Preview Through Uncharted Space
Some days he loved the Galaxy’s Edge Space Station, with its wild atmosphere and dilapidated feel. He felt like it was saying a huge “screw you” to the rest of the galaxy.
But some days, he hated it.
Dare Phoenix watched a small, angry man stomp his way across the docking bay, heading toward him.
Dare deliberately turned away, and focused on the activity behind him.
The docking bay was a large, cavernous space, filled with stacked boxes and anti-grav pallets full of crates of supplies.
They were all waiting to be loaded onto Dare’s ship.
Behind him, the large cargo doors into the Sky Nomad were open, and some of his crew members were moving back and forth up the ramp, carrying boxes or directing the floating pallets.
He heard the clanking of metal on metal and his brother, Rynan, came down the ramp, wearing a large exosuit. The metal suit encased Ry’s muscled form and included large, powerful arms designed for heavy lifting. Ry stopped and gave the approaching man a look, then raised a brow at Dare.
Dare gave one small shake of his head to indicate he’d take care of it. Ry might be in charge of security for the Phoenix Deep-Space Convoy, but Dare could handle scum like Rengreek Daltar any day.
“Phoenix,” the man called out.
Dare turned to face the trader. “Daltar.”
The man was from the planet Appax. His skin was a tough, leathery green, and he was short and round, with two small protuberances on his head.
“I see you’re loading the goods I sold to you.” Daltar bristled. “Where are my e-creds?”
“I paid you what we agreed on in the contract we both signed. The e-creds are in your account.”
“And I’ve decided I want more.” Daltar raised a belligerent chin.
“And I won’t pay it,” Dare said silkily. He felt a prick of anger, but as always, he controlled it.
He’d been a convoy master for a long time. He liked being in charge, and expected people to follow his rules and honor their agreements. Always.
Daltar shifted uneasily, then straightened. “That was before an alien starfreighter pulled into the Edge, looking for fresh food. Now I want more. I have other buyers.”
It was times like this Dare wished he didn’t have a lingual implant embedded in his neck that translated alien languages for him. “You didn’t have other buyers when you sold the fruit and vegetables to me. That’s greedy and unprofessional.”
Daltar shrugged. “Yeah. So?”
Dare sighed. That was the problem with operating out here on the edge of the galaxy. People picked and discarded rules as it suited them. Or they just flat-out stabbed you in the back. He spotted movement, and watched as a small group of people entered the docking bay.
Damn, his passengers were early. He had six ships lined up to join the convoy.
They’d be following the Sky Nomad beyond the galaxy’s known edge and into uncharted space.
Most were going for adventure, or looking to begin new lives on uncharted planets.
Many found life in the central systems of the galaxy not to their liking.
Convoys like his were a way to find new opportunities.
In addition to the group of starships, he also took a few passengers aboard the Nomad, and it looked like his latest group was ready to board.
Dare gave Daltar one last look. “I paid you our agreed price. And it was more than fair.”
The trader spluttered. “Phoenix, I won’t?—”
Dare’s simmering anger turned ultra-cold, but he kept it on a tight leash. He’d learned young—trapped in the dark—that any show of emotion did you no good.
“The fresh supplies you sent me are near rotten. Your quality isn’t even worth what I paid. So, if you want to make an issue out of it, let’s do it.”
A muscle worked in Daltar’s jaw, but he remained silent.
Dare straightened and turned to look at his passengers. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Sky Nomad.” He put Daltar out of his mind, and looked at the group that would be sharing his ship.
He was good at gauging people with one glance.
He’d had plenty of experience, and had seen all types on the convoy.
There was a middle-aged couple in simple clothes.
They had worn faces and callused hands. From a labor world, Dare guessed, no doubt looking for a new, easier life on an uncharted planet.
Next was a Galletean monk. The man bowed his bald head in greeting, his long, distinctive purple robes moving around his slim frame.
This one would be out to convert the savages of uncharted space.
He had a gentle, patient face that Dare didn’t understand.
Dare might control his emotions, but patience wasn’t always his best quality.
