years, hope sparked in him. He was waiting for her in his quarters when she came out totally naked. For a second he was startled, but then he realized the only clothes she had were filthy. Pointing to the laundry receptacle in the corner for her clothes, he handed her one of his shirts to wear. Not that the Kats would be bothered about nudity, but it was damn distracting to him. Five minutes to meet Kitana and get her take on you, he thought, watching Akalis pull his shirt on over her tattooed body, and then you’re going to do a hell of a lot more than suck my dick. “Come on,” he said gruffly, leading her through to the Kats’ quarters. Before he could tap on the door, it opened, and Akalis made a sort of nod. No; not a nod, her body moved too, it was more of a bow, or maybe a curtsey. Jal didn’t really know. No doubt Akalis had been schooled in the precise degree and depth of which curtsey to bestow on which kind of person by the time she was old enough to walk. “K’Itana,” she said, using the formal inflection Jal never bothered with, and his Kat looked up from her position sprawled elegantly on the bed. I like this one, she told him. Knows how to address a Kat. “May I come in?” Akalis asked, and Jal wondered if she realized how much her prosti guise was slipping. Although he’d known Otha with more elegant manners than a king, he didn’t think Akalis would have even heard of them. Kitana nodded, not deigning to speak to her yet. Jal suppressed a smile. He knew Akalis wouldn’t have heard Kitana’s speech to him. She probably didn’t even know Kitalii could mind-speak. If she made kissy-faces at the Kats, she’d be out on her ass with a face full of scratches. “It’s an honor,” Akalis said, and Kitana looked smug. This one knows how to treat me with respect, she said, unlike some humanoids I could name. Jal ignored her.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 23 -

Akalis asked if she could stroke the Kat, who graciously allowed it, and purred in pleasure. “Where’s Pav?” Jal asked, and in response to a communication he couldn’t hear, the little Kit crept out from under the bed. Akalis gasped. “Oh, he’s beautiful,” she whispered. Pav sat on the floor, his head cocked, looking up at her with his huge green eyes, and swished his tail. He was still fluffy with kit-fur, his eyes and paws oversized. He was the cutest thing Jal had ever seen. He chirruped. “It’s very nice to meet you too,” Akalis laughed. It transformed her face, erasing misery and age until she looked like the girl in the portrait again. From a tired, skinny prosti, she suddenly looked like a pretty girl. One who enjoyed life. Stop staring, Kitana said, and Jal realized he’d been gawping at the girl. Then the Kat said, Would you like to hold him? and he realized the question had been directed at Akalis, because her face lit up even further. “Can I? Will he mind?” No. He’s quite friendly. “Friendly?” Jal said, annoyed Kitana had mind-spoken to Akalis -- and even more annoyed that she hadn’t been surprised about it. “The only people he ever meets are you and me. Who does he have to be friends with?” The things you don’t know, Kitana sighed. Great. The Kit had a better social life than him. “He can’t even talk yet,” he grumbled. Not to you, at any rate, said Kitana as Akalis carefully scooped up the little creature and held him to her breast. “God, you’re gorgeous,” she said, looking down into Pavel’s big eyes. “Aren’t you just beautiful?” He purred and snuggled against her, and she laughed again. Stabbed with jealousy, Jal said abruptly, “Okay, time’s up. You and me, we got a bargain.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 24 -

Her face fell. Nicelady come again? chirped a little voice, and Jal stared, because he’d never heard Pavel speak before. “I’d love to,” she said, placing him gently back on the floor. He jumped up onto the bed and head butted her bare thigh. Nicelady. Smell good. She smiled and stroked Pav’s head. “Thank you. Have I told you how beautiful you are?” Tell again! “You’re very beautiful,” Akalis said, and Pav purred. Kitana nudged her hand. “And you, my lady, are incredibly gorgeous also.” Kitana looked smug. Nice to be appreciated. Jal never says a word. “Kit, I tell you ten times a damn day. Now you,” he pointed at Akalis, “stop fooling around and come with me.” Have a nice time, Kitana mocked as Akalis got up and left reluctantly, bowing again as she went. The door cycled shut behind them, and Akalis cast him a resentful look. Jal ignored it and led her back to his quarters. She said nothing, but stood there with her arms folded as the door slid closed. “That wasn’t five minutes,” she said. “Was by my clock.” Jal stripped off his jacket and unfastened his belt. “Take that shirt off.” Belligerently, she did, standing there naked before him. His cock stirred, and he looked about to decide which way he wanted to have her. On the bunk? Or standing up again? No, some variety was nice. He kicked off his boots and gestured with his head for her to get on one of the bunks. “You said a blow job,” she said, watching the pile of discarded clothes grow. “Nothing else.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 25 -

“Did I say I was going to remain fully dressed? I don’t think I did. Get on the bed.” He didn’t know why he was so annoyed. Maybe because Pav had spoken to her, and he’d never squeaked a word to Jal. And what the hell was with all that bowing stuff? They were Kitalii, they weren’t gods. Although they’d probably argue that point.

He tugged the holster from his belt and laid it on the small stand next to his

bunk. “That’s not the sort of protection I usually insist on,” she said. “On the bed, Nirana.” Sulkily, she did as he told her, while he discarded the rest of his clothes and came to join her. She was still beautiful, in that way the aristocracy had of looking elegantly wrecked even when they were all bones and skin. Wasted, but still arrogant, and still annoyingly attractive. “Just this, and then we’re done,” she said, and Jal settled down on his back.

“If I want more, I’ll pay.”

“You damn well better,” she said, and bent to his crotch.

She palmed his cock, not hard yet, and ran her fingers over his balls. Blood

rushed south, and as ever when he was aroused, the faint markings on his cock grew a little brighter. Markings that vaguely resembled Akalis’s. But unlike her, Jal had never asked for them. She bent her head, and her lips brushed the side of his cock in a brief kiss. Then the head. Her tongue darted out and licked the underneath, and Jal sucked in a breath. “You like that?” she murmured. “I like all of it,” he said, which was the honest truth. He lay there watching her kiss and lick his cock, up and down, root to tip, while it got harder and thicker. She wrapped her lips around it once, briefly, before going down to his balls and getting acquainted there.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 26 -

I want more than this, he thought, as her agile tongue teased his balls. I want a hot, slick cunt to slide into. I want a soft breast in my hand. I want a woman writhing against me. “How much?” he gasped, as she took him into her mouth. Which was bad timing, since that meant she raised her head and cold air assaulted his wet cock. Actually, that felt damn good. “What?” “How much for the whole thing?” Jal asked, sliding a hand down her naked back for emphasis. “Full sex?” He nodded. “Penetration -- front or back?” Oh Gods. “Both?” he said, hopefully. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t have any prophylactics.” Jal reached out and tabbed open the drawer by the bed. “Got lots.” “Seven hundred, the hour.” “Six.” “Six-fifty.” Jal ran his hands over her body. Her nipples stood up, as if signaling for his attention. “Two hours,” he said. “Twelve hundred.” “Twelve hundred for two hours? I got better things to do than --” “Two thousand,” Jal said. “Three hours.” Hell, it wasn’t like he’d have to pay her anyway. But she seemed to sense this, because she said, “I want to see the money now.” Jal sat up, instructed the ship to dispense two thousand credits in material form, and handed them over. It was a lot -- way over the going rate for a whore like her -- but he’d get it back. Where was she going to go? Akalis took the money, biting her thumb, then tucked it into the small bag she’d brought with her. “Okay,” she said. “How do you want me?”

Chapter Three How he wanted her was lying on the bunk with her legs in the air while he drove into her. Kali, used to being fucked hard by men who weren’t remotely interested in how she felt about it, was pleasantly surprised to find him stroking her breasts and stomach while he enjoyed himself. Maybe he’s one of the lonely ones, she thought, remembering Nila telling her about the men who spent long flights by themselves and who wanted a companion as much as a fuck-buddy. The men who paid extra to be held and cuddled. That was all very well, but all that cuddling ate into time Kali could be sucking cocks or sorting through trash to earn her way out of there. She closed her eyes. But I do understand about being held. The space cowboy came with a grunt, and she lay there as unsatisfied as she had been since the first customer she took. According to the readout on the wall display, she’d only been there fifteen minutes, and that included cock-sucking time. “Been a while,” he panted as he rolled onto the bed beside her. Yeah, haven’t heard that one before. Next he’d be telling her he’d last longer next time, that he’d make it better for her, and -Whoa. He’d moved down her body, his bare skin sliding against hers, his mouth hot on her breast. Well, so he was a breast man, that didn’t mean any -Hello. His hand slipped between her legs. He had a surprisingly gentle touch, his fingers searching out where she was particularly sensitive and stroking with the right amount of pressure. If Kali didn’t know any better, she’d think he was trying to please her.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 28 -

“I’m already wet,” she said dispassionately. “You can come back in any time you’re ready.” He looked up at her, frowning. “What?” “You don’t need to lube me up.” She parted her lips as he pressed on her clit. “Unless you want to go in the back way, in which case I need proper lube. If you don’t have any, we’re not doing it.” Looking annoyed, he reached over with his free hand, tabbed open a drawer and tossed a tube onto the bunk. “Lube,” he said, “but that’s not why I’m doing this.” “Oh. Then why are you?” “Don’t you like it?” Kali blinked at him. “Isn’t that sort of irrelevant?” He paused, and drew back, looking at her oddly. Those flat black eyes of his might have been scary, to someone who hadn’t seen what Kali had. “You’re paying me to enjoy yourself,” she said. He looked lost for words. “You don’t have to worry about whether I’m enjoying it,” she explained kindly. “It’s very sweet, but it’s not necessary. You’re paying me.” “I don’t want --” he began, frustrated, and stopped. “I don’t enjoy fucking women who just lie there.” “I won’t,” she assured him. “I like some response.” “I can respond. Was I not responding enough?” Some men didn’t care if a whore enjoyed it or not, but for a lot it was an ego boost if they thought she’d come. Kali was good at judging them -- hell, she’d been engaged to one once. She’d lost count of the orgasms she’d faked with Rufus. “No.” Now he looked angry. “That’s not what this is about. Look, Nirana or whatever your name is, I do not have the time, patience or social skills to go out romancing women, all right?” “Clearly,” she murmured.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 29 -

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy pleasing a woman in bed. If you want me to turn you over and fuck you dry, I can do that. But I’m paying you, so let me do what I damn well want, okay?” She blinked again. “Okay.” “Right.” He still had his hand between her legs, and he flexed his fingers, which brought a reaction from her. “You might try being a little more grateful.” She pasted a big fake smile on her face. “Thank you, Joe.” “My name is Jal.” “It’s what Nila calls her customers.” Jal, was he? Short for something, probably. She used to know a Jalnar, and one of the male prostis was known as Nijal. And she’d heard mention of a bounty hunter called Jal Vornis, but -He stuck his fingers inside her, and she lost both her breath and her train of thought. “Okay, that’s very nice.” He grinned. “Thought you’d like it.” His mouth was on her breasts again. He had a very good mouth. Kali wondered what he’d be like as a kisser, but that was a stupid thing to wonder, because men didn’t kiss cheap prostis. They probably didn’t even kiss expensive ones. They just fucked them. Jal’s teeth fastened gently either side of her nipple and pulled, and Kali wasn’t quite prepared for the rush of pleasure that brought forth. The Fedorans she’d been fucking the night before had pinched her breasts, her nipples, as if they were trying to pull them off, and it had hurt. It hadn’t been pleasant. Not much of what men did to her these days was pleasant. While he held her nipple between his teeth, Jal flicked his tongue over it, and Kali was unable to stifle a moan. His free hand came to cup her other breast, stroke the curve of it, soothe the ache in her nipple. Kali couldn’t even remember the last time her nipples had been hard. The last time a man had actually wanted to make her feel good. But this space cowboy was making her feel very good indeed. With two of his fingers inside her, he stroked her clit with his thumb, swirling round and round in an

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 30 -

unrelenting pattern. He pumped with his fingers, simulating sex, stroking her from the inside, making her crazy. “That’s really very nice,” she gasped, and Jal slipped another finger into her pussy. His cock had felt good inside her, a nice size, not so small she couldn’t feel it, or so big it hurt. She’d been with a couple of alien men whose cocks were so gigantic she’d been bruised for days, and had needed to dose herself with so many painkillers to carry on with her day that she’d barely been sentient. Her customers hadn’t seemed to mind. But here she was, wanting him inside her again. Wanting his perfectly-sized cock to fill her up. Maybe it was the Nil Raja blood in him that was doing this. Kali didn’t think she’d ever been with a Nil Raja. He switched breasts, leaving her nipple wet and puckered in the suddenly cool air. His fingers took over, stroking and pinching gently, stimulating flesh that was already desperate for any touch. Relentlessly, his thumb stroked her clit, and Kali’s thighs began to tremble. Could it be? Was he going to let her come? She expected him to pull away cruelly and leave her wanting, but he carried on, and between his hands and his mouth he brought her to such a peak of pleasure that she actually cried out when she came. It was such an incredible release, wonderful pleasure after months of sordid, degrading sex. She lay bathing in it, panting and trembling, her thighs wide apart and her chest heaving. “Just for that, you can have an extra half hour free,” she panted, and Jal smiled. He had a nice smile, she thought lazily, stretching out her body and enjoying the pull in her muscles. It brightened a face which was altogether too serious, too sarcastic, too joyless. The smile didn’t reach his eyes, though. Their cold black depths remained as emotionless as ever.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 31 -

He knelt by her, watching her come back to herself, appearing to consider her. She smiled, arched her back, thrust her breasts at him. She’d enjoyed having his mouth on her breasts. He knelt over her chest, and Kali knew what was coming. She wasn’t quite wellendowed enough for a good tit-fuck, and it wasn’t something her customers often asked for. But Rufus had enjoyed it, even while he complained that her breasts ought to be bigger. Kali had told him that bigger breasts would get in the way of firing a decent weapon, and he’d rubbed the head of his penis against her nipple and told her it was the only weapon she needed to worry about any more. Sometimes, being a cheap whore seemed infinitely preferable to being engaged to Rufus. If she’d actually married him, she might have killed him. “I’m better with my mouth,” she told the space cowboy. “These,” she squeezed her breasts together, “aren’t really big enough.” “They’re perfectly big enough,” said Jal, laying his cock between them, his balls heavy against her sternum. He reached for the lube and squirted some on her breasts. “Massage that in. Across the nipples.” She did, lying there looking up at him. He looked back down, but not at her face. Kali couldn’t blame him. She was putting on a show with her breasts, rubbing and fondling the nipples. But she’d always felt it was a bit like tickling -- it never worked on herself. Jal was evidently enjoying it. His cock grew and hardened and he was rocking his hips, apparently without realizing it. Sliding the underside of his cock against her breastbone, he put his hands over hers, her palms flat against the outside curve of each breast, and pushed them together. She couldn’t quite enclose his dick, but she made a nice valley for him to slide into, hot and slick with lube. She could smell his arousal, coupled with the scent of the come already on his cock. A tiny drop or two seeped out of the slit at the end, and was worked into the general mix.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 32 -

Jal was breathing hard now, rocking his hips back and forward, fucking her breasts, and while she pressed them together, massaging his thrusting cock, he squeezed and rubbed them, especially her nipples. Manhandling one breast, he angled his cock to rub against her nipple, and Kali let out a little squeak. A surprised laugh escaped him. “It’s good, isn’t it?” She nodded, amazed, and he continued to rub her like that. Behind his back, Kali squeezed her thighs together, wishing she could touch herself. She was so wet, a pulse throbbing between her legs, unbelievably aroused just from his touch on her breasts, from the slide of his slick, hot penis, from the incredibly erotic sight right in front of her. Jal moved one hand from her breast to the back of her head, tilting it up so that the head of his cock pushed against her lips as he thrust forward. She parted her lips on the next stroke, tasting his come, and the salty taste of her own juices mixed with it. Jal pushed further forward, dragging her breasts right up under her chin, no longer thrusting so much as he edged his cock into her mouth. Kali massaged his balls with her breasts, rubbing her nipples against the rough dark hair there and turning herself on as much as him. “Do you,” Jal began, his voice hoarse. “Do you like this, popka?” It was impossible to answer. Her mouth was full of his cock. “I’ve sucked cock before,” he said, surprising her, “but it did nothing for me. Licking pussy now, that’s another question.” Suddenly he swung away from her, withdrawing from her mouth with a pop and falling on his back beside her. He was panting, his cock visibly throbbing and shiny with saliva. “I want to lick you out,” he said, and a rush of moisture bubbled between Kali’s legs. She found herself nodding rapidly, because if his previous form was anything to go by, he’d be fantastic at oral sex. She got up to straddle his face, but he shook his head. “No. Not yet.” He stroked his cock, and Kali got the message. He wanted her to fuck him first. Maybe he wanted

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 33 -

to take the edge off, or maybe he wanted to tease her with the prospect of a good pussylicking so she’d give him a hot ride. He’d already ascertained that she was up to date with her shots -- he’d even got the computer to test her. In return, Kali had demanded proof that he was, too, and when the computer had confirmed it, she’d put all the prophylactics back in the drawer and let him fuck her bareback. She straddled his hips now, taking his cock in hand and rubbing it gently against her clit. She needed to take the edge off, too. Then she slid his thick, hard staff down to her dripping wet entrance, and took it all the way inside her. Jal let out his breath in a hiss, and Kali started to move. She didn’t expect she’d come again. He’d given her a bonus with that orgasm, probably to ensure better service. Well, hell. He could have it. Orgasms were hard to come by these days. She moved back and forth, up and down, rotated her hips, and took careful note of his reactions. He liked to thrust, so she let him grip her hips and pull her hard down onto him as he arched his hips up. His thumb slid to her clit again, which surprised her. Maybe she would get to come again.

Jal watched Akalis Dalerian rising and falling on his cock, her eyes half-closed, giving every appearance of enjoyment. She was slick, hot and unexpectedly tight, clenching around him rhythmically as she fucked him. Her breasts, the sweet soft mounds that had been massaging his cock five minutes ago, jiggled around as she moved. Her body shone with sweat and the lubricant he’d rubbed into her. Between her thighs and over the bare mound of her pussy, she was glossy and wet with her come and his. He’d seen her eyes gleam when he told her he wanted to lick her. He hadn’t been lying, but he had been teasing. Better to draw out her pleasure, not exhaust her. Besides, he could always fuck her again afterwards.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 34 -

No. His memory was solemn, reminding him he’d actually brought her here for a different purpose. It put him off his rhythm for a moment, but he covered by bringing her down to him and sucking on her nipples. She had gorgeous nipples, plump and ripe and perfect for licking. This new angle altered how he penetrated her, and he canted his hips to rub the root of his cock against her clit. He knew it affected her by the sudden tight clasp of her pussy, the thrust of her breast further into his mouth. Beside his head, her fingers clenched in the sheet. Jal ran his hands down her smooth back, muscular but too bony, and gripped her buttocks. He was so close to coming, and he knew she wouldn’t, but he could remedy that later. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said he enjoyed pleasing a woman. A dead-eyed whore was as sordid and unfulfilling as a randi holo. He’d get more enjoyment from his own hand than an unresponsive woman. Besides, he enjoyed the cries a woman made, the way her body undulated, the taste of her intimate juices, the hot rush of her orgasm. Thinking about it pushed him over the edge, and he emptied himself into her tight channel for the second time. She continued to bounce on him for a few moments, until he stilled her, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes for a moment as his heart slowed down. Akalis lay there, breathing hard, her body tense against him. She wanted to come, and badly. She’d wanted to come when she was rubbing her breasts all over his cock. She’d been as aroused as him. He’d felt her twisting beneath him, rubbing her thighs together. He’d seen the small thrill of pleasure that ran through her when she rubbed his cock against her clit. He took her by the hips again, tugging her off his cock and pulling her up his body so she knelt over his face. “There’s a pipe up there,” he said, motioning. “Hold onto it.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 35 -

She did, her breasts pressed against the rough wall, and Jal positioned her pussy over his face. He studied it for a moment, those pouting pink lips that gave her away, betrayed not only her desperate arousal but her lack of Nil Raja heritage, and smiled. He slid his tongue into the hot, hungry mouth of her pussy, and she sighed above him. She was full of his come. He knew what he tasted wasn’t purely her, but he didn’t mind. Actually, he liked it. Liked licking a woman who tasted of him. It was like a brand, possessive and dominant. Using his tongue to spread her moisture around, he spent some time exploring those non-Rajan labia. They were more sensitive than he’d expected, judging by the way she shook and gasped. A very responsive woman. And yet, judging by her gratitude when he’d made her come, her surprise that he’d even bothered, very few men even took the time to bother. You’re licking out a whore, his conscience told him. Don’t forget that. I’m licking out Akalis Dalerian, he reminded it. I’ll never forget that. She had a lovely clitoris, large and sensitive, and he took a while getting to know it. Licking up and down each side, using his fingers to press back the skin either side and make it stand out. He sucked on it, which brought a cry from Akalis’s throat, then curled his tongue into a tunnel and fucked it. With his hands he parted her folds, sliding one finger of each hand into her pussy, and then two. With four fingers inside her and his tongue on her clit, it wasn’t long before he felt the tremors start, and then she was convulsing around his fingers, gasping and shuddering. Jal quickly transferred his tongue to her pussy, darting inside to taste her hot come, feeling those contractions on his tongue. Strumming her clit with his fingers, he pushed his tongue inside her as far as it would go, and she kept on orgasming, her thighs clamped around his face, her whole body undulating.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 36 -

She mashed her hips into his face and he took it, enjoying it, as she sobbed and writhed above him. And it was eventually her who pulled away, crying, “No more, I just can’t take it,” and not him who stopped first. She flopped next to him on the bed, shaking and panting, her skin sheened with sweat. Jal noted with interest that none of her markings were smudged -- they really had been done properly. “You enjoyed that?” he said, and the look of gratitude on her face almost made him laugh. “I like tasting you,” he said, licking his fingers which were sticky with her come. “I like tasting myself on you.” She shuddered at that, and he pressed his fingers between her lips. She licked them, her eyes on his as she sucked her own come from his hand. She was tired, he could tell. His cock was hard again, ready to fuck, but it’d have to wait. Akalis was ready for sleep, and as soon as she dropped off, he had plans for her.

Chapter Four Once there was a princess, a princess, a princess, once there was a princess, who -what’s the next bit, K’it? Kali felt like someone was pressing her down with a giant hand. Her stomach churned. Her head throbbed. She hadn’t even tried to move yet, and she felt worse than she ever had after a night’s hard drinking with her military unit. It’s a vulgar song, Pav. Please don’t sing it.

But a’heard it inna spacebar. Wanna sing!

Then sing something else.

But princess here! Wanna wanna --

Kali pressed the back of her arm against her forehead. Actually, she felt worse

than hung-over, she felt drugged. … a princess, once there was a princess who fell on her back. Then a scoundrel found her, found her, found her, then a -- K’it, what’a scoundrel? Someone very like Jal, said the rather dry voice that Kali was beginning to realize she was hearing inside her head. Song about Jal and nicelady? Alarm prickled in Kali’s sore head. She felt at her neck, her arms and wrists. There. A sore spot, where someone had jabbed her with a hypospray. No, of course not. She’s not really a princess.

But Jal called her princess! He said princessy sleeping, and --

He was making a joke. It’s something humans do.

“I’m not sure I care for his jokes,” Kali said, and the chattering voices stopped.

She opened her eyes but saw little, the light dim and red-tinged. Emergency lighting. Had something happened to the ship? Were they still docked at the ’port?

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 38 -

You’re awake, then, said the voice she recognized as Kitana’s.

“Just about. What happened?”

Thirty-some years ago some poor unfortunate biped gave birth to a child she called Jal Vornis, Kitana’s voice said, and Kali’s stomach roiled in horror. She thought she might be sick. “Jal -- this is Jal Vornis’s ship?” The Nevermore. How had she not known the name of his ship? Just so. He’ll be pleased you’ve heard of him. Panic threatened to overwhelm Kali, but she squashed it down, buried it under years of military training, months of engagement to Rufus having given her the edge in denial. Her eyes had begun to adjust to the dim light, and she could see that it was coming from the security lock around the door of the cabin. Not the cabin she’d fallen asleep in, but another one, very similar. A bed, a mesh floor, pipes and bars on the wall. She began methodically testing them.

“K’itana, are we still docked at Spaceport Adana?”

We many nkkr away! chirruped Pavel’s baby voice.

“Many what?”

Kitana made a noise of annoyance. You would say a few hours. Maybe five.

Too far. Hell, had she been out that long? Kali yanked on a pipe in the wall,

trying not to look too closely at the dark stains on it. They resembled blood. “Jal was supposed to let me off before he left,” she said, making a stab at reason. He was supposed to let Nirana the whore off before he left. You are Akalis Dalerian, and there is a bounty on your head. He won’t let you go anywhere. A fresh wave of panic sloshed through her, but she ignored it. “I don’t know who this Akalis is, but it’s not me. Why would anybody put a bounty on the head of a ’port cocksucker?” K’it, what a cocksucker?

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 39 -

An indelicate human practice, Kitana said. And he knows you were in disguise, Kali. Jal’s part Raja, you see. Can tell an imposter at a single glance. She sounded amused. More if he’s been as intimate as you were. Kali closed her eyes, resting still for a second against the wall. The cold metal was rough under her palms, rusting baridium like so many surfaces on the ’port. “All right, I’m not Nil Raja. But I’m not this person he thinks I am.” Yes, you are. Kitana’s voice suddenly turned to boredom. He’s got your file. Lots of money for you. Credits. Latinum. We like latinum. Shiny! cried Pavel. Kats loved treasure, it was true. “Where’s he taking me? As soon as we get there whoever he’s taking me to will know I’m not the person they’re after.” I don’t know, Kitana yawned. “But --” I don’t care, human. Don’t ask me any more questions. The Kitalii voices faded away, and Kali was left on her own in the dark cell, panic beating through her with every thump of her heart. She hadn’t been this afraid since those first days after leaving Daleri, expecting Rufus or his cronies to catch up with her. Every footstep, every breath, she was afraid. But as the days and weeks had passed, she grew more confident. After she’d paid that tattoo artist all the money she had to make her look different, she’d been less terrified of recognition. Of course, it was only later that she found out he’d given her whore’s markings. Akalis Dalerian had only met one Nil Raja, memorized her intricate skin patterns, and reckoned them to be a good disguise. She hadn’t known then that the beautiful woman had been a courtesan. Strange, I can disassemble a laser rifle in ten seconds but I don’t -- didn’t -- know anything about whores. She’d grown complacent on Adana, or maybe just dull-minded. Perhaps when she’d stopped expecting Rufus to find her. She’d stopped expecting anything else.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 40 -

There was no way out of the cell. The door was lined with a shock beam that made her skin buzz and her teeth chatter, and there were no internal controls for it. She couldn’t see a computer pad, either, although there appeared to be a screen, grimy and cracked, on the wall by the bed. Kali tapped it, without much hope, and it fizzed into life. Linking, it read in wobbly letters. Chiu, this ship was a crapbucket. “Ah, Akalis,” said a voice, crackly over the intercom, and then the picture resolved to show Jal sitting at a command console. “Diu la sing,” Kali spat. “Blyat,” he replied. “Feeling all right?” “You drugged me,” she accused, her arms wrapped around herself, pacing. If he could see her as well as she could see him, he could tell that she was still totally naked. That was one thing while she was fucking him, but another entirely if he was kidnapping her. “Well, I didn’t want you waking up and alerting the ’port authorities before we were gone.” “Behen chod,” Kali snarled. “Mention my sister again,” Jal said, his mouth tightening, “and I’ll use you for target practice.” “Then how much bounty will you get for me?” Kali returned. She made herself stand still and think. So, he had a sister? And he was close to her -- although not as close as her insult had implied. Information that might be useful later. “Enough to take a very nice holiday on Daleri,” Jal said. “Tell me, what’s the weather like this time of year?” “How would I know?” “You grew up there.” “I’ve never --” “Don’t lie to me, Akalis. It’s my job to get you back, but there was nothing said about what condition you needed to be in.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 41 -

Then it was Rufus who’d commissioned him. The panic was back, churning in Kali’s stomach, so fierce she had to sit down. Jal flicked a couple of switches, then swiveled his chair to face her fully. “Afraid?” “No. Because I’m not this Akalis you think I am.” “Cut it out. I know you’re not Nil Raja --” “Despite what your shirt says,” she glowered at the slogan still scrawled across his chest. Jal grinned. “Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it.” “I was faking to please you. Do you fuck all your captives?” “No, just the ones with sweet, tight little human pussies.” “You’re still mistaken. I’m not human.” “Yes,” he sighed, “you are.” “Maybe a little,” Kali lied, because if there was one thing she was sure of, it was her lineage. Hell, her nursery had been painted with a family tree. She could trace her ancestry back to old Earth -- before First Contact. “No, completely. Your family guard their lineage pretty carefully.” Yes, to the extent of betrothing me to a cuntfaced bastard when I was a child, in order to ensure the succession of pure human blood. No matter that one half of it was pure evil. “Who hired you?” she said. “Oh, I’m not telling you that.” “Why not?” Jal shrugged. “Don’t see why I should.” “Doesn’t a captive deserve to know who’s going to kill her?” He gave her a very shrewd look. Blyat. “Does someone want to kill you, Akalis?” “It’s Kali, and you know that,” she snapped, and he smiled, because now she’d finally admitted it.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 42 -

“Actually, I didn’t know that.” He tapped a few things on his viewscreen, and a picture came up in the corner. Kali recognized it from the ID she’d worn in the Special Forces. “I know you were known as Sub-Commander in the Daleri military -- not a particularly high rank, was it?” Stung, she said, “It was! I was the first woman to ever achieve sub-commander in less than three years.” “Yes, but the planet you were guarding was named after your family. I’d have thought they could buy you a better rank. Something where you didn’t need to get so dirty.” “Sit jou kop is die koei se kont en wag tot die bul jou kom holnaai.” His expression turned amused. “I’d rather not, I’m not into bestiality.” He tapped again. “Before you were a sub-commander, you were born Akalis Kolana dil Yonarin Salanaya ok Vilhamen…” He trailed off, and Kali watched his eyes move. He tapped the page again as the screen ran out of space. “How long does this go on for?” “About five minutes. We collect names in my family.”

“Interesting hobby.”

“Yeah, I’d prefer butterflies. Look, Vornis.”

“Call me Jal.”

“Vornis,” she said, pointedly. “Where are you taking me?”

He steepled his fingers, leaning back in his tattered chair. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Posol k cherty,” Kali swore.

“I’m hoping you got that mouth in the military. I’d hate to think all highborn

ladies and gentlemen swear like that.” “Tell me,” Kali said, ignoring him. “I can’t.” “Who hired you?” “Can’t tell you that, either.” “Was it Rufus?” Nothing. Not even a flicker.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 43 -

“My father? One of my brothers? Ayula and Duris?” Jal said nothing, and Kali ran her hand through her hair, trying to calm herself. Okay, he might be tough, but she was tougher. Three years in Special Forces, and the fastest promotion anyone had ever seen. And she hadn’t done it under her family name, contrary to what Jal Vornis thought. She’d taken one of her many, many middle names and used that instead. No one in the military knew who she was, who her father was. She’d fought and clawed and schemed her way up the ranks, and she’d learned a thing or two along the way. Like, to assess what she had, and use it to her advantage. Right now, all she had was a lot of naked skin. But she’d been trading her body for money now for months. She could trade it for secrets. She made her shoulders slump. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “They’re hardly going to welcome me back with open arms when they know what I’ve been doing.” “So don’t tell them.” Jal removed the picture and information from the screen. “You don’t think they’ll be able to tell?” Kali swept her hand over the markings on her breasts, and was gratified when his attention followed. “They’ll know what these mean.” “Did you?” Jal asked, and her eyes narrowed fractionally. “Of course I did.” “You chose to get yourself permanently marked as a whore?” He put his head on one side. “You wanted to become a whore?” “You don’t know what it’s like,” Kali said, and this time she didn’t need to act all that much. “I hated my life on Daleri. Everything was so rigid and structured. If you’re born a Daleri, there are things you have to do.” “Like marry a rich wanker?” “So you’ve met Rufus?” Jal didn’t smile. “Daleri’s a free world, isn’t it? You don’t have slaves there.” “Not legally,” Kali said darkly. “But it’s still slavery if you’re stuck in a life you never asked for and can’t escape.” “Yeah, I’m sure all that luxury gets real boring after a while.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 44 -

“All right, I had luxury, but I had no freedom,” she snapped. “The only thing I was good at was being a soldier, but I wasn’t allowed to continue with that because it’s not a ladylike thing to do. Dalerians lead armies, we own armies, but we don’t fight in them. We marry other pure humans and breed more pure humans, and sit in our artificial-environment mansions looking down our noses at other people who actually have the freedom to live the lives they want, do the jobs they want, and marry who the blyat they want, while we’re busy suffocating ourselves and our children under hundreds of years of tradition and hypocrisy and inbreeding and --” She broke off, running out of air, her chest heaving. Jal was staring at her impassively, his hands on the armrests of his chair, still leaning casually back. “So you escaped,” he said, and she debated how much to tell him. After all, he was keeping his secrets close to his chest. She wasn’t going to give hers away for free, not until she knew the measure of him. “I escaped,” she said. She touched her heaving breasts, cupped their fullness. “Tattooed myself as a Nil Rajan whore and escaped to a life of pleasure.” “I see that worked out well.” Kali allowed a sensual smile to curl her lips. “You’re assuming I don’t like sucking cocks.” “I’m not assuming, popka, I can tell. There was no passion in you until I gave you some. You’re telling me you kneel there on the deck all day stuffing giant filthy Fedoran cocks down your throat for a hundred credits a time because you like it?” “It’s a hundred fifty for Fedorans,” she said, lifting her chin, “and yes, I do like it. I love giving head.” Jal shook his head, clearly not believing her. “There’s nothing I like better than a good stiff cock inside me,” Kali said, beginning to play with her nipples. “In my mouth, or in my cunt, or sometimes even in my ass.” She moved her thighs apart so he could see her neat, hairless pussy and tilted her hips to show him the tight entrance to her ass. “You like going in the back way, don’t you?” she said. “That’s why you had that lube.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 45 -

Gratifyingly, his fingers tightened on the armrest. “Or do you like a cock in you? Is that it?” She thought back. “You said you’d sucked cocks. Did you enjoy it?” Jal swallowed. It looked like a deliberate motion. “I love the feeling of a thick, meaty dick in my mouth,” she went on, continuing to massage her breasts as she did. “I love the way it fills up my mouth, stretches my lips, my jaw. I love the feel of it hitting the back of my throat, and then -- it’s not easy, you know, deep-throating, but it’s incredibly satisfying. And you get the taste of precome, different on every man. Sometimes it’s salty, sometimes it’s bitter, sometimes it’s sweet. Yours is…” She licked her lips, thinking about it. “It’s slightly bitter, but there’s a sweetness to it too. It’s delicious. I love licking it up.” The distinct bulge of Jal’s cock was definitely getting bigger. Kali smiled at him through the grainy viewscreen. “And there’s a trick I was particularly pleased to learn. When a man’s right down my throat, right to the back, if I stretch out my tongue I can lick his balls. Mmm, it always makes them groan, and I love that groan, I can feel it all the way through my body. I love to grab a man’s hips and push him in just that little bit further. Maybe slide my hands around and part his buttocks. Stroke that tight little bundle of nerve-endings there. It’s sensitive, isn’t it? Feels good when I slip a finger inside.” Jal’s lips had gone tight, his eyes rooted on the screen. The crotch of his pants was highly tented. “What’s it like, being penetrated and sucked at the same time? Is it good? I can never know. I’ve had a man in my cunt and another in my ass, but that’s not the same, is it?” As she spoke, she moved her thighs again to get his attention. She was wet now, very wet, turning herself on with every word. The sensitive lips of her pussy were puffy with desire, desperate to be touched. I won’t do it. Let him.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 46 -

“Maybe it’s like being fucked and licked at the same time. I saw a woman getting that once, at the Lund Randi Choos bar -- have you been there? Where the dancers are naked, they twirl around on poles flaunting their perfect cunts and soft round tits, or their big hard dicks. And all the men watching get hard. All the women have their hands up their skirts. Most of them end up naked. They’re stroking and fondling themselves, and each other. They sit there sucking and licking each other, and even fucking. Right there, in public.” Jal’s hand was cupping his cock through his clothes. His teeth were gritted. “I saw a woman once, she was leaning against the bar and a man was sliding his dick into her from behind. He didn’t look like a prosti, he was just a customer. And so was she, and she was hot, so they were fucking, right there in public. And he was stroking her clit, but she kept crying, “More, I want more, somebody lick my pussy,” so the bartender got on his knees and started sucking on her clit. I swear, I’ve never seen a woman come so hard and so long.” “What about you, when I was licking your pussy?” Jal said. His voice was hoarse. Kali let herself smile. She shifted on the hard bunk, squeezing her thighs lightly to enjoy the pressure. “Mmm, that was nice. Not as nice as this woman, though. She kept on coming and coming. I thought it might kill her. What a way to go, though.” Jal was rubbing himself slightly through his clothes. Kali knew she nearly had him. “One time I was hired by this guy, me and another girl. He wanted her to lick his balls while he fucked me. The thing was, it was so over-stimulating he came in seconds. So he told us to carry on, and he got hard again really quickly, and Bilka was licking his come out of me. And then she started licking me as well as him, and I’ve never felt anything like it. The guy started fucking me, really hard, and I was moaning, because Bilka’s soft little tongue felt so good on my pussy, and there was a big cock inside me, and have I told you how much I love a big thick hui inside me?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 47 -

She damn well needed one inside her now. She was actually physically aching with need, but determined not to touch her own pussy. Squeezing her nipples painfully hard, she continued. “I love being fucked. I love a cock in my pussy, pounding into me, filling me up and stretching me. I love the feel of come squirting into me, trickling out of me. I love a man’s weight pressing --” Jal suddenly leapt from his chair, and Kali could only believe his command console was right next to her cell, because he was there in seconds. The door cycled open, and he strode in, tugging down his pants and taking his cock in hand. “You’re a hell of a tease,” he said, but to Kali’s disappointment he neglected to leave the door open, as any decent jailer should. He palm-locked it, then came towards her. Kali opened her legs wide. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. It was wrong, desperate and sick, but she needed to feel him filling her. He slid in, her pussy incredibly wet for him, and she grabbed onto him, pulling him in deeper. Feeling him fill her. Squeezing his tight buttocks and jamming herself forwards onto him. His weight pressed her down against the bunk. Kali had only been half fabricating that bit -- she’d never really enjoyed Rufus pinning her down and dominating her, but the feel of Jal -- who was after all her captor, and who she should really not enjoy being trapped under -- made pleasure squirm through her whole body. “Just so you know,” she said, “I hate you.” “I’m not in love with you, either,” he replied, and began pounding into her. Kali closed her eyes, arched her back, and enjoyed it.

Chapter Five Kali slept in his arms. Part of him was surprised at how much she slept, and then he considered how much money she’d lose by getting a full night’s sleep when she could be out sucking cocks or rummaging through trash, and surmised that she probably needed it. Akalis Dalerian, beloved scion of an immense dynasty, living the life of a guttersnipe. He didn’t for a moment believe that she’d escaped in order to live a life of pleasure. A girl like her, with beauty, class and education, could have become a highclass courtesan. All right, so her markings let her down, but there was plenty of call for non-Rajan women. No, she was turning tricks on Adana for a reason. She was hiding. Jal didn’t know what from, but he guessed it had to be something pretty horrific if she’d give up her life of ease -- no matter how boring -- for this. He eased himself away from her and let himself out of the cell, picking up his clothes on the way and making sure the door was locked behind him. Kali didn’t look like she could fight off a drunken Kitali, but he was pretty sure she could beat half a dozen Fedorans with one hand behind her back. Overpowering Jal and hacking into the ship’s navigation systems would be a cinch. He double-checked that there was no way she could access anything other than a viewscreen from her quarters, and opened a communication channel to Daleri. Rufus Badahof, his aristocratic good looks spoiled by smugness, sneered out at Jal from the opulence of his private ground-skimmer.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 49 -

“I said don’t contact me, Vornis,” he said, and his disdainful tone reminded Jal a little of Kali’s when she was bluffing. “I can’t have people believing I consort with lowlife like you.” Jal wasn’t usually insulted easily. He’d always known he was lowlife. He enjoyed being lowlife. His picture was probably in a dictionary somewhere next to a description of lowlife. But coming from Rufus, it made his lips thin. “I need to know where to bring Lady Akalis,” he said, and watched Badahof’s expression change. First disbelief. Then panic, which was interesting. Then that sneer again, like a mask falling into place. “She’s not a Lady, she’s a Miss,” he drawled. “You space cowboys don’t know anything. Do you even know what species you are?” “I’m a hundred percent bitza, sir,” Jal said with perverse pride, and at Rufus’s feigned expression of disinterest, added, “bitza this, bitza that.” “I see.” He clearly didn’t. “How amusing.” It clearly wasn’t. “Am I to take this to mean that you’ve found her?” “Yep.” “Excellent. Well, my good man,” oh, now I’m a good man, am I? “you just tell me where, and I’ll have someone pick her up.” “No need, sir, I’m on my way to Daleri now.” Again, that flicker of panic. And into Jal’s head came Kitana’s voice, asking, Who’s lying, Jal? Some complete cuntface. Mr. Cuntface. How very ugly. “Well, change of plan. I’d like to come and see Kali myself. Bring her home. Hail the conquering hero and all that.” How the hell had Kali been engaged to a sub-orbital primate like this? Jal, he’s so lying.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 50 -

I know. “Really, sir, it’s no trouble. I’m halfway there. I won’t charge any more.”

Rufus’s smile remained fixed. “Halfway from where? Where did you find her?”

Jal didn’t even blink. “Ezelia.”

Rufus sneered. “That trailer park?”

“Yeah,” said Jal, who had some good friends from that planet. “So if I --”

“Halfway here, did you say?” Rufus tapped a few things on his screen, evidently

looking at a star chart. “That would make you somewhere near the Kevoran system. Touch down on Kevoran Three, that’s got a suitable atmosphere, and we’ll meet you there.” He won’t meet you there, he’ll kill you, Kitana said.

I know.

“Absolutely, sir. I’ll see you there in approximately twenty-four hours.”

Rufus nodded approvingly. Jal was playing the obedient little lackey. “Oh, and

Vornis, don’t pay too much attention to anything she says. My fiancée’s a little disturbed, it’s why she ran away. Talks nonsense all the time.” Rufus probably imagined his expression mimicked sympathy. To Jal, he looked constipated. “Yes, sir. This time tomorrow, Kevoran Three.” He ended the transmission and leaned back in his chair. That man is a total osel, Kitana said. “No argument here.” You’re not really going to go to Kevoran Three, are you? “Yes,” said Jal, “but not to meet him.”

*** Kali woke as the door cycled open to see Jal leaning there, frowning.

“What did you do to your fiancé?”

Cold fear spiked in her. “What? Why do you want to know?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “He wants you back.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 51 -

“Well, of course he does.” Not for the reasons you think, but he definitely does. Jal continued to frown at her, and Kali leaned up on one elbow, naked and uncaring. “Is that who commissioned you?” He nodded. “Did he say why?” “Just that you’d gone missing and he wanted you back.” “I bet he even managed to squeeze out a tear, too.” Jal put his head on one side. “Why do I get the feeling this wasn’t a love match?” “Have you met Rufus?” “Not in person. We’ve spoken.” Kali sighed, sitting up and wrapping her arms around her knees. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I expect you’re taking me back now, aren’t you? To Daleri?” “No. He wants to meet us halfway.” He hesitated, as if debating how much to tell her. “On Kevoran Three.” “What? But -- that’s not halfway between Adana and Daleri.” “I know.” A small smile played on the lips that had given her so much pleasure. “I told him I’d found you on Ezelia.” “Why?” Jal shrugged and levered himself away from the doorway. It cycled shut behind him. “I like messing with rich SOPs.” She regarded him, trying to work out what he was getting at. Why had he really lied to Rufus? What did he suspect? “Why do you think I did something to him?” Jal didn’t answer immediately. He came to sit beside her on the bunk, his body radiating heat. Kali was cold -- these days she was always cold, but she refused to huddle closer to him. “He doesn’t want me to take you to Daleri. I’d have thought he’d be organizing a welcome party for you, telling all your family, desperate to have you back. But he wants to pick you up on some remote, out-of-the-way planet.” “He likes glory,” Kali said dispassionately.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 52 -

“Yeah, I got that. But he also looked panicked when I said I was bringing you home. Why?” Kali debated how much to tell him. Was there any point in keeping it all secret any more? Would it make any difference if he knew? “Rufus is the reason I ran,” she said. “I got that, too.” She leaned back against the cool baridium wall, staring at her hands and examining the patterns tattooed there. “I wasn’t exactly lying when I told you my life was boring,” she said, “but that’s not why I ran. I wouldn’t escape that life for this. It wasn’t that terrible.” “That’s what I figured.”

“Did you, now? What else did you figure?”

“That you were afraid. That something terrible was going to happen to you back

at home. That’s why you disguised yourself. You might like sex, but disguising yourself as space-trash is kind of extreme.” His mouth twisted. “I don’t expect you like slumming it to this extent.” “I don’t particularly enjoy slumming it at all,” Kali said, and heard the sneer in her own voice. “But I figured Spaceport Adana would be the last place Rufus would look for me. He wouldn’t even see a piece of space-trash like me.” “Some men enjoy trash.”

“Not Rufus. Believe me, his tastes are different.” Her stomach roiled as she

remembered just how different. “Is it men? Or does he have a thing for non-humanoids?” “No. He likes females. Two legged ones.” Kali’s eyes were fixed on her hands. “Very young ones.” There was a silence. For a long moment Kali heard nothing, and then Jal exhaled. “Younger than is legal?” “Very much so.” “Did you report him to the authorities?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 53 -

She laughed. “Jal, this is Daleri we’re talking about. He is the authority.” Silence again. Then Jal said, “But you were Special Forces. You could have…” “What? Murdered my own fiancé? Believe me, I’d like to. But it might be slightly obvious. Besides, by the time I’d pieced it all together, he knew.” “Knew what?” “That I knew about it.” She hesitated, then decided to go for it. “The thing is, if it was just him I might have done something about it. I could have blackmailed him at the very least. Rufus Badahof doesn’t need something like that getting out. I have friends in high places too.” “But it wasn’t just him?” “No. He… he runs an operation. They kidnap children and sell them on.” “Slavery?” “Yes. I know it’s legal on some worlds, but even outside the IAC there are rules on child slavery. Especially in the sex trade, which is where I suspect a lot of them go.” “Si tao,” Jal swore. “Yeah. And the thing is…” Her fingers curled into fists, disgust flooding her. “All right, look. A couple of weeks before all this, my goddaughter went missing. Do you know that term, goddaughter? It’s an old Earth concept.” Jal nodded, so she went on. “Her parents are my best friends. I grew up with Ayula, and served with Duris in the military. They’re good people.” Jal waited. Kali stared hard at the markings on her hands. “Ciana had just turned eight. She’s the most beautiful little girl I ever saw. Well, evidently Rufus thought so, too. She was out playing in the garden one day and just… vanished. The security monitors didn’t show anything. We quizzed all the staff but got nothing. Of course, Rufus was logged as coming in and going out, but it was my parents’ house, so of course no one thought that was strange.” “I’m guessing you didn’t know about his… tastes, then.” “No. Of course not. Do you really think I’d --” She calmed herself. Jal would probably think anything of her. “Anyway, we mounted a full search. Probably plenty of

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 54 -

other crimes went unreported because we’d got the whole police force out looking for Ciana. But she was gone. And then one day I went to Rufus’s house, and I thought I heard a child singing. There was a song Ciana used to love, an old nursery rhyme, and I could have sworn I heard it. Rufus told me I must be imagining things, but… I don’t know. There was something about the way he said it.” “You didn’t believe him.” Jal’s voice was flat. “No. So I… well, I went back. Sneaked around.” She swallowed, remembering. Her chest tightened. “And I found… a secret… there was a room, and…” Unexpectedly, Jal put his arm around her, and she leaned into his warmth, shuddering. “A secret room, underground, where he was keeping them. I saw them.” She didn’t tell him what she’d seen. She never wanted to think about it, but sometimes the images haunted her, came to her in nightmares that left her shaking and sweating. “And they saw me. I got out, as fast as I could, but they knew I’d been there. Rufus knew. The last thing I heard from him was the order to kill me.” Jal said nothing, just held her tight against his side. She laid her head on his shoulder, cuddling closer. He was warm, solid, and silent, and whether or not he was going to return her to her vicious pidaras of a fiancé, she was grateful for the moment of comfort. “So you ran.” She lifted her head, defensive. “I’m not a coward. I wanted to find Ciana.” “I take it you haven’t.” “No. We have a phrase on Daleri: looking for a needle in a haystack. A haystack is a big pile of dried grass, and a needle a small, slim piece of metal used for making clothes.” “Something hard to find.” “Almost impossible. I came to Adana because I know a lot of shady things go on here. I thought it would be a good place to start looking. But I spent most of the money I had on a good disguise, and then I… well, people thought I was a whore, and… look, I

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 55 -

ran out of money, okay, and believe me I learned a lot of interesting tricks from Rufus when it came to sex, so I thought… but now I have no hope of ever earning enough to even get off the station. Well, I didn’t,” she added dryly. “Now I’m off, and going in entirely the wrong direction.” Jal was silent a while longer, and then he said out loud, “Kit?”

I’m not a lie detector, the Kitali’s voice sounded.

“If she’s lying, we might all get blown to hell.”

A pause, and then the door cycled open. Kitana sat there, her beautiful head on

one side. She’s not lying. She’s frightened, and that man is a pizda. And he means to kill you both. “See?” Kali said. “If we go to Kevoran Three, he’ll probably bomb us from space.” “Yeah, that’s what I figured.” Jal sighed and stood up. “Right, fine. Q.E.D.” Kali stared at him, baffled. What kind of bounty hunter used old Earth languages like that? Come to think of it, he read old Earth poetry, too. Strange man. “Kit, we’ve got one day to get to the Kevoran system and get this set up. You,” he turned to Kali, “do you know what a silver hammer is?” “Sil --” She began to smile. “Yes,” she said, “I think I do.”

Chapter Six They hid behind one of Kevoran Three’s moons, signature echo masked by a trick Jal knew and Kali had refined. On the planet’s surface, in a desert region miles from any populated areas, was a beacon transmitting the Nevermore’s signature, as well as a communication to Rufus. Kali had surprised Jal with that. After a few moments reprogramming the ship’s precious replicator, she’d managed to simulate a sort of paste she used to cover the Nil Raja markings on her face and neck. Next she’d created a ragged blonde wig, and then donned one of Jal’s shirts and a loose pair of pants to sit in front of the comm screen. “It’s not a great picture,” he warned her. “Even better.” She frowned a moment, looking up at him. “It wouldn’t take much to fix, you know.” The rest of the ship was in decent repair. Jal had purposely fuzzed up his viewscreen so that whatever he transmitted was a terrible picture. Realization dawned on her face. “You don’t want anyone to recognize you, do you?” “Smart girl.” “I’ve had to be.” She took a deep breath, then rearranged her features into something resembling nervousness, and hit Record. “Rufus, it’s me. The bounty hunter said you might want proof of life, so here I am. I can’t wait to see you. Everything’s been so awful, Ezelia’s a terrible place, but I lost all my money and -- well, it’s a long story, I’ll tell you when I see you.” She faked wiping a tear away. “I can’t wait to see you, and get home and see Mama and Papa and

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 57 -

hear everyone’s news. Oh Rufus, I’ve missed you so --” She suddenly turned her head sharply to the left. “No, I’m not done yet, I want to --” She hit the End button, and glanced up at Jal, her face expressionless once more. He was deeply impressed. “Embed that in the signal,” she said. “He can show it to my folks when he gets home.” “Are you sure?” “Oh yes. Best way to do a Silver Hammer.” He was still faintly amazed she even knew what it was. Mental note: don’t get in the way of the Daleri Special Forces. They planted the beacon in the desert, and Kali spent a short while reconfiguring it, while Jal leaned against the Nevermore’s rusted flank, trying not to appear anxious. “Did we leave enough of a trail on the way in, do you think?” Kali said, fiddling with something on the beacon. “Popka, I can smell the fumes,” he said. “Good, good. Just make sure there’s nothing on the way out.” “I do know how to do this.” “Yes, well, you’re an amateur.” She stood up, kicked sand over the beacon. “No offence.” “What do you mean, no offence? I’m not a fucking amateur. I mess this up, I die. I don’t have some military cruiser backing me up.” “Neither did I,” Kali said. “But I did have them chasing me a good few times.” They got back in the ship, powered up, and she hit a few buttons on the sensors. Jal wasn’t entirely happy about allowing her such access to his ship’s controls, but Kitana had assured him Kali was telling the truth, and she really did seem to know what she was doing. “There,” she said, and he leaned over her shoulder to look at the readout. It told him there was a Raven-class fighter called Nevermore II lying in the desert sands, leaking radiation and beaming a communication coded for Rufus Badahof’s personal transport.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 58 -

On board were two life signs. If Jal hadn’t actually been on the deck of the Nevermore, he’d have believed his ship was lying in the desert. “How…” She looked smug. “Just a little trick. Now move it, Vornis, we need to hide.” Shortly after the allotted time, a sleek personal cruiser came into orbit with Kevoran Three. “Scan for weapons,” Kali said. Jal already had. “None.” “No. He’s good, isn’t he? He could probably take out half the fleet with what he has on board, but you can never sense it.” “Then how do you know it’s there?” She shrugged, her thin shoulders moving under his shirt. “He showed me once. Thought it might impress me, what with my training.” “Did it?” Her eyes skittered away. “A little.” Maybe that was why she’d agreed to marry him. Jal never understood girls like that. You never understand girls at all, came Kitana’s amused voice. Very helpful, thanks, he told her, and could have sworn he heard a giggly purr in reply. Badahof’s cruiser skimmed around to align itself with the desert location of the beacon, and he saw Kali’s knuckles go white. “Of course, you could be spinning me a load of blin,” he said to her, “and he’s really a caring fiancé who just wants to take you home.” Kali didn’t take her gaze from the viewscreen. A beam of light shot from Badahof’s cruiser, right to the surface of the planet. The sensors Jal had trained on the beacon registered a massive impact. Enough to destroy a ship twice the size of the Nevermore.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 59 -

She shot him a look, then turned her attention back to the viewscreen. “Bang bang.” “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” They watched the cruiser zoom away. “I always wondered who Maxwell was,” Kali said, her voice a little too high, a little too rushed. “Not a fan of old Terran music?” “It’s Old Earth,” she said, a little archly, “and no, not particularly.” They waited until Badahof’s cruiser had disappeared. Jal kept his eyes on Kali, whose pose was a little too casual to ring true. Her knuckles were still white. “Well,” he said. “What now?” She hit a few buttons on the console, not looking at him. “Now you drop me off at the nearest spaceport and never mention me again to anyone.” “Going back to turning tricks?” “It pays.” “Not very well.” She ignored that. “There’s a ’port about half a day away. It’ll do.” Jal thought about their position, and said, “ ’Port Kalaris? You must be joking.” “Do I look like I’m joking?” She looked at him then, and her face showed him so much his stomach clenched. With the Silver Hammer faking her death, she’d just said goodbye, probably forever, to her old life. To her family, which he happened to know comprised a huge network of cousins and friends, not to mention her parents and siblings. To ease, comfort and wealth. To financial security. To any prospect of a normal job. To ever seeing her goddaughter again. Her chin was high, but she couldn’t keep it entirely firm and her lips were too tight. Her eyes were very nearly hard as latinum, but only nearly. “No,” he said softly, “you don’t look like you’re joking.” She gave a jerky nod, and looked back at the console. “Kalaris it is, then, if you don’t --”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 60 -

“I think I do,” Jal said, surprising even himself. “I think I’m not letting you off anywhere.” This time her eyes were harder than anything he’d seen. “Do you know how much money I’ve just lost? Your fiancé was going to pay me a goddamned fortune for bringing you back.” “No, he wasn’t,” Kali said, stabbing at the screen with her fingers, “he was going to kill you.” “I could have left you on the surface and flown away.” Her fingers stilled. “True,” she said. “So --” “But he’d still have killed you.” She glanced up at him. “Do you really think he’s stupid enough to let you go running around telling anyone who’ll listen that you know what happened to Akalis Dalerian?” “I wouldn’t tell anyone.” “Rufus doesn’t care. You might tell someone, and that’s too much. Hell, look what he just did to me.” She waved at the screen still showing the fallout from Rufus’s weaponry. “And I was his fiancée. I had pedigree and standing. You’re just some twobit outlaw.” For a long, awful second the only sound was the hum of the engines. I know I’m only a two-bit outlaw, you stuck up suka, but -Kitana’s amused chirrup broke the silence. How does it feel to be dead? “Irritating,” Jal snapped. “Since Princess here faked both our deaths, it makes it kind of difficult to get any more damn work.” “You’re a bounty hunter,” Kali said disparagingly, “not a household name.” “I had a reputation.” “For catching criminals. You hardly worked for the IAC…” She broke off, suddenly still. “You didn’t work for the IAC?” “No, and you’re bloody lucky I didn’t.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 61 -

“Look, you never had to fake your own death. I did you a favor. Now Rufus won’t come after you.” She has a point, Kitana said. Plenty of people would gun you down soon as look at you. There was a stony silence. “Look,” Jal said tersely. “I’m heading back to ’Port Adana. If nothing else, I need to change the designation of my ship, and that’s the place to do it.” “Fine,” said Kali, her spine straight. And while you’re there, you can talk to your slaver friends, Kitana said, leaping up onto Jal’s empty chair. She stuck out one foot and began to wash it. See if they know where Ciana might be. With horrible, agonizing slowness, Kali turned to look at him. “You’re friends with slavers?” “Not friends,” Jal said. “We exchange information sometimes.” “What sort of information could a slaver have that might possibly be useful to you?” “Sometimes I catch --” He’s looking for his sister, Kitana broke in, her bored voice flooding over Jal’s. “Your sister?” Kitana, having dropped her bombshell, remained smugly silent. Jal cleared his throat; he might as well tell her. “We were separated as children,” he said. “I never knew what happened to her. A friend told me he thought she might have been taken by slavers, but that was twenty years ago. I don’t know why I -- that is, I’m not really looking for her. Not any more.” Silence stretched. Kali glanced at Kitana, whose voice replied, Yes, it is the truth. She jumped down from the chair and padded from the cockpit. Kali blew out a breath. “I don’t think you ever stop looking,” she said. She stood up. “Right, then. I spoke to every slaver I could find on Adana, but none of them said they traded in children.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 62 -

“No, well, they wouldn’t. It’s not legal in most places. A couple of the regular Adana traders do, but they keep it quiet. Most of it goes on dirtside, on the outer planets.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I don’t often look into the child slavery rings, to be honest. I stopped looking for Sayana there years ago.” “How old is she?” He rolled his shoulders. “In common counting, about thirty years. She was nearly eleven, last I saw her.” Kali’s gaze dropped. “I’m sorry.” “Yeah. Me too.” It was people like her family who’d come up with the giant IAC orphanages for kids like him and Sayana. Orphanages that made grand promises to the public about adoption and job training, and in reality sold kids off into slavery under the guise of apprenticeship. He’d never been allowed to go back, or even contact Sayana, after he’d been bonded to the building conglomerate who took most of the strong youths. Years later, he’d run into another orphanage kid, a skinny nervous boy now working as a clerk, who said Sayana had been “adopted” by a glamorous woman. Everyone knew what she was, even though no one said. His sister had been bought by a madam. She was probably a prosti now, just like Kali. “Some slaves buy themselves into freedom,” Kali said, sitting back down again. Jal shrugged. It wasn’t likely, and besides, once Sayana came of age her markings would lock her into her caste. “Would you recognize her?” Kali asked. “If you saw her? I know it’s been a long time, but…” “I’d recognize her.” Sighing, he picked up Kali’s hand and traced the markings twining around her third finger and palm. “We have Nil Raja blood. Not pure, but enough for our markings to show through.” “Yours show up when you’re aroused,” Kali said, looking up at him, and his cock stirred.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 63 -

“Or angry, or hurt. Sayana’s were always stronger.” He turned her hand over and examined her wrist. Yes… those markings. So familiar. “The exact patterning and details of a Nil Raja’s markings are unique to each person, but they always include a birth mark, a heritage pattern. Before adulthood, the heritage pattern is the only marking we have. It’s a combination of your parents’ markings, so it’s usually very similar on full-blood siblings.” “So you’d recognize it on her? What does it look like?” Jal put his wrist next to hers. Everyone’s birth markings showed up somewhere different, but his and Sayana’s had both been in the same place. “Like this,” he said, and with his free hand tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. “You have the exact markings she did.” Confusion flitted across her face. “But -- I’m not your sister,” she said. “No. But it’s kind of a coincidence you have her birth marks. When did you see her? How do you know her?”

Chapter Seven Kali stared at Jal, speechless for about the third time in her life. The markings on his wrist, showing stronger and brighter every second she looked at them, were indeed identical to the patterns on her own hand. She stared at the intricate markings, remembered the pain of having them burned into her skin, and forced her gaze up to meet Jal’s. “I copied them,” she said, rather uselessly. “Just these?” “No. Everything.” He let go of her wrist, disgusted. “That’s impossible.” “No, it’s not.” Annoyance took the place of shock. “I remembered them and told the tattooist what to do.” Jal snorted. “Firstly, you expect me to believe you remembered exactly every single detail? When did you see this person you copied them from?” She shrugged. “I was still in the military. About two years ago. We were using the public baths on Grahin Prime.” His scowl intensified. He clearly knew of the baths, said to have amazing restorative properties. That was why she’d been using them, to help heal a laser wound in her thigh. Everyone went into the baths naked -- which was the normal way of doing everything on Grahin. Clothes were considered unhygienic. “I was fascinated with her markings. She let me examine them.” “And you remembered every detail?” “Yes. I’m good at that.” Her head on one side, she said, “How do you think I made it into Special Forces after just six months?” Moodily, he said, “You fucked your way to the top?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 65 -

“No.” She tried to stay calm. “I have an extremely accurate memory. Once I’ve seen something, I can’t forget it. It’s why Rufus wanted me gone. He knew I’d seen the faces of some of those children.” Jal was silent a while, leaning against the console. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes flat and black once more. Mercenary eyes. Kali waited. Eventually he said, “You lie.” “What makes you say that?” He grabbed her wrist and yanked her to her feet. “This, here.” He tugged his shirt off her and she stood bare-breasted before him. He ran his hand roughly over the marks trailing over her breasts. “This pattern is Otha. Here,” he roughly squeezed her other breast, and then shoved his hand down her pants and cupped her pussy, “and here. These are Otha.” “What’s Otha?” “Nil Raja whore caste. The ones you’re most likely to see. What people think all Nil Raja are.” There was bitterness in his voice. Kali licked her lips, and said, “Your sister might --” “Be Otha, yes, I’d figured that. She was bought by a courtesan, she’d have been raised into it.” He still didn’t look very happy about it. Kali tried to imagine if one of her sisters had become a prosti. She probably wouldn’t have been very happy about it either, but she wouldn’t be taking it out on someone who had nothing to do with it. “But this pattern,” he jabbed painfully at her shoulder, “these details, this is not Otha.” “No?” She squinted at her own shoulder, gave up, and raised her arm to inspect it. “What, then?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 66 -

“This is Durgha. At least, the details are. The exact patterning is definitely Durgha, but it’s repeated in entirely the wrong places. Durgha is in places of strength, like this, on the arm, and the back, not the genitals.” She regarded him calmly. “I know what I saw, Jal.” “You don’t.” He looked angry now, and hurt. Those flat black eyes were blazing with fury, and she saw for the first time just how dangerous this man actually could be. “You made it up. This isn’t real, Kali.” “It is real.” “Don’t lie to me! Do you have any idea --” He broke off, breathing harshly, and Kali reminded herself that she’d been trained in unarmed combat. She could stop him if she wanted to. But something inside her said not to. “Imagine,” Jal said, “if I told you I’d seen your goddaughter, this Ciana. Imagine you’d been searching twenty years and nearly given up, then someone gave you a crumb of hope…” “I’d be overjoyed,” she said softly. “But it’s all niao fun,” Jal spat. “It can’t be true.” “Look, I’m sorry if you’re disappointed at what your sister became, but it’s not necessarily a bad life. Some of the Nil Raja I met were very rich, well educated, and they enjoyed what they did. No one was forcing them into prostitution.” Jal gave a harsh laugh. “You don’t get it, do you,” he said. “I don’t care what she became. If she’s Otha then that’s fine by me.” “Then what’s the problem?” He stared at her. “The problem is you’re a fucking liar,” he said, and shoved her at the console before turning to walk away. But Kali wasn’t letting him win that easily. She grabbed his arm and tugged him back, her strength not half of what it used to be but still enough. She snapped him to her, and said fiercely, “I am not lying.” “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 67 -

“I do. I know what I saw, and I know these were real markings from a real person. That’s why I copied them. I wanted to look authentic.” “Yeah, sure. And you were allowed to join the union with your ‘authentic’ markings, were you?” Kali lost her patience. She yanked open the tab on his pants and grabbed his cock. “And what about this?” she said. “What caste are you, hmm? If Otha covers the genitals, then is that why you have it?” He flinched. “This isn’t about me.” “No? Tell me, Jal Vornis, what caste you are.” His eyes burned like black holes. “Shut up,” he said, shoving his hand over her mouth. Kali bit his fingers. “Suka!” He grabbed her wrist, his arm brushing her bare breast, and Kali sucked his fingers into her mouth without even thinking about what she was doing. Her whole body heaved with anger, but the air was charged with something else now, something sharper and hotter. Her fingers were still wrapped around his cock, and it swelled slightly in her hand. Jal’s hand closed around her breast, his eyes fathomless, and as she sucked his fingers deep into her mouth he backed her against the command console, shoving his hips against hers. His cock hardened, her fingers tightened, and then all of a sudden he was clawing at her pants, yanking them down and freeing one leg to wrap around his waist. Kali pulled him in, fed his cock into her hungry pussy and gritted her teeth to keep from moaning. Jal thrust into her, hard and angry, his fingers digging into her hips. Kali had had plenty of fast, brutal fucks in her time on ’Port Adana, but none of them had made her shake and moan like this one. She came when Jal bit into her shoulder, marking her in his own way, and he roared out his own climax soon after. They clung to each other, breathing hard. The

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 68 -

buttons and switches on the console dug into Kali’s buttocks. “Better move,” she said, “before I crash us into the moon.” A half smile crossed Jal’s lips, and he withdrew, pulling his clothes back into order as Kali did the same. Sliding the shirt back over her head, she smoothed the fabric over her wrist and paused. “Wait,” she said. “Jal.” She held out her arm. It was a long shot, but she’d taken plenty of those in her life and come out winning. “The woman I copied these marks from. She had a scar here, on her wrist. Like something had tried to take a slice out of her. She said the marks used to be the same on both wrists, but --” Jal grabbed her wrist and stared at it. His thumb smoothed over the marks where the back of her hand met her arm. “Here?” he said. Hope blossomed in her. “Yes. Right there. It was an old wound, well healed. She didn’t say how it came about.” Jal was staring fixedly at her arm. “She cut it,” he said, voice distant. “She was angry. Wanted to get rid of the marks. She wanted to cut them away and look like the other kids. She said they were dangerous, that if people knew who we were…” Kali flinched. Jal’s fingers dug into her arm, apparently unaware.

“I stopped her,” he said. “She might have cut her hand off.”

“Wo di tian ah,” Kali breathed.

“Yeah. She was always… volatile, my sister.”

He released Kali’s wrist and she rubbed it gingerly. Jal closed his eyes for a long

blink, then murmured, “Sorry.” “It’s okay. I understand.” He raised one eyebrow at that. “Okay, Ciana hasn’t been gone twenty years, but…” She shuddered. “Anyway, listen. Your sister is alive, or at least she was two years ago. And now you know what you’re looking for…” His jaw was still tight, but he nodded. “My vote is this,” Kali began.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 69 -

“Since when was my ship a democracy?” She ignored that. “I vote we go back to Adana. I know some people there. I was looking for a little girl, but I bet someone there knows your sister, or at least knows of her. You know some slavers, I know a journalist, we can get some information. And we can hire some muscle.” “Muscle?” Jal looked offended.

“Yeah. For when we go and fill Rufus with laser fire.”

To her everlasting gratitude, he didn’t argue with that. “Muscle costs. So does

information. And I don’t know if you noticed,” he swept his hand at the patched up cockpit, “but I’m not exactly rolling in credits.” “No,” she said, and took a deep breath. “But you do have currency. Of a sort.” He frowned. “What?” “Me.”

*** For the promise of some uninterrupted time with the bank vaults on Spaceport Kalaris, Kitana agreed to steal the things on Kali’s list. Kalaris was an IAC hub, far too dangerous for either Kali or Jal to show their faces, but no one noticed the dun-colored Kitali slipping through the shadows. “What did you send her after?” Jal asked. “If it’s clothes, the ship can --”

“Not these kinds of clothes,” Kali said. She’d been distracted all the way to the

’port, making lists on the datapad Jal had lent her. “Just what are you planning?” She gave a half smile, not looking up. “You’ll see.” She still wouldn’t give him any information as they traveled onwards to Spaceport Adana. Damn Special Forces plans and secrets. Halfway there, they stopped on a wasteland planet and while Kali repainted the name of the ship, Jal reconfigured her codes. Anyone looking for the Nevermore wouldn’t find her here.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 70 -

As they began docking procedures at ’Port Adana, Kali disappeared into the quarters she’d appropriated as her own. “Okay,” she called back through the door. “This is the plan.” “Kind of you to inform me,” Jal said sourly. “First, put these on.” She tossed him a bundle of clothing that he unraveled to reveal a suit so fine he surmised Kitana must have stolen it from a prince. “What will you be wearing?” “Wait and see.” He did so, with bad grace. At least now he knew why Kit had needed to go ’portside to steal these clothes. The Nevermore couldn’t possibly have reproduced them. “And who am I meant to be?” he called through. She emerged from her cabin just as the ship finally locked into place, and if Jal hadn’t been watching the door he’d have suspected someone else had taken her place. The woman standing before him was wrapped in bright, beautiful silks that managed to conceal her body while exposing enough of her markings to leave the viewer in no doubt as to her Nil Raja caste. Jewels shone at her exposed throat and wrist, her ankle and in her hair, which seemed to be longer, thicker, and of a much subtler hue than before. Her face had been delicately enhanced with cosmetics to make it look fuller and healthier. Her bearing was elegant, her eyes knowing, her smile provocative. If Jal had had to choose one word to describe her, it would have been “expensive.” “You,” she said, and even her voice sounded sexier, “are my owner.” Jal swallowed, a rush of heat burning to his groin. “Right,” he said hoarsely, and cleared his throat. “Right,” he repeated, and tried to level the situation a bit. “Amazing how much class some silks bring.” Her smile slipped a bit. “Get changed,” she said. “Do you gamble?” “Gamble?” “Yes. You’re going to bet a night with me to earn some money.” “What if I lose?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 71 -

“Then I fuck another stranger. I’ve done it before.” She said it dispassionately, but it left a bad taste in Jal’s mouth. It was just because she looked so good now, he was sure. Nothing else.

Chapter Eight Level 7 was home not just to Cunt Street, but also to the gambling dens of ’Port Adana, from the one-armed bandits to the high-roller tables. Jal had never really bothered with the high-end stuff, but he did occasionally enjoy a game of ropki with some of the Haze’s more clear-headed drinkers. Kali, to his surprise, directed him to the Haze, where she approached a woman eating spicy Altaran ribs, drinking beer, cajoling K’Mere into singing, and consulting a datapad all at the same time. Jal stopped Kali with a hand on her shoulder. “Are you kidding me?” he said in an undertone. “Holly Barberossa?” “She knows everything that goes on around here,” Kali said. “Yeah, precisely. I’d rather she didn’t know we were still alive.” She rolled her eyes. “Relax. She’ll keep this confidential if we give her something in return.” “Like what? I don’t have any spare credits --” “Not money, sei chun. Holly trades in information. Now don’t speak, you’re too important to speak to anyone when your slave can do it for you.” She gave Holly a serene smile as they approached. “Lady,” she said in a lowpitched, elegant voice very unlike the one she usually used, “you are the awardwinning reporter?” Holly looked her over, then glanced at Jal. She seemed to like him. “That’s me,” she said. “Got a story for me?” Kali gave a demure smile, her eyes cast downwards. “My master craves a piece of your knowledge.” “Yeah? Then he can buy the Observer like everyone else.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 73 -

“Even if he has something to trade for it?” Holly’s ears pricked up, and five minutes later Kali had successfully bartered the name of one of Jal’s less scrupulous slaver contacts in return for the location, entry fee and passwords to the ’port’s most expensive ropki game. Shooting him a sideways glance as they left the bar, her silks swishing, Kali murmured, “See?” “I’m impressed,” Jal confessed, and she gave a small smile. “And a little turned on.” She smiled wider and did something with her lashes that turned him on even more. Damn it. A woman of far too many talents. Jal had been playing ropki since childhood. A combination of wit, skill and lying, it was the sort of game he’d been born to play. Within an hour he’d gambled up the entry fee of ten thousand credits -- which he’d had to borrow from Kitana, on pain of death -- to twenty thousand. As the bids rose nearer to fifty, he shot a glance at Kali, sitting very prettily in the corner, and then looked back down at his chips. No one missed it. They’d all been checking her out. A couple of the other players had brought servants with them, or bodyguards, but no one else had a sex slave. And Kali was looking particularly luscious, positioned on the edge of the light in such a way that her silks had become partly transparent. One nipple could be glimpsed, and the bright trail of markings that led down to the shadowed V between her thighs. Her ankles were crossed demurely, her eyes cast down, and if it hadn’t been for the clearly visible Nil Raja marks circling her nearly-exposed breast, she’d have looked quite the lady. But this was what the high-caste Otha were like, Jal reminded himself. Exquisite creatures of beauty, grace and culture who looked like elegant statues and fucked like rabid Bo’aa. “A pony and a night with Nirana,” he said, and saw the panic flash in her eyes. Too late, he realized why.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 74 -

“A what?” said one of the other players, a well-upholstered gentleman of mostly human origin. Jal flashed a sneer. “Those damned space jockeys rub off on one,” he said. “A pony,” said the youngest of the gamblers, a silent and watchful Antillan who put Jal on edge, probably because he reminded him of himself. “It means twenty-five.” He glanced over his shoulder at Kali, who gave him a tense smile. “Twenty-five thousand credits and a night with her?” He considered this. “I’d call that fifty thousand.” The fat man tossed in another chip. “I’ll see that.” Jal looked at the symbols on his private datapad. If they were worth fiftythousand, he was a Fedoran fart. But the price was enough to see off the other gamblers. He took a deep breath, then said, “In that case, gentlemen, show me what you’ve got.” The fat man proudly displayed a hand that had been riding more on optimism than skill. The Antillan gave Kali one last glance, then revealed his hand. Jal said a silent prayer of thanks, because his was better. “Thank you, gentlemen,” he said, pulling in the chips. “I think I’ll call this a night.” He stood up to go, adrenaline coursing through him, already planning how he’d spend the night with the woman he’d nearly gambled away. “Nirana?” She stood, graceful and pretty, and unable to help himself, Jal slid his arm around her waist and kissed her. A hundred thousand credits, enough to pay back Kitana, with interest, hire the mercs Kali wanted to go and blast a hole in Rufus Badahof, and make some much-needed improvements to the Nevermore. Kali’s hand came up to his shoulder, then his neck, and her fingers tangled in his hair. Her mouth was soft, warm, sweet, and she kissed with unexpected tenderness. She looked slightly stunned when he let her go, and he grinned and whispered, “I think you bring me luck.” Taking her hand in his, he led her from the private club, and she stumbled over the short flight of stairs to the gangway. “Are you all right?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 75 -

She nodded, shaking herself. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”

“What, that we’d win? Just out of interest, what was your plan if we didn’t?”

“Fuck the winner while Kitana stole his credits.”

Jal grinned. “Fantastic.” Buoyant, he started glancing around for somewhere

they could spend the night. A hundred thousand credits could buy a very nice suite, a big soft bed and a bathroom with actual running water. Paradise. A shape darted in front of them. The silent Antillan, his dark eyes taking in Kali’s pink cheeks and hardened nipples. “You play well,” he said to Jal. “Thanks. You too.” “Your woman is very beautiful.” “Isn’t she?” Jal made to tug Kali away, but the man stopped him. “I confess to some disappointment. Even before you proposed a night with her as part of the bet, I’d been planning on asking you how much you’d charge for a loan.” Jal paused, an instant of rage overtaken by the squeeze of Kali’s hand, and the reminder that she wasn’t actually his woman; she wasn’t even pretending to be. She was his slave, and he knew it was common practice among the moneyed classes to swap and loan such possessions. He glanced at Kali, who met his eyes and gave him the tiniest of nods.

“I’d have to know you’re good for the money,” he said.

“You can have it up front. A pony?”

Jal cursed himself for using the slang. This guy probably had his number. Who

was he, IAC? If he let Kali go into his custody, there was no telling what might happen. “I don’t let her out of my sight,” he said, and the stranger’s eyebrow quirked. “I don’t blame you,” he said, and cocked his head. “Are you proposing what I think you are? Yourself and the lady?” Kali’s fake blue eyes sparked, and he knew she wasn’t averse to the idea. “Yes,” he said, and the Antillan gave a half smile, spit in his hand, and held it out.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 76 -

“We have a deal.”

*** Kali wasn’t sure she even remotely trusted Janus Valdec, the watchful young man even now leading them to his quarters. He moved with the silent grace of a Kitali, his dark eyes never still, taking in every detail of the impossibly crowded ’port around them. He’d been a soldier, she was certain. He might even still be one. Jal shot her a wary look as Valdec led them into another expensive private club, the sort where rich traders stayed in an attempt to distance themselves from the squalor of the ’port. She gave him a smile in return. If he was okay with a threesome, then so was she. She had, on occasion, enjoyed the attention of two men. Besides, if this guy wasn’t good for the twenty-five thousand credits he’d promised, they could always send Kitana in to rob him. “Please,” Valdec said, gesturing to the elegantly appointed sitting room of the suite. “Make yourselves comfortable while I transfer the funds to your account.” Jal had a mobile account, not tied to any one name or location, into which he’d already paid his winnings. As Valdec transferred the twenty-five thousand to the same account, his back was turned on them. Jal gave Kali a searching look. “It’s okay,” she mouthed back. “For twenty-five, I’m happy with this. If you are.” He’d made a brief mention once before about sucking cocks. Was that just dirty talk, or did he actually like being with another man? To her relief, he nodded, but there was still concern in his eyes. “Don’t do it for the money,” he mouthed back. “We’ve got plenty now.” “I’m not doing it for the money,” she replied, smiling. “He’s a handsome man.” As predicted, that made Jal scowl, just as Valdec turned around. “Is there a problem?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 77 -

Kali gave him the pretty smile she’d honed after years of socializing with people who wanted her to be as smart and decorative as a doll. “Just a little jealousy,” she said. “I was telling Alec how very handsome I found you.” Alec Stennar, the name he’d given at the door of the gambling club. Kali had no idea if it was an alias he’d used before or something he’d just thought of. She didn’t care. He was sitting very close by her, his fingers caressing her wrist, and Janus Valdec ­ - almost certainly not his real name, not that Kali cared -- was standing in front of her, handsome and well-built. Although he was of a similar height and build to Jal, his eyes and hair also dark, the two men could not have been more different. Jal had a roughness to him that no amount of grooming and tailoring could ever hide. In a suit, he looked like a trader who’d done far too well, risen above his station, and still knew how to beat the crap out of anyone who challenged him. Valdec looked like a man who had a whole military of people to do the beating for him. Where Jal’s face was rough and hard, Valdec’s was simply sharp. He exuded money and class in a way Kali had come to recognize as a very small child, although the slight patterning around his hairline, the delicate webbing on his fingers, and the glint of gold feathers in his black hair spoke of Antillan ancestry. His clothes, hair and demeanor were all neat and expensive, and yet… And yet, there was still an edge of menace about him. This man might have class oozing from every pore, but he was undoubtedly as cold-blooded a killer as any of the Special Forces soldiers Kali had worked with. I’m about to fuck two mercenaries, she thought. If anyone had told me that a year ago I’d just have laughed at them. Valdec looked her over, and gave a smile. It was the same sort of smile Jal usually gave -- it went nowhere near his eyes. Flat, black lizard eyes. How did I end up here? “Perhaps,” he said, “we should let you decide who truly is the handsomer.” He began unfastening his jacket.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 78 -

Jal, not to be outdone, stood up and did the same, and Kali leaned back. It was a lot more fun than she’d thought, playing the courtesan. Beautiful clothes, elegant surroundings, and handsome men competing to pay for her. If only she’d had the credits to do this months ago.

Chapter Nine Jal kicked off his shoes, tugged off his shirt. He had the pale skin of a Nil Raja, the markings on his chest still faint, as if they were hidden just under his skin. His chest was broad and well-defined, his stomach flat and ridged with muscle. Kali breathed in, and the whisper of silk against her sensitized nipples made her toes curl. Valdec was also shirtless now, and she could see his Antillan heritage more clearly. Where a human man might have had soft hair on his chest, Valdec’s was covered with a sort of fine down. Faint, featherlike markings patterned the skin beneath, and led a trail down his flat stomach to the pants he was untabbing as she watched. His cock, not yet fully hard, grew from a nest of golden feather-like down. His skin had a sheen of gold, here and there the hint of feathers caught her eye, although she knew when she touched it, all she’d feel would be smooth skin. She’d never been with an Antillan before. They were, by and large, a race too proud to pay for sex. Which made his presence all the more disturbing. Jal stripped off the rest of his clothes, his Nil Raja markings stronger against his pale skin. His cock stood proud, the blue markings darker there than anywhere else, and once again she wondered precisely what caste they denoted. “Have you ever been with an Antillan before?” Valdec asked, shucking the rest of his clothes and standing proudly naked before her. Kali decided honesty was probably best, in case there was some weird sexual quirk she was expected to know about. “I haven’t had that honor.” He smiled at her obvious flattery. “We have outstanding stamina, compared to other races.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 80 -

“As do we,” Jal rumbled. Valdec glanced at him. “Nil Raja?” “Among other things.” Valdec, wisely, did not comment on that. Instead he said, “You and your lady must be very compatible.” “We are,” Jal said, extending his hand to Kali, who took it and found herself swept against the length of Jal’s hot, hard body. “Extremely.” He pressed his hips against hers, the strength of his erection burning through her thin silks. If he just moved the fabric aside, he could fuck her there and then. She was naked beneath the expensively draped outfit. “I wonder then that you need a third,” Valdec said. “It’s not a question of need,” Jal said, smoothing his hand down Kali’s back, making her shiver. “It’s a question of want.” He kissed her then, his mouth hot and commanding, and Kali felt herself go weak. Over the past few months she’d fucked so many men that even her phenomenal memory was beginning to blur, but not one of them had kissed her. Even Rufus, whose sexual appetites knew no bounds, hadn’t been much interested in kissing, and when he’d bothered it had always left Kali cold. But Jal… his mouth was like a miracle, his lips soft, his tongue twining around hers. His hand cupped the back of her head, and when his fingers encountered the roots of the hair extensions she’d applied that afternoon, she swore she felt him smile against her mouth. She was so swept up in that kiss that she didn’t even notice the Antillan moving up behind her, pressing his hard body against her back, until she felt the pressure move her even closer against Jal. “You feel exquisite,” Valdec murmured, his hands sweeping up her sides to brush the sides of her breasts. He pushed at the fabric gently until it fell away enough for him to stroke one bare breast, his touch cool and gentle. His skin was unexpectedly rough, his fingers rasping against her sensitive nipple, making her gasp.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 81 -

Jal, not to be outdone, unfastened the clasp at her shoulder and let the silk fall to reveal both breasts fully. “Beautiful,” he murmured, before dropping his head to kiss the breast Valdec wasn’t tending to. His hot, soft mouth caressed the slope of her breast, the underside, and finally the nipple, tongue flicking across with maddening delicacy. Strange how a man who looked so rough could be so gentle. He’d shaved clean before they left the ship, and it was a new sensation to Kali to feel his smooth jaw against her skin. His hair fell, soft and clean, against her breast, and she stroked it fondly. Valdec’s other hand was caressing her hip through the draped silk of her skirt. With each pass, he knocked the fabric a little lower, until eventually it slid from her skin and pooled at her feet. When the two men pressed their naked bodies against her, Kali couldn’t stifle a small moan. “You feel as good as I thought you would,” Valdec said, one hand on her hip pressing her back against him. That golden cock was fully hard now, fitting against the crease of her buttocks, but his body was still disconcertingly cool, especially when compared to the fire raging in Jal. Her Nil Raja lover lifted his head and looked at her with eyes she’d once thought flat and empty. Now they burned with desire, hot and fluid. His hands tracing reverently over her breasts, he dropped to his knees and nudged her legs apart with his head. The first lick of his tongue made her shudder, and Valdec held her back against his body. Turning her head, he kissed her, but while he was technically quite competent, Kali didn’t feel the uncontrollable fire she had with Jal. “Come,” Valdec whispered, “lie down. Be more comfortable.” He pulled her away from Jal’s mouth, but only momentarily, while he laid her down on the chaise on her back. While Jal resumed his place between her legs, his

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 82 -

tongue sweeping over her swollen pussy in long, slow strokes, Valdec knelt behind her, caressing her breasts and placing his cock into her hand. The Antillan’s cock was longer than Jal’s, but not as thick. Kali stroked it, looking up at him, and murmured, “What do you like?” “This,” he said, thrusting into her hand. “I like to be stroked.” Wrapping her thighs around Jal’s head, Kali used both her hands on Valdec, who shuddered and squeezed her breasts. The downy feathers at the base of his cock tickled her hands, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. In fact, Kali was just starting to think she might like those feathers tickling her elsewhere when Valdec moved to rub the head of his penis against her lips. “You like to be licked, too,” she said. “Yes.” He shuddered again. “And sucked.” Kali obliged, licking up and down the length of his cock, blowing gently on his feathered balls, and then turning her head to take him in fully. Valdec gasped and began to thrust. Now let’s see who’s got superior stamina, she thought, but before she could continue the thought Jal distracted her by sliding a finger from each hand into her pussy. Wo di tian ah, he was good at that! With one hand she caressed Valdec’s cock, stroking his balls, as he thrust gently into her mouth. With the other she buried her fingers into Jal’s hair. She was already close to orgasm, the sheer excitement of the situation amplifying her arousal. Valdec’s cock was cool in her mouth, but hard as steel, the smooth flesh sliding against her lips and tongue. Thanks to Jal, she was beginning to remember why she loved giving head so much. Jal’s tongue played masterfully around her clit and her wet, swollen folds, his fingers thrusting in and out of her pussy. Kali, her heels digging into his back, felt the pleasure start to swell within her and stifled a moan around Valdec’s cock. Ripping her head away before she accidentally bit him, she gasped, “I’m going to come!” Her hips bucked, her feet kicking, her legs scissoring as the orgasm ripped through her in spasms that shook her whole body.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 83 -

Jal kept on licking, his tongue flickering over her clit, and Kali kept on coming. Valdec, one hand on her breast and the other keeping her fingers wrapped around his cock, watched in fascination. “Stop,” Kali moaned, “stop.” Blyat, he knew how to pleasure a woman! She thought she was going to pass out from the powerful tremors still gripping her. Eventually, Jal raised his head, looking inordinately pleased with himself. “Enjoy that, did you?” Kali moaned in reply, and he chuckled, standing up. “I propose a swap,” he said to the Antillan, who nodded and removed himself from Kali’s grip. He knelt between her legs, his cool tongue taking over where Jal had left off, swirling around her clit and darting inside her. “No,” Kali told Valdec, as she took Jal’s cock in her hand. “I don’t think I can stand it.” He gave her a questioning look, and she opened her thighs wider in response. “Wouldn’t you like to come inside?” At that Valdec smiled, getting to his feet and lifting her hips in his hands. Carefully, slowly, he fed his penis into her dripping wet pussy, his feathers tickling her sodden, sensitized flesh. “He gets to fuck you first,” Jal grumbled, as Kali caressed his balls. “Yes,” she replied. “One, he’s paying, and two, you get to do it all the time anyway.” He grinned at that, and her stomach flipped in a way that had nothing to do with the very competent Antillan currently filling up her pussy. What might it be like to actually be with Jal Vornis? To be the woman he fucked whenever he got hot -- which seemed to be on a pretty regular basis. To roll over and find him there beside her in the morning, cock already hard, a smile on those knowing lips, his dark eyes soft. To be kissed every day by that wonderful mouth, to feel his clever fingers burrowing into her needy folds, to raise her hips to his lips and tongue. To feel that powerful cock plowing into her first thing in the

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 84 -

morning, last thing at night, and whenever either of them fancied at any point in between. What would it be like? She lay there looking up at Jal, who was still smiling at her, a smile that actually reached his eyes this time, and she wondered how she could have ever thought he had a flat black lizard gaze. She kissed his cock, drew him closer to her and sucked it deep. Jal made a soft noise of pleasure and reached down to stroke her breasts, rolling and tweaking the nipples. “She’s wet and tight,” said Valdec, invisible to Kali, although the sensation of his cool, hard cock sliding in and out wasn’t lost on her. His fingers were working some sort of magic on her clit as he fucked her. A most considerate lover, she supposed. So why was it Jal she wanted inside her? “She is that,” Jal replied, stroking Kali’s hair. Valdec’s hands traced the Nil Raja markings on her breast, following them down her stomach to her pussy. “She’s everything I expected,” he added. “Good,” said Jal, withdrawing his cock from Kali’s mouth and running the head over her lips. He moved so she could lick and suck his balls, which she did eagerly. “How did you come by her?” Valdec asked. There was a pause, but Jal didn’t skip a beat. He ran his hand lovingly over Kali’s breast and said levelly, “She chose me. The way high caste Otha do.” “Indeed they do.” There seemed to be a smile in Valdec’s voice, although Kali couldn’t see him to be sure. “And aren’t you a lucky man that she did.” “I surely am,” Jal said. The two men were silent, Valdec thrusting with precise movements and Jal stroking her as she sucked him deep. She felt his cock twitch and knew he was about to come, but before he could shoot down her throat, he pulled back and panted, “That’s it, I’m nearly done.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 85 -

“I don’t mind,” Kali said, reaching for his cock again, because she hadn’t tasted his come yet, and she wanted to. “I want to lick it from your delicious pussy,” he said, and Kali nearly came again. “I should like to come down that lovely throat,” Valdec said, and the two men swapped places again. Kali shifted, momentarily empty, but then Jal was there, turning her over onto her knees and feeding his cock into her pussy, and he filled her so much more satisfyingly than Valdec had. It’s Stockholm syndrome. Chiu, I’m falling for my captor, she thought, as Valdec rubbed the head of his golden cock over her lips. She opened her mouth automatically, taking him in and deep-throating him, letting her tongue caress his balls. He gasped something in a language she didn’t know, and began to thrust. Jal had her by the hips, his balls slapping against her clit with every plunge into her molten pussy. Ancient Earth psychiatry be damned, she enjoyed being fucked by Jal so damn much. He began to thrust harder, faster, and she knew he was about to come. “Kali --” he began, and she panicked, squeezing hard with her muscles to distract him. His gasp turned into a wordless groan and she felt the first hot spurt of his come inside her. She was barely paying attention to Valdec now, taking his cock and licking his balls automatically, but he didn’t seem to mind. As Jal withdrew from her, the Antillan said, “She’s incredibly good at this.” “Lots of practice,” Jal said raggedly. “I don’t doubt it.” He cupped her jaw -- thankfully not her hair -- and pushed deeper into her throat. Kali was already taking him as deep as she could, and had to push on his hips to stop him choking her. He laughed gently. “But not, I think, practiced with an Antillan. Do all Nil Raja have such short penises?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 86 -

“I’ve never made a study of it,” said Jal, moving behind Kali and positioning her better to lick her pussy. She wondered if it was a possessive thing, licking his come from her, and her heart leapt at the prospect. But right then Valdec moaned and gripped her face, forcing himself so deep Kali thought she might gag, and staying still. Seconds later, his cock convulsed and she felt the trickle of cool come down her throat. He had a lot of come, and this time she really nearly did choke before he pulled out of her mouth and let her swallow. As she licked up the excess from her lips, he stroked her hair and she looked up to see him smiling at her. His eyes weren’t dark any more, but golden, and his smile went nowhere near them. But Kali wasn’t given much time to think about that, because Jal was licking her so enthusiastically she felt the tremors start within her again. Toes curling, fingers clawing, she pressed her head against the Antillan’s stomach, clinging to him as another glorious orgasm swept through her. Too late, she realized he’d slid his fingers into her hair, where he’d surely feel the roots of her extensions. By then, she didn’t care.

Chapter Ten “Rufus isn’t stupid,” Kali said, looking around the assembled team of large, scarred men. “He thinks I’m dead, but he doesn’t know for sure, so he won’t risk the possibility that I might come back, or at least have told someone else how to break in. So while I do know how to get into the compound, there’s a strong possibility it won’t be successful, in which case we go in all guns blazing.” “What kinds of guns?” asked one of the mercs, and Kali took a datapad from Jal. On it were the specifications of the weapons upgrades being fitted to the Nevermore while they spoke. He watched her go over the tactical improvements with these big guys, every one of them capable of causing mass destruction all on his own. She was half their size, maybe less, but she’d commanded their attention and respect from the second she’d walked in. Hell of a woman, his Kali. No, not your Kali. Something sharp and painful hit him behind his breastbone as he reminded himself that once she’d taken down Rufus and found the location of her goddaughter, she’d be gone from his life. He’d be significantly richer, and his ship would be in the best condition it ever had been, but he’d be on his own again. Funny how it’d never bothered him before. You won’t be alone, said a sly voice in his head. You’ve got me and Pav. He smiled. How could I forget you, Kit? He hesitated. Will you be coming with us to Daleri, or do you want to stay on the ’port? And miss a good fight? Never. “Jal?” Kali said, tapping his arm. “Is there anything else?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 88 -

He looked at her blankly for a moment, at her big violet eyes and the pink of her lips where the blue stain had worn away. What were you talking about to the Antillan, in the morning, before he left? When you thought I was still asleep? I heard him say you had something of his. When he’d asked Kali about it, she’d shrugged and said their conversation was inconsequential. But he knew her well enough by now to recognize the tension around her eyes. It wasn’t battle nerves. She was too hardy for that. What did she have that belonged to the Antillan? “No,” he said, eventually, holding her gaze. “I don’t think so.” “Right, then. It’s two full days’ travel to Daleri and I expect you to all be rested and fully awake when we arrive. There are only two crew quarters available, so I’m afraid you’ll have to sleep in shifts.” “Ship this size, should be three,” rumbled one of the mercs, a huge guy with a scarred, shaven scalp. “Yes, but this ship is also home to two Kitalii, and they don’t like sharing.” “We get to share with you?” asked the merc, and Jal felt his fingers curling into a fist. “No,” she said crisply. “And anyone who tries will discover a whole new ’verse of humiliation and very personal agony. Anything else? No? Good.” She strode up the ramp onto the ship, Jal following. He caught up to her in the galley, grabbed her arm, and said, “So where are you going to sleep?” She pointed to the cockpit. “Those chairs aren’t too bad.” “Kali, you can’t sleep in the cockpit. It’ll never be quiet, for one thing.” “Believe me, I’ve slept in worse.” Her eyes wouldn’t look at him. She messed with the emergency food rations, her back half-turned. Since they’d hired the mercenaries and worked out a plan, she’d changed from the gutter-talking whore into a crisp military commander. She was back to what he imagined the old Akalis Dalerian was like. The prospect of going home had changed her, even if it didn’t seem to be cheering her much. She’d withdrawn from him, pulled away, and Jal had no idea why.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 89 -

“Kali. Talk to me.” “And say what? Two days, Jal, and you can be rid of me. I’ll pay you, don’t worry. My family is very rich. Whatever Rufus promised you, twice over.” “I’ve got plenty of credits now.” “Still, you should get paid.” He leaned against the counter and folded his arms. Paid. Of course, he was really only another variety of mercenary. And she was aristocracy. The likes of her didn’t know how to deal with the likes of him unless lots of money was involved. Millions of credits eased a whole world of discomfort. “So you’ll go back to your family?” he said, watching her rearrange packets of dried food. “Yes. Of course I will.” “What if they don’t want you any more?” “Jal, they’re my family. Of course they’ll want me.” But he hadn’t missed the way her knuckles went white as he said that. “What about your goddaughter?” She shrugged. “I’m hoping Rufus can tell me where she is.” “And if he can’t?” “Then I’ll keep on looking.” He opened his mouth to tell her it was almost certainly futile after this length of time, but then if anyone knew about the bastard burden that was hope, it was him. “Sure,” he said. “Good luck.” And he walked away from her, before he lost his cool and asked her to stay with him. Girls like her didn’t stay with men like him. No kind of girl stayed with a man like him, but especially not beautiful, impeccably bred aristocrats like her. Apart from anything, as she’d just pointed out, she had family, friends, a life back home. Part of Jal wondered how easily she’d be able to slip back into that life when she still bore the marks of a Nil Raja whore, but once again, he expected money could ease the transition.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 90 -

The nameplate on the Nevermore’s hull had been repainted to read Seeker. He punched it on his way out, but all he got for his trouble were bruised knuckles.

*** Two days on a very small ship with ten very large men was something Kali figured she really ought to have been used to. After all, she’d frequently been the only woman in her unit on military missions. And she’d spent much more than two days in much smaller confines than the Nevermore II. And, less than a week ago, she’d probably have been the one charging them for the privilege. But it wasn’t the presence of the mercenaries that was playing on her nerves. It was the presence of Jal… and the knowledge that in a few hours she’d be saying goodbye to him. If they both survived, that was. She’d been focused on the mission the last two days, and not on him. She couldn’t think about him, wouldn’t let herself. As the notion of going home became an increasing reality, she’d also been faced with the reality of leaving Jal. It shouldn’t have bothered her. She ought to be delirious at the prospect of leaving this hideous life behind. Only… just for a brief while there with Jal, it hadn’t been so hideous. But she needed to make a clean break. End it. Make it clear to him she wasn’t handing out favors any more. Because if she didn’t, she’d never be able to say goodbye. True to her slightly foolhardy promise, she’d snatched sleep in the cockpit, usually during the quieter hours when the ship’s clock told them it ought to be night. Jal had kept to his own bed, suffering the presence of the mercs sharing his quarters but never once telling them to vacate in favor of her. He was clearly anxious for this whole thing to be over. Well, he’d soon get his wish. She watched the planet of Daleri appear on the viewscreen, at first a tiny speck and then a giant looming presence, filling her vision. “Home, sweet home?” Jal said from behind her.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 91 -

“Something like that,” Kali said, because while she’d still experienced the same familiar kick of longing at seeing her home planet as she always did, it wasn’t nearly as acute as she’d expected it to be. “Where do we touch down? Is there a landing procedure?” “Yes, but we’re going to bypass it.” She’d already configured the ship’s signal to broadcast a military code which ought to get them past planet security long enough to land. After that, she was sure the military would be down on them like a swarm of zeebs, but that could actually end up working in their favor. “Here,” she said, zooming in on the beautifully laid out town where her parents and Rufus lived. As a couple of the mercs came in behind them, she recentered the picture and zoomed in again on a large, leafy compound to the north. Rufus’s compound, guarded on the ground and by men who watched the sky. “There’s a landing pad here,” she pointed, “but it’s too far from the house -they’d be on us before we got there.” “How about that green patch?” Jal said. “The lawn?” She allowed herself a smile. Rufus was pernickety about his lawn. He didn’t even let people walk on it. “That’s what I was planning. We go in here,” she said, enlarging the image for the benefit of the growing crowd of hired muscle in the cockpit. “You’ve all memorized the layout of the house, yes? And you know what Rufus looks like. Keep him alive. Keep them all alive. That’s very important. And if you see any children,” her heart clutched, “don’t shoot.” “He might use the children as a shield,” Jal said quietly. “Yes,” Kali said, her eyes still on the viewscreen. “He probably will. And he’ll shoot at you. Which is why you’re all in body armor, and why I want half of you outside in case he tries to make an escape.” “I don’t see any armor on you,” Jal said, and she pushed herself to her feet. “No. I’ll go and get changed. When I’m back, we go in. Yes?” They all rumbled affirmatives, and watched her go.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 92 -

The money the Antillan had paid for his night with Kali had bought top of the line body armor from one of ’Port Adana’s many black market sellers. It would stop everything except for laser fire, and she just had to hope Rufus wouldn’t reach for such a weapon. She’d never really seen him with a personal weapon of any kind, so her hopes were high. Kali and Jal were the only ones not already in their armor. To her faint annoyance, he followed her to his quarters to put it on. “Are you okay?” he asked, standing in the doorway in his customary combat pants and slogan t-shirt. This one read manIAC, with the IAC’s logo in the background. “Fine. Put your armor on.” “Yeah.” He stepped inside, and the door cycled shut. “Kali --” She picked up the breastplate and untangled the straps, not looking at him. “Look, after today --” “You know there’s a very real possibility we might die,” she said quietly. There was a short silence, then Jal said, “We’re both dead anyway.” “True. I… I told Kitana that if we don’t make it, she and Pav can go and live with my family. My parents like Kats.” “Sure,” Jal said. “Look. Assuming we do survive…” She still couldn’t quite look at him. The breastplate straps were quite tangled, and she kept her eyes on them. “I know you’ve got your life on Daleri,” Jal said. “Yes. And you have yours here. Chasing around the galaxy after criminals.” She summoned her bright socialite smile and flicked a glance at him. “Must be superexciting.” Jal frowned. “Uh,” he said. “Well -- you -- Kali, are you all right?” “Fine,” she said. “I just can’t get these damn straps untangled --” Jal snatched the armor from her hands and forced her chin up so she was looking at him. “After today,” he said, “it’s goodbye anyway, isn’t it?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 93 -

Why was there a lump in her throat? She barely knew this man, and in the time she had, he’d paid her to suck his dick then kidnapped her. Hardly the sort of person she ought to be sad about leaving. “I think that’s best,” she agreed, her voice almost completely steady. Jal’s dark, dark eyes burned into her, fathomless and glittering like the infinity of space. How did I ever think he had flat black lizard eyes? “Aren’t you scared?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper, and she shook her head, still captivated, pinned by his black gaze. “Niao fun.” Jal glanced at the door, which was closed, and then gave her a knowing look. “They can’t hear you. You don’t have to pretend with me.” Kali let out a short laugh at the absurdity of that, and Jal smiled at her. “Blyat,” she sighed. “You want me to tell you I’m terrified?” “I am,” Jal said. “I’m not a fan of dying.” “Neither am I.” He still had his hand under her chin, and his other hand came up to touch her shoulder, a simple gesture of reassurance that proved far too much for Kali. Two days of little sleep, of constant planning and stress and worry and something that felt very much like bereavement whenever she thought about leaving Jal, caught up to her. She threw her arms around him and pressed her face into his neck, and he held her. Gods bless him, he held her. And when she lifted her head, opened her mouth to tell him that she was damn well terrified, he kissed her lips. Kali cupped his rough, stubbled face in her hands and kissed him back, amazed that something as simple as a kiss could feel so good. Jal’s arms were strong, reassuring, and whether or not it was the smart thing to do Kali let her hands wander up under his shirt, feeling the tense muscles in his back. “Kali,” he breathed, and she stopped his mouth with her own. “Don’t say anything,” she said. “And it might be all right.”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 94 -

He pulled off her shirt, and she threw his to the floor. He cupped her breasts, stroked and kissed them, while she untabbed his pants, stroked the length of his cock until he was hard then pulled him down onto the bunk with her. One last time. Jal’s hands burrowed inside her pants, finding her wet and wanting, and then he was pushing her clothing away and sliding into her. Kali wrapped her arms around him, planted her feet flat and rose to meet his thrusts, over and over, everything so sweet it was almost bitter. She buried her face in his neck when she came, afraid she might cry, but Jal was too busy shuddering out his own orgasm to notice.

Chapter Eleven Rufus Badahof was just as good looking, smooth and arrogant as his holos had suggested. He was also twice the evil bastard Kali had painted him to be, and even now was ducked behind his desk with a small boy clutched in front of him, a laser pistol pressed to the child’s head. “If you shoot, the kid will die,” he said. “I’m not going to shoot,” Kali said, her own weapon nonetheless trained on him. The little boy was silent and still with terror. “Let him go.” Rufus laughed a high-pitched, nervous giggle. “Do you think I’m stupid, Kali?” “No,” she said tonelessly. “I never thought that.” “I knew you wouldn’t be dead,” he said. “I knew you were too smart for that. Kali, popka, can’t we end this? You forget about that little accident on Kevoran Three, and I’ll forget you illegally burst onto my property with a dozen armed thugs.” Jal shot Kali a disbelieving glance. Surely she didn’t believe that naio fun? “Sure,” she said. “I’ll forget you attempted to murder me and the bounty hunter you hired to bring me back --” Jal gaped at her. “ -- but I won’t forget what I saw in your basement.” There was a long silence. Jal hadn’t seen what was in the basement -- Kali had sent a couple of the mercs to clean out the slavers and get the children to safety. She and Jal had headed straight for Badahof’s study. “Popka,” Rufus began, his tone wheedling.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 96 -

“Don’t popka me,” Kali snarled. “The only possible chance you have of getting out of this with your head still attached and your dick still working is if you tell me where Ciana is.” More silence. “And if you don’t…” She hit the button to turn up the heat on her pistol, and it made a definite bleeping sound. “I’m afraid I will have to shoot that kid. Sorry, kid.” Her face was like stone. Her stance was absolutely steady. Her pistol never wavered. Her voice was like a whip crack. “You wouldn’t,” Rufus said.

“Wanna bet?”

The little boy whimpered.

“Kali, I know you. You love children. You’d never --”

“I never thought I’d suck strangers’ dicks for a hundred credits in public, but

guess what I’ve been doing for months?” Kali shot back. Rufus’s face appeared from behind the terrified, silent child. “Pizda!” “Absolutely.” She didn’t even blink. “Zaebal yje, Rufus.” The color drained from his face. Kali retrained the autosight between his eyes. Zaebal yje. You already fucked me over. From her silent, unseen perch behind him, Kitana leapt onto Rufus’s pistol hand, knocking the weapon away as it discharged. The room filled with the scent of burning flesh as Kitana propelled herself back onto Rufus, hissing like a demon, a blur of claws and teeth and mad, avenging anger. Kitalii loved children. Jal should have known the Kat wouldn’t be far behind. She and Kali had probably planned this. The child suddenly flew into motion, cannoning into Jal and staring up with huge, terrified eyes. “It’s all right,” he said, patting the kid’s head. “I won’t hurt you. And neither will Kali. She was bluffing… Kali?” She was slumped against the wall, gripping her shoulder, her face white. A hole had been scorched in her armor. Smoke escaped in wisps between her fingers.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 97 -

Wo di tian ah, the pistol shot had hit her! “Kali,” he said urgently, rushing to her as she slid down to the floor. The little boy ran from the room, and Jal let him go. “Kali, are you all right?” “Sei chun,” she whispered. “What do you think?” His heart hammering madly, Jal tried to prize her fingers away from the wound, but she wouldn’t move them. “It needs pressure,” she said. “Wo di tian ah, it hurts!” She levered herself to her feet, Jal helping her with shaking hands. She wasn’t mortally hurt. She could still move. She’d be all right. From outside, the whump whump of military aircraft sounded. Ships were landing. They’d figured out Kali’s deception. “Rufus,” she said, her voice weak, but gaining in strength. “Get Kitana off him and tie him up. Blyat, just my luck he goes for the one weapon this stuff doesn’t repel.” “That’s probably why he went for it,” Jal said, moving to extract a clawing, biting Kitana from Rufus’s not-so-pretty face. Footsteps sounded outside, then came thudding across the floor of the lobby. “In here,” Kali called, her voice slightly broken, as Jal knelt to lock cuffs on Rufus’s hands and feet. The door slammed wide open, and half a dozen soldiers ran in, their weapons larger and fiercer than anything Kali and Jal had been carrying. Barking orders, they began to pull Jal off Rufus, but then a piercing whistle split the air. “I am Sub-Commander Kali ok Vilhamen of Unit B of the Daleri Special Forces,” she said, her voice hard and bright and containing no trace of pain. Both hands were held up in a stop motion, baring the terrible charred wound on her shoulder. The blue markings had been blasted open, a red and black crater scorched into her flesh. She must have been in terrible pain, but she wasn’t showing it. “It’s Badahof you want to arrest,” she said, once she’d got their attention. “This man,” she indicated Jal, “is working with me. Send men down to the basement; you will find several kidnapped children and most likely several slavers.” The soldiers hesitated.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 98 -

“Go!” she ordered, and their footsteps thundered off. One of the remaining soldiers tore off his helmet and stared. “Kali? Is it really you?” Kali gave him a ragged smile. “What’s left of me,” she said. “But -- we thought you were dead!” “Rufus brought that news, did he?” She blinked, her eyes closed just a little too long, and before Jal knew it he was at her side, supporting her. “She needs a medic,” he said to the soldier, who nodded and spoke into a comm device. Kali leaned against him, her eyes a little too bright. “I once broke my leg in three places while training,” she told him, “I had my nipples tattooed, and one time I was fucked in the ass by three Fedorans all in a row. But this really hurts.” Jal kissed her temple and held her close. “We’ll get you to a med facility,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.” But Kali was shaking her head. “No,” she said. “We don’t have time. We have to go.” “Go? Where? Kali, you need --” “To find Ciana,” she insisted. His heart sank. “Sweetheart,” he said. “I don’t think Ciana’s here.” “No,” Kali said. “But I know someone who knows where she is.”

Her shoulder burned like someone had stuck a hot brand into her and left it there to eat through her flesh, but Kali had trained herself to ignore small injuries while in the military. Ignoring a bigger injury could only be an extension of that concentration. “The Antillan,” she said, as Jal piloted the stolen military craft into the air. “He said he knew someone who had something of mine.” “You think he meant Ciana?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 99 -

She nodded. “What else? But I figured he was just talking niao fun, you know, just trying to rile me.” “Now you think differently?” He was talking to her carefully, as one might to a child or invalid. Kali concentrated on driving out the waves of pain throbbing through her entire torso, and nodded. “He also said I had something of his.” “Of his, or the person who’d sent him?” “I’m not sure.” It was getting hard to think, to concentrate on more than one thing. Her shoulder hurt so damn much. “He just said that if I wanted to know more, to go to the third moon.” “Which third moon?” “Daleri’s,” Kali said, her vision starting to go dark. “It could be a trap,” Jal said, in tones that said he knew it was. “Probably,” Kali agreed, and passed out.

*** The military craft was loaded for all kinds of nasties, with double layers of shields and guns that could take out an entire settlement. Jal used the ship’s fancy scanners to search for life forms on the moon and found three. He zoomed in with the crystal-clear viewscreen and saw a Raptor-class ship nestling in a small crater. Could be another Silver Hammer. He glanced at Kali, who was sleeping more easily after he’d found the ship’s medkit and dosed her with a powerful painkiller. He couldn’t risk her. Raising the shields, he opened a comm channel to the ship on the surface. “This is Jal Vornis. Who the hell are you?” A masculine chuckle was his reply. “Mr. Nil Raja,” said Janus Valdec, the golden Antillan. “It’s good to hear from you. Won’t you come and land?” “Like hell I will,” Jal said. “What do you want?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 100 -

Valdec moved aside, and into the frame came the face of a little human girl with dark wispy hair. “I have something belonging to your lady friend,” said Valdec, as Jal stared at the child. “And she has something belonging to a friend of mine.” “What?” Jal said. “Kid, what’s your name?”

“Ciana,” she whispered, and his heart flipped. Impossible.

“Who are your parents?”

She shook her head, and a woman’s throaty chuckle drifted through the

speakers. “All she’ll give us is her name,” she said. “That and the information that ‘Auntie Kali’ told her only to give out her name, rank and serial number if captured.” Jal glanced back at Kali, still asleep in the chair next to his, and shook her by the shoulder. Her eyes opened slowly, blearily, that bright violet somewhat dimmed. “Wha’?” she said. She straightened slightly, taking in her surroundings, and frowned down at her shoulder when it refused to comply. “Oh,” she said. “Kali. This is important. Do you recognize this child?” Jal said, pointing to the screen. He knew from the instant she looked that they’d found Ciana. Five minutes later they were on the surface and Kali was running, seemingly unaware of any pain or sedatives, to grab the little girl and hug her tightly. They were both sobbing. “If she’s been harmed,” Jal began, addressing Janus Valdec as he leaned nonchalantly in the doorway of the Raptor. “Not by us,” he said. “I swear that.” Jal watched Kali and Ciana hugging and babbling and sobbing, and his heart constricted. “And yet she’s been missing for months, last seen in the company of a man who trades in very pretty little girls. And not to do housework.” The Antillan’s mouth twisted in disgust. “Yes. We intercepted a ship. All of the other children we managed to send home, or at least to somewhere safe, but this one…” He lifted an elegant shoulder and let it drop. “Am I to believe you’re in the business of rescuing kidnapped children?” Jal said, hand on his pistol.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 101 -

“I have some issues with child slavers,” said a husky female voice from behind the ship. She appeared silhouetted by the low angle of the sun, and Jal was unable to make out any details at all. “I was taken by one once.” She moved forward with graceful steps, her shape becoming clearer. A tall woman, wearing a hooded cloak which parted to reveal richly decorated clothes, but managed to obscure her face. “Look,” Jal said, “I don’t want to be rude, being that you’ve reunited Kali with her goddaughter and all, but who the hell are you? And what do you think she’s got that belongs to you?” The woman moved closer, and Jal’s fingers tensed on the hilt of his laser pistol. Then her hood fell back to reveal shining black hair and intricate blue markings, and she said, “She has you, brother.”

Chapter Twelve “…which he says would be a wonderful tribute, but I’m not sure if it might not just be a little bit tacky. But then Conmar was always a little flashy. What do you think, Kali?” The soup was good. Very good, in fact, a wonderful combination of subtle flavors and intricate cooking techniques from all over the galaxy. Kali knew it was delicious, but she was having trouble actually tasting it. “Kali?” Her mother had been speaking. Blinking, Kali looked up, and saw her parents, sisters and brothers all looking at her expectantly. Outside, small birds sang in the sunshine. “What?”

A flicker of minute pain passed over her mother’s face, and Kali winced, because

nicely brought-up young ladies didn’t say things like “What?” “Perhaps you need more rest,” said her father. “Didn’t the doctor say you should spend a few days in bed?” said her brother. “I’m fine,” Kali said automatically. There was a pause, and then her mother said, “We were just talking about Conmar’s party.” Conmar. Oh yes, Ayula’s father, Ciana’s grandfather. He’d been making a lot of noise

about

honoring

Kali’s

immensely

courageous

rescue

of

his

beloved

granddaughter. “He wants to hire the Civic Hall and decorate it with banners made from latinum,” said her mother, sniffing slightly, “but I’m not sure if that isn’t a little…” “Expensive?” Kali said.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 103 -

“Oh, heavens, no. Vulgar is the word I was looking for.” Kali snorted and lifted her soup spoon. Nobody ever cared about how much things cost here, but no one ever dared to display their wealth too conspicuously. She thought fleetingly of Jal’s pride in his restored ship, and of the Kitalii jealously guarding their stolen latinum, and forced her thoughts back to the present. There was silence around the table again. “Kali, darling, are you sure you’re all right?” said her mother. “Fine.” Another pause, and then her youngest sister said, “What did the cosmetic doctor say about getting rid of the scar on your shoulder?” Kali touched the healing wound with her hand, where the Otha markings twined around her third finger. Believed to connect directly to the heart, Jal had said. “I haven’t asked.” “Oh. Well, Sunara’s sister is seeing him about getting rid of that awful birthmark on her cheek. I can get her to ask about it then.” Her sister was smiling at her helpfully. Kali looked around at the six perfect, unmarked faces staring back at her, each carefully doctored to erase any and all distinguishing marks, and then she looked down at her hand, now holding an antique soup spoon. The soup was dripping slowly from it, all over the table. “He could probably do something about those dreadful tattoos, too,” said her brother. No one mentioned the soup. “Oh yes, Kali, I spoke to someone about that,” said her mother, but her voice faded away, as if she was being pulled backwards while she spoke. You’re back with your family. They love you. They’re being kind and thoughtful. No one has pressed you for details of why you’re wearing whore’s marks. Ciana is safe and well with her parents. Soon the scar and the Otha marks would be erased, and then there would be no sign she had ever been missing. Rufus’s house had already been scoured, top to bottom,

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 104 -

and he and his associates locked away while their various lawyers struggled to find a way to defend them. Janus Valdec had piloted Kali and Ciana back to the planet’s surface, and by the time she was done reuniting the little girl with her parents, the Nevermore had vanished, along with the hired mercs, the two Kitalii, and Jal. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

“…in fact, if you like I could comm him now, and make an appointment --”

Kali stood up abruptly, slopping soup all over the surface of the antique table.

Six faces looked up at her, startled. “I’m going out,” she announced into the silence. “Won’t you finish lunch, darling?” Kali looked down at the exquisitely subtle soup, of which she’d tasted nothing. “I forgot,” she said. They waited. “I’m… having lunch with Ayula.” “Oh?” said her mother doubtfully. Kali winced, then added, “Actually, I’m going to see the cosmetic doctor.” Her mother sighed with relief. “Wait then, and I’ll come with you.” “I’m already late.” “Well, it doesn’t matter, I’ll comm him and --” “Wo di tian ah, would you just let me go?” Kali snapped, and her mother recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “Kali,” said her father severely, but she didn’t stay to hear. She was outside and in one of the ground transports before anyone could catch her. Her family possessed a space-going vessel, but it was currently being repaired -- but Ayula had one and so she drove there, recklessly fast, her heart pounding. It had been a week. Where would he be? Could be anywhere. The ’verse was huge and Jal Vornis was used to being invisible.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 105 -

Ayula came dancing out of the house when Kali pulled up, but her smile faded when she saw her friend’s face. “I need to borrow your shuttle,” Kali said. She was breathing fast, pulse fluttering with the sort of excitement she hadn’t felt since her military days. Or since she’d been in Jal’s bed. Ayula opened her mouth, then shut it, looking carefully at Kali’s face. She nodded, and gestured to the hangar at the back of the property. “I’d try Spaceport Adana,” she said, as Kali turned away. “Sooner or later, everyone turns up there.” Kali paused, glanced back. Ayula was smiling a quiet, knowing smile. For the first time since landing on Daleri, Kali grinned, and ran to the shuttle.

Epilogue K’Mere was wailing out an old Earth ditty about broken hearts, and standing with his paws in his sake. From across the concourse, contrasting music thumped out of another bar. A girl with Otha markings and an eyeball in the centre of her forehead was making out with a magenta-skinned trader. “Janus was always telling me to try Adana,” said his sister, drinking clear violet liquid from an elegant glass. “But whenever I came I guess I must have missed you.” “I looked for you here,” Jal said. “Sooner or later everyone turns up on Adana.” “True,” Sayana said. She shook back her glossy black hair, her jewelry tinkling, and looked around the splendid squalor of the Haze. “But most of my clients prefer more… salubrious surroundings.” She wore a beautiful bracelet on her left wrist, covering the scars she’d cut into herself as a child, but her birth marks were still clear on her right arm. The beautiful twining Otha and Durgha patterns disappeared under the silks of her splendid gown. Sayana was always beautifully dressed. “I still don’t understand,” Jal said. He flicked a glance at the silent Antillan who seemed to accompany his sister everywhere. “My marks became Durgha when I came of age. But yours…” “Durgha is what you had to be,” Sayana said in her low, husky voice. “What was always in your destiny, no matter what your ancestry was. You are a warrior, Jal. I could see as a child that’s what you were going to be.” Jal, who privately thought “warrior” was pushing it a bit, scowled. “But don’t you know there’s another meaning for Durgha? That there’s a caste of people who wear that and sometimes a second mark, too?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 107 -

He took a long pull on his beer. Yes, he knew, but he figured that was just a child’s story and nothing to really think about. “Otha is who I was meant to be, brother. But Durgha… that’s in my ancestry as much as yours.” Jal said nothing. Durgha were the markings worn by kings as well as warriors. Every Nil Raja child knew that. But they hadn’t been raised by Nil Raja. “I’ve spent years trying to track down our birth marks. To find you, as well as our parents.” “Our parents are dead.” “Yes, but there must be a record. Somewhere. The only reason there wouldn’t be is if there was something to hide. Some reason to pretend they never existed. As you and I don’t exist, brother.” We’re both dead anyway. He’d said it to Kali, but he was hearing it now in her voice. Which couldn’t be a good sign. He’d been hearing her all the time, in his thoughts and dreams, in the lonely hours of the night when he missed her warmth and softness. Her smile, her bright violet eyes, her fearless courage, her -“I’m wondering if your hearing’s been affected, Jal,” said Sayana, her dark eyes gleaming. “I clearly heard someone speaking to you, but you seem to be ignoring her.” He froze. “Rather rude, don’t you think?” “Sayana,” said a voice from behind him, Kali’s voice, and it was really there. “I feel I must apologize for copying your marks. I can alter mine, if you’d like --” “Don’t even think of it,” Sayana said, smiling graciously. “They’re precisely what you should be wearing. Don’t you think, Jal?” He couldn’t move. “Of course, Otha is up to you, but I don’t believe any of the fates would disagree that you’re a warrior,” Sayana went on, as if Jal hadn’t turned into a statue. “And you?” Kali said. “Are you a warrior, too?”

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 108 -

Sayana smiled a dimpled smile. Exactly the same smile Kali gave when she wanted to charm someone. “I am what I am,” she said. “Jal could explain it to you, but I’m afraid he seems to have ingested some sort of paralyzant.” A hand touched his arm. Strong fingers, soft skin. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Otha markings. Sayana smiled at him, drained her drink, and left, Valdec following behind like a faithful animal, and Jal managed to summon the power to move. Kali stood there, dressed in the sort of simple, elegant clothes he’d seen on Daleri. Her cheeks had filled out a little, her hair was shiny, and the blue markings on her face glowed. “I figured,” she said, “Daleri’s not that great.” “No?” Jal croaked. “Flat. Boring. Predictable climate.” K’Mere reached the soaring crescendo of whatever song he was slaughtering, and they both winced. “No Kitalii to speak of,” Kali went on. Her tone was jovial, bright, her face open, but her eyes glittered uncertainly. “Is that right?” “And…” she hesitated, then touched his cheek with the back of her fingers. “No you.” His heart flipped over. “I figure I could make a decent bounty hunter,” she went on, eyes searching his. “Small ship, couple of Kitalii… experienced pilot.” “Captain,” Jal corrected. “I wouldn’t try to take over anyone’s ship if I were you.” “No. No, of course not. I’d respect my captain’s authority.” Silence stretched between them. “If you wanted a partner,” Kali said, her voice almost a whisper, her eyes huge with uncertainty, and Jal suddenly found the wherewithal to move.

Cat Marsters

Spaceport: Incognito

- 109 -

He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her tight against his body, and said, “No.” Incalculable hurt crossed her face, and she tried to pull away. “I want you,” Jal said, and kissed her, long and deep and wonderful, feeling her relax against him, soft and warm and everything he hadn’t known he wanted. “But your family,” he said against her mouth when they both pulled back for air. “Your life on Daleri…” She shook her head. “That was over when Ciana disappeared. I… I’m not the same person I was before.” “Dying will do that to you,” Jal agreed solemnly, and Kali kissed him again. “Well, then,” she said. “Here’s to life after death.”

Cat Marsters Cat lives in a village in southeast England, which, while not quite a fairytale setting, is nonetheless very pretty and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of AD 1087. She shares a house with only slightly batty parents who hardly ever tell her to get a real job, and a musician brother who knows there’s no chance she’ll ever get one if he doesn’t. Cat doesn’t have children but she does have cats, who are her babies in every sense except the biological one. Cat has been writing all her life, but in order to keep herself rich in shoes and chocolate, she’s also worked as an airline check-in agent, video rental clerk, stationery shop assistant, and laboratory technician. She’s aiming for a fairytale cottage, and asks all potential Prince Charmings to apply in writing with pictures of themselves and their Aston Martins. Visit Cat’s web site at http://www.catmarsters.com