Secrets of the Tau Read online

  Zelia opened her mouth but didn’t get the chance to argue. Korok reared up behind them, teeth bared. The stranger’s beamer flared again, hitting Korok in the shoulder. The Kroot spun on its heel before tumbling back to the ground, wailing as it clutched its wounded arm.

  ‘See what I mean?’ the man said as he brought his weapon down to point at the alien’s head. ‘Crawl back to where you came from, xenos. There’s nothing for your kind here.’

  Korok bared its teeth but scurried away, disappearing into the crowd who had gathered to watch the fight.

  The tall man returned his gaze to Zelia and Talen. ‘So tell me – who are you? What are children doing on Hinterland?’

  ‘We are with Captain Harleen Amity of the Profiteer,’ a voice rang out behind him. The man turned to see Mekki running up to them, his servo-sprite buzzing after him.

  He chuckled. ‘By the Emperor. Two younglings, a Jokaero, and now…’ His eyes glinted with amusement. ‘What exactly are you? An initiate into the tech-priesthood?’

  Mekki thrust his chin in the air. ‘I am an explorator.’

  The man’s chuckle turned into a laugh. ‘Are you now? Well, I’d heard that poor Harleen had fallen on hard times, but to employ children as her crew…’

  Zelia’s hands balled into fists. ‘We’re not her crew. We hired her.’

  The man’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Hired her? To do what exactly? What in the name of the Throne could you want with a rogue trader of Harleen’s… character?’

  If Zelia heard the smirk in the man’s voice, she didn’t react to it. ‘We’re looking for one of her contacts. A man with information we require.’

  ‘And you’ve found him, more’s the pity.’

  Amity strode up behind Mekki, her hand riding the hilt of her sword. She stopped beside the Martian, tapping the brim of her hat in greeting.

  ‘Hello, Karter. Long time no see.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Karter

  Zelia was glad to get out of the alleyways. The fight had drawn a crowd, all of whom seemed far too interested in Fleapit. Luckily, Karter was obviously a man of authority. After Amity had arrived, he’d slipped his beamer back into its holster and told the onlookers to go about their business. There had been grumbles and hangers-on, but most sloped off after Karter fixed them with a steely glare.

  He’d led them back to his store, located on a busy thoroughfare. The covered street was wider than the alleyways, the shopfronts – including Karter’s own – grander than the tumbledown vendors Zelia had passed when chasing after Talen. She had no idea how Fleapit had found the ganger. Perhaps he followed Talen’s scent. If so, the Jokaero’s sense of smell must have been overpowered by the broth being peddled by an old woman outside Karter’s emporium. The crone offered Karter a mug of her stinking slop, but the trader refused politely before unlocking the door to his premises.

  The store itself was surprisingly large, the windows filled with framed parchments and star charts. As they had made their way through the outpost, Amity had explained that Karter largely dealt in cartography, selling maps both ancient and modern. However, he appeared to be a man with fingers in many different scrag-pies. The shelves and cabinets of his shop were full of antiquities and holo-cubes. Paintings hung on the walls, mostly portraits, mainly of the Emperor himself. Zelia squirmed beneath the gaze of the Immortal One, Karter’s warning coming back to her.

  Careful, child.

  She’d felt Talen tense when Karter had advised her to hold her tongue, and knew why. Karter had been right. The message from the Golden Throne was clear: aliens weren’t to be trusted. In fact, in most cases they were to be hunted down and killed. If you believed the stories, it was easy to see why. Most alien races seemed intent on slaughtering as many humans as possible. She’d seen it herself with the Necrons and Genestealers. They all had. Speaking out in support of aliens was enough to get you arrested for heresy. The penalties for deviance from the Emperor’s teachings were severe.

  But surely not all aliens were evil? Fleapit was an alien and he had risked his life to save them. And her mother had always taught her that violence should be avoided at all costs. They had dug up enough weapons to know that wars had been waged for millennia. Surely humans should have learned a better way by now?

  The trouble was that it had been easy to denounce weapons from the relative safety of the Scriptor. Out here, light years from home, things weren’t so black and white. What would have happened if Karter hadn’t shot the Kroot? What would have happened if Amity hadn’t saved them from the Genestealers?

  A cold shiver passed down Zelia’s back and she hugged the omniscope to her chest. How she wished she could open the device and listen to her mum’s voice.

  ‘So,’ Karter said, interrupting Zelia’s thoughts, ‘what information do you seek?’

  The trader had perched on the edge of a large wooden counter covered in maps and quills. A curtain was pulled shut behind him, hiding what Zelia assumed was a stockroom.

  ‘The children are looking for their parents,’ Amity began, only to be cut off by Talen.

  ‘Not me,’ he said, looping his stolen bolas around his belt.

  ‘Nor I,’ Mekki added. ‘My parents are dead.’

  Zelia blinked. That was the first time she had ever heard the Martian speak of his family.

  ‘And what of you, child?’ Karter asked, his cold eyes focusing on Zelia.

  ‘I am looking for my mother, yes,’ she told him. ‘She’s an archaeologist. An explorator like Mekki.’

  ‘Interesting,’ Karter said, and indicated the various artefacts dotted around his store. ‘I’m something of a collector myself. How did you get separated?’

  ‘They were on a planet destroyed by the Necrons,’ Amity said.

  Karter’s smile faded. ‘The Necrons? That must have been… terrifying.’

  It was, but Zelia wasn’t about to admit that she still had nightmares haunted by the grinning metal skeletons.

  ‘Mum told us to meet at the Emperor’s Seat.’

  A flicker of recognition registered on Karter’s gaunt features. ‘Did she now?’

  ‘You know where it is?’

  The merchant tapped a bony knuckle against his thin lips. ‘Maybe… for the right price.’

  Zelia shrugged. ‘I’m afraid we haven’t any money.’

  Karter snorted. ‘Then why come to me?’

  ‘Because you’re Amity’s friend.’

  ‘Am I now?’ Karter said, his eyes flicking over to Fleapit, who was examining a star chart, Mekki’s servo-sprite on his shoulder. ‘I wonder if you know what happens to Captain Amity’s friends?’

  Zelia frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘He’s teasing you,’ Amity said quickly, ‘but I’m sure we can come to an agreement, isn’t that right, Karter?’

  ‘It depends what else you have to offer.’

  ‘We have data,’ Mekki said, tapping his wrist-screen. A hololith appeared in front of him, a flickering image of an antique reliquary. The Martian tapped the screen again, and the hololith shifted, now showing a collection of ancient helms. ‘I have a record of everything we have discovered on our expeditions. A full catalogue.’

  ‘And it can be mine if I agree to help?’ Karter asked, rubbing his fingers together. ‘It is a tantalising opportunity… but no, I’m afraid not.’

  Zelia’s shoulders slumped.

  ‘Have a heart, Karter,’ Amity said. ‘They’re children.’

  The cartographer fixed the captain with a curious look. ‘And since when do you care about other people? Besides, have I said I won’t help?’

  ‘So you know where to find the Emperor’s Seat?’ Zelia asked.

  ‘Of course I do,’ Karter replied, returning his attention to her. ‘Although there are at least three locations that bear that name.’

  Zelia’s hand tightened around the omniscope. ‘What are they?’

  Karter raised a skinny finger. ‘All in good time, young lady. First, we must discuss terms…’

  ‘Terms?’ Talen repeated. ‘We’ve already said we haven’t any money.’

  ‘True,’ Karter agreed. ‘But you do have something of value.’

  Zelia realised he was looking straight at Fleapit.

  ‘Oh no,’ she said, positioning herself in front of the Jokaero. ‘No way. Fleapit isn’t for sale.’

  Karter smiled, showing a row of yellowing teeth. ‘You’ve given it a name? How charming.’

  ‘He already had one,’ Mekki grumbled, stepping up to stand beside Zelia.

  Talen, meanwhile, had propped himself against a statue that looked far too expensive to be used as a leaning post. ‘But just to make sure we understand each other,’ he said, the statue wobbling alarmingly. ‘You will give us the location to the Emperor’s Seat if we give you Fleapit?’

  ‘Talen!’ Zelia snapped.

  ‘You wanted to make a deal…’ Amity reminded her, but Zelia shook her head firmly.

  ‘Not one that includes Fleapit, we don’t. He stays with us.’

  Karter parted his hands and rose from the counter. ‘Then we have nothing to discuss. It was a pleasure to see you again, captain, but if you’d excuse me, I have much to do. You know what they say. Time is money.’

  ‘Indeed it is,’ Amity agreed, ushering the children out of the store. ‘Sorry to disturb you.’

  Zelia seethed as they were propelled out of the shop. They had come so close, only to be denied the information they needed. She turned, glaring at Karter through the glass door.

  The cartographer still had his eyes fixed on
Fleapit.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Old Grudges

  ‘And that’s it?’ Zelia asked as they walked back through the market square. ‘We’re just going to give up?’

  Amity led them through the crowd, never taking her hand from the hilt of her sword. ‘Once Karter’s mind is made up…’

  ‘He wanted us to hand over Fleapit!’ Zelia exclaimed.

  The Jokaero grunted in disgust.

  ‘We would never do that, Flegan-Pala,’ Mekki assured the alien.

  ‘There is more than one way to flog a mastodon,’ Amity retorted. ‘If Karter won’t help us, we’ll find someone who will.’

  Zelia looked around at the crowd. Those who weren’t staring at Fleapit in fascination were glaring openly at Amity.

  ‘And how easy is that going to be?’ Zelia asked. ‘What was all that business about your friends?’

  Amity stopped in her tracks to turn on Zelia.

  ‘Listen,’ she said, her voice low and dangerous. ‘I don’t have to do this. It’s not as if you’re even paying for my time. I have business of my own to attend to, so I suggest you don’t try what little is left of my patience.’

  Tears pricked Zelia’s eyes.

  ‘Do we understand each other?’

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  ‘Good.’ The rogue trader adjusted her belt and glanced around the marketplace. ‘Wait here.’

  ‘Why?’ Zelia blurted out, fighting the urge to grab Amity as she strode away. ‘Where are you going?’

  The captain didn’t answer but strode over to a nearby hetelfish stall to strike up a conversation with the merchant.

  Zelia knew what Amity was doing, leaving them alone in the middle of the crowd. It was supposed to intimidate them, to remind them how vulnerable they were in a place like this. Her skin crawled as she felt every eye in the market on her. What would they do if one of the passers-by made a grab for them? Sure, Talen could handle himself in a fight, but even he had nearly come unstuck tackling the Kroot. She might try to act tough, but inside Zelia had never been so scared in her life, and as for Mekki…

  She glanced at the Martian to find him tap-tap-tapping at his screen, the servo-sprite on his shoulder, wings folded behind its back. Mekki’s pale face was an expressionless mask, but a vein throbbed between the electoos on his head. He was just as frightened as she was, no matter how much he tried to distract himself with his precious data.

  ‘Way to go, Zelia,’ Talen muttered under his breath. ‘Try not to get us marooned.’

  She whirled on the ganger. ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘You should be.’ He jabbed a finger at the back of Amity’s head. ‘She’s our only way off this dump. It’s probably best that you don’t annoy her like you annoy everyone else.’

  ‘This dump?’ Zelia parroted, crossing her arms and cocking her head. ‘What happened to “wow, it’s amazing”?’

  Talen stepped forwards so they were almost nose to nose. ‘I’ll tell you what happened.’ He jabbed a finger at her omniscope. ‘I nearly got killed getting that thing back for you, but did you say thank you? Did you?’

  Zelia’s face burned. ‘I never asked you to chase after it in the first place. What do you want? Another patch for your jacket. Something to show how brave you are?’

  ‘I want some respect!’ he snapped back.

  Fleapit reached up to touch Talen’s arm, but the ganger pulled away.

  ‘And you can get off me!’

  ‘He saved your life,’ Mekki pointed out, looking up from his screen.

  ‘He’s a stinking alien,’ Talen bellowed.

  Zelia’s mouth dropped open. ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’

  From the look on his face, neither could Talen. His mouth bobbed open and shut, and he glanced at the Jokaero, who simply glared back. Talen looked away, ashamed of himself, but his expression hardened as he spotted something across the marketplace.

  His nose wrinkled. ‘And there’s another one…’

  Zelia turned to see a blue-skinned xenos standing near a stall selling animal furs. The alien was female, her head completely devoid of hair and a long slit running between her eyes where a nose should be. Her ruby eyes were narrowed and focused on Talen.

  Before any of them could stop him, Talen marched towards the alien, jabbing a finger at her. ‘What are you looking at?’

  Another alien stepped in front of the female. He was of the same race, but at least a head taller, with a frame as powerful as the woman was slight. His bulk was only accentuated by the armour he wore under his dark robes, while his intent was clear from the three-fingered hand he placed on the sword at his waist.

  Zelia looked around. More of the slit-nosed aliens had appeared in the crowd. She could count at least three – two males and another female – all equally muscled and glaring straight at Talen, who seemed oblivious to the danger he had placed himself in.

  In fact, the appearance of the woman’s bodyguard only seemed to rile him more.

  He spread his arms, as if challenging her to a fight. ‘Think you can take me, do you? Is that it? You think you can do better than the Kroot?’

  Zelia caught up with him, grabbing his arm. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let go. ‘Talen, what’s got into you?’

  ‘What’s got into me? Can’t you see it? They’re everywhere, Zelia. Aliens. Dirty, stinking xenos.’

  Sweat was beading on his forehead, his breathing shallow.

  Zelia looked straight into his eyes. ‘Talen, listen to me. I realise this is all new to you, but you need to calm down.’

  ‘Calm down? How can I, with you always judging me?’

  ‘I-I’m not.’

  ‘Of course you are. Poor little Talen. So scared. So inexperienced. Not like you.’ He turned on his heel, throwing his arms out wide to take in the entire market. ‘You’ve seen it all before, haven’t you? Zelia the galactic explorer, taking everything in her stride.’

  She wasn’t going to let him get away with that. She stepped up close, and let her voice drop. ‘You think I’m not scared? Talen, I’m terrified. This is a nightmare, and I’m only just keeping it together.’

  She tried to touch his hand, but he pulled away.

  ‘Then you probably shouldn’t be around me.’

  He turned and walked off, fists balled at his sides.

  ‘Talen,’ Zelia called after him. ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Just leave it, Zelia,’ he called back. ‘Leave me alone. Maybe dad was right all along. No concessions. No compromise.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  A hand grabbed Zelia’s shoulder. She spun around, thinking it was another thief, but it was only Amity, her conversation done.

  ‘What’s his problem?’ the captain said, nodding at Talen.

  ‘Where would you like us to start?’ Mekki said flatly.

  Zelia tried to gather herself. ‘He’s just letting off steam.’

  ‘Then he needs to be careful,’ Amity said, glancing over at the blue-skinned alien who had returned her attention to the stall, her intimidating associates having melted back into the crowd like ghosts. ‘I knew this place was near the Tau Empire, but never expected to see them on the station.’

  Zelia glanced at the alien. ‘They’re Tau?’

  Amity nodded. ‘At least they weren’t wearing battle armour.’ The captain guided Zelia towards the hangar bay. ‘We should get you back to the ship.’

  ‘What about Talen?’

  ‘Meshwing can keep an eye on him,’ Mekki told her.

  Zelia’s brow furrowed. ‘Meshwing?’

  Mekki nodded at the servo-sprite, who obediently shot into the air, zipping after Talen.

  ‘You gave it a name?’

  Mekki shrugged. ‘Unless you can think of something better?’

  Zelia shook her head. ‘No. I like it. Meshwing it is!’

  But as they walked back to the Profiteer, Zelia couldn’t help but wonder how much help a servo-sprite would be if Talen got himself into another fight…

  CHAPTER SEVEN