The next passengers were two young women in their twenties.
One smiled widely, her gaze drifting down his body.
She was blonde, tall, slim…and obvious. Sometimes Dare had a taste for obvious, depending on his mood.
The other woman was shorter and curvier, with a pretty rosette pattern on the skin of her neck.
She watched him, a faint smile on her face.
They both wore stylish clothes that showed off their excellent figures.
Searching for husbands beyond the edge, he guessed.
He had no interest in being anyone’s husband, but he might have to get to know them better on the trip and see if they suited his particular tastes.
The last passenger was female, too, but far different from the other two.
She wore large, baggy clothes, and a dull-brown, ankle-length coat that swamped her frame, making it impossible to guess her true size.
Her hair was loose and uncovered—a thick mass of dishwater-brown.
There was one word for it—ugly. She kept her face down, almost submissive, but not in a good way.
Dare frowned. Her story was one he couldn’t quite guess at first glance.
He stepped back and waved them up the ramp. “Come aboard. I’ll have my crew show you to your cabins.”
“Phoenix!”
Daltar’s yell echoed in the docking bay. Dare gritted his teeth and turned.
The trader was brandishing a laser pistol, and aiming it in Dare’s direction. “I want my credits!”
There were gasps from the group of passengers. Dare waved at them. “Move back.”
He turned his head slightly, and saw the young women were wide-eyed while the older couple were clinging to each other. The monk still looked patient, but now the last woman was watching him, her gaze direct.
Stunning, brilliant-blue eyes.
She quickly looked away.
Daltar yelled again. Dare turned his wrist and checked his timepiece. If they took much longer, they’d get off schedule. And that was unacceptable.
Dare quickly pulled his own laser pistol from his holster and spun.
The laser whined loudly. Daltar gave a shocked cry and slammed into some crates, clutching his shoulder. His pistol clattered on the ground.
Dare stood, arm extended, holding his just-fired weapon.
“Our business is concluded, Daltar.” Dare holstered his pistol. “Now—” he turned back to his passengers “—let’s get aboard. And welcome to the Phoenix Convoy.”
There was a sprinkling of nervous laughter, but the group moved up the ramp.
Dare watched them, and again got a quick glimpse of bright-blue eyes before they were hidden from him.
She’d made a big mistake.
Dakota Jones tugged her oversized coat around her and kept her head down, as she entered the Sky Nomad.
The mistake wasn’t stealing a map to a priceless Terran treasure.
Nor was it taking it from a ruthless terrorist group.
She fingered the small, blue orb hanging from a chain around her neck.
She knew Golden Nova had sent assassins after her.
She’d caught a glimpse of them on Nishii Prime, had a close shave with a knife on Rendar, and narrowly escaped a group of them on Grion II.
Stealing the map was maybe not the smartest move…but Dakota loved to take a few risks. If you never took a risk, you stayed stuck. Without some risks, life wasn’t worth living.
Without some risks, you ended up with nothing.
She didn’t plan on having nothing.
No, Dakota’s biggest mistake was picking the Phoenix Deep-Space Convoy to hide out on.
Yes, they’d take her out into uncharted space, far from Golden Nova’s spies, assassins, and crazy followers. And she’d be a lot closer to the treasure she was determined to find.
But one look at convoy master Dare Phoenix, and her error had become apparent. One look in his silver eyes, and she knew he missed little. And that he liked to be the master of his own domain.
Dare Phoenix was going to be a problem. From the top of his handsome head, to the bottom of his long, lean, hard body. A big problem.
Her fingers curled into a fist. Too bad. Because Dakota Jones liked being in charge as well. No one was master of her or her life.
She suppressed a grimace. She had to stay in disguise and in character. Right now, she was Dena Johns. A plain woman with few prospects, looking for a new life.
Ahead, the passengers were all talking excitedly amongst themselves.
They’d moved into a spacious corridor. At least she hadn’t made a mistake about the ship itself.
The Sky Nomad was large and, while not fancy, it looked comfortable.
This wasn’t a pleasure cruise, but she knew the cabins were well appointed, