The Price of Conquest

Tyler awoke slowly the following morning, the dull pain in his head, jaw, and chest reminding him unpleasantly of his encounter with Lauden. He groaned. What a miserable way to start the day.

He'd known Imurha's men would catch up with him sooner or later, but he had not expected such harsh treatment. Imurha must be getting desperate for his money. Tyler thought he knew why: Imurha had worked out some sort of deal with the local Patrol forces when Vsuna was still under their control. Now that the United Galaxy no longer ran the planet, he was probably having to contend with the scrutiny of the planet's new leaders and needed the money to pay off a whole new set of officials.

Tyler recalled what Kressa had said about having ties to the local authorities. He wasn't sure exactly what she'd meant by that, and considering the identity of Vsuna's new leaders, he wasn't sure that was a good thing, but if she could get Imurha out of the way for him, or just get the man in trouble long enough for Tyler to get together the rest of the money he owed, he would be forever in her debt. And that was one debt he definitely would not mind owing.

He rolled over carefully.

Kressa was sitting on the edge of the bed watching him. Her rumpled clothing suggested she had slept in them, and Tyler vaguely recalled pulling her down beside him last night to just hold her. Apparently, she had lain there with him all night.

"Good morning," he said. "Have you been up long?"

"Not too long." She brushed a gentle hand over his jaw where Lauden hit him.

He could feel the bruise.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Sore," he admitted, stretching carefully.

"How's your head?"

"Better, actually." He ran a hand down her arm in a gentle caress. "Must've been that 'medicine' I took last night. Thanks for staying with me."

The corners of her lips curled in a hint of a smile. "Are you still leaving today?"

He considered her question. It would be nice to be rid of Sangrey before the pirate discovered some way to cause trouble, even in a place as secure as the Gamble's hold, yet there was still the datacard Lauden had given him. He had no idea what it might contain, but something in Lauden's manner suggested he should take the time to find out before he left Vsuna.

"I'm not sure when I'm leaving," he said. "There are a few things I need to do before I go."

"Like see what's on that card Lauden gave you?"

He nodded. "For starters."

"Let me know if you learn anything interesting." She gave him a tender kiss and then climbed to her feet. "And let me know when you're leaving."

"Where are you going?"

"I've got to get back to my ship. She's going to start worrying if I don't check in soon."

"'She' who?"

"My ship. Well, actually, the computer."

Tyler levered himself up onto one elbow and gave her a doubtful look. "Your ship's computer worries about you?"

She nodded. "She's a… very special computer. I'll give you a call later in the morning to see what your plans are."

He eased himself out of the bed.

Kressa watched his cautious movements with a frown. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Just sore." He stepped up in front of her, slid his arms around her waist, and pulled her close. "If I don't see you again before I leave, take care of yourself."

"You too." She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss. "I'll miss you."

"Hey, I might not even be leaving yet, so save your goodbyes."

She smiled, gave him another kiss, picked up her travel case, and left the room.

Tyler listened as she made her way to the airlock and let herself out, then he located the datacard Lauden had given him and headed for the Gamble's bridge.

* * *

"Commander Vel has been trying to reach you since you left for Vaxua," the Conquest's computer said as soon as Kressa stepped on board. Her voice held a definitely accusatory tone. "She's worried about you. She said you disappeared."

"I didn't disappear, Connie," Kressa said as she made her way to her quarters. "I just met someone a little more interesting than the fail she set me up with. Didn't you tell her I'd gone to Vaxua?"

"Yes, but she's still worried. She wants to talk to you. She says she spoke to Nait."

Kressa felt a sudden tightness in her chest and realized that she was not ready to face the decision Nait represented: To choose between Devin and her psi training…

She'd thought about it for a long time last night while she lay in Devin's arms, and she knew it was not a decision she should make based on a few days spent with someone she still knew so little about, especially considering some of the things that had happened in that time.

"Connie," she called to the computer, "get Commander Vel on the comm."

While Connie made the call, Kressa unpacked and tried to keep her mind off both Devin and the Gendzets, but it wasn't easy. When she came across the Gendzet amulet, she looked at it for a long moment and then put it on. She tucked it into her shirt, out of sight, but where she could still feel its gentle pull on her mind. It seemed fair that if she had to make a decision between it and Devin, she should have equal exposure to both.

"Kressa," Connie said, "I have Commander Vel for you."

"Put her through."

"Hey, Kressa, where've you been?" Vel's voice came over the comm, her tone a mixture of relief and curiosity. "I was worried about you. Jarrel said you left the bar with some stranger the other night, and then Connie said you ran off to Vaxua."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

So Jarrel had seen her leave the nightclub.

"Jarrel found a couple of new friends for himself," Kressa said. "I guess I was just returning the favor."

"Someone spotted you at a portside dive later that night—in the middle of a brawl," Vel said. "And then I heard you were seen living high in uptown Vaxua. What have you been up to?"

"Why are you keeping tabs on me?" Kressa asked.

"I'm not keeping tabs on you, but you're one of the heroes of the uprising. People see you around and it gets back to me."

Kressa rolled her eyes. Although she had only heard the phrase used a half dozen times, she had no desire to be remembered as one of the "heroes of the uprising."

"I trust you're being careful," Vel continued. "Grateful Vsunans may not be the only people interested in you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kressa asked, her suspicion and curiosity piqued by the note of seriousness in Vel's voice.

"The United Galaxy's decided to exact some revenge on us for taking away their ships and planet. We're all wanted. You, me, Nait, Hartos, Telsin, and a bunch of others."

Kressa scoffed. "That's nothing new. The Pattys've been after me for years."

"Not like this. Alive, you're now worth twenty-five kay."

Kressa felt suddenly lightheaded. She staggered to her bed and sat down heavily.

"Excuse me?" she finally managed to gasp.

"You heard me. The United Galaxy is offering twenty-five thousand credits for your capture. Fifteen thousand for taking you out."

An involuntary shudder travelled along her spine. She was now worth more than twice as much dead as she had been worth alive for the past several years. She swallowed hard. "When did this happen?"

"I got the news from one of my Patrol contacts yesterday, so it can't have been announced very long ago."

Kressa shook her head in disbelief. She had a bounty on her worth twenty-five thousand credits, and she'd been wandering around Vsuna, unarmed, as if she were just a common citizen. Suddenly, disappearing onto Ilek—United Galaxy world or not—for a few months, or even years, for some psi training sounded like an excellent idea.

"Connie said you heard from Nait," she said, barely able to keep her voice from cracking.

"I did, and I need to talk to you about that. Can you meet me later today?"

"I'd like that," Kressa said. "I need to talk to you about a few things myself."

"Come to my office around noon. I'll clear my schedule for lunch."

"Sure. I'll see you then. Conquest out."

She sat still for a long time, thinking.

Twenty-five thousand credits…

She shuddered.

"Kressa?"

She jumped as Connie's voice shattered the lengthening silence.

"What is it, Con?"

"Given what Commander Vel just said, I think it would be prudent if you were to take both a gun and a commlink with you whenever you're away from the ship."

"Definitely." She forced herself to her feet and headed for the washroom to get ready for her meeting with Vel.

Twenty-five thousand credits…

* * *

"Twenty-five thousand credits," Tyler whispered to himself in amazement and then tried to determine exactly how he felt about the information.

Twenty-five kay combined with the money he would get for Sangrey and his people would give him enough to settle his current debt with Imurha and still leave a little extra for spending money.

The datacard Lauden had given him contained only two files. One was a Vsunan news broadcast from soon after the uprising showing a victory celebration in downtown Vsatt. Former Patrol Commander Dania Vel, the leader of the insurrection, was there with a dozen or so other people, the so-called heroes of the uprising.

Among those heroes was Kressa. Kressa Bryant.

Her full name conjured images from the dozens of Patrol warrant lists Tyler had downloaded and studied over the years. No wonder she looked familiar when he saw her in the club that first night. His single-minded intention of finding and bringing in Sangrey combined with the fact that her five-kay bounty was hardly worth his time or trouble, had kept him from making the connection at the time.

But he had Sangrey now, and the bounty on Kres—on Bryant had been raised five-fold. The second item on the datacard—a portion of the Patrol's most recently released warrants file—told him that.

And Bryant wasn't the only high-priced target here on Vsuna. There was also a Gendzet member, Nait, who Tyler assumed had given Kressa the amulet, and of course Commander Vel herself, worth a stunning fifty thousand if taken alive.

Again he recalled what Kressa said about having some pull with the local authorities. Had she been referring to Vel? If he could use Kressa to get to—

The comm beeped.

Still staring at the warrant readout on the Gamble's screen, he answered the incoming call.

"Tyler," he said, his voice flat.

"Devin, is that you?" Kressa's voice came over the comm filled with concern.

He cleared his throat and tried to calm his suddenly racing heart. "Yeah, love, it's me. What's up?"

"Are you okay? You don't sound very good."

"I'm okay, but—something's come up."

"Good or bad?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," he said slowly, looking at the picture of her on the readout and thinking of the reality of her in his arms. "I'll let you know when I figure it out."

"Okay. Just don't leave Vsuna without letting me know. I'll have a commlink with me." She gave him the code to reach her.

"Where are you going?" he asked, wondering if he dare let her out of his sight. What if someone spotted her and took her down before he— What? Just what did he intend to do? He didn't know. But he did realize he needn't worry too much about someone getting to her first. The United Galaxy had just released the information on the new bounties; there probably wouldn't have been enough time for anyone to lock onto her on Vsuna. Not on purpose anyway.

"I'm going to be meeting with someone," she said. "Remember when I told you I had someone who might be able to get Imurha off your back?"

He wanted to ask her who that someone was, but in his current state he couldn't decide if that would rouse her suspicions.

"I remember," was all he dared say.

"That's who I'll be meeting with. I'll see what can be done about Imurha, and I may have some other good news for you, as well."

"What's that?" he asked, hoping he sounded more interested than he felt. At the moment, all he could think of was what he'd be able to do if she got rid of Imurha and he was still able to collect the bounties on her, Vel, and the others.

And then he saw himself turning Kressa over to the Patrol, followed by an image of what they would do before executing or mind-wiping her.

He shuddered. Maybe he could work it so she led him to Vel and the others, then come up with some way to take them without her knowing about it. Maybe—

He stopped speculating. He needed a lot more information before he could make any plans.

"I'll tell you all about it later," she said. "I should be free by this afternoon. Will you be around?"

"I should be."

"I'll give you a call then," she said.

"Sounds good." He started to tell her to be careful, but stopped himself. That almost certainly would arouse her suspicions. "Gamble out."

He switched off the comm and leaned back in his chair, his heart still racing uncomfortably.

Twenty-five thousand credits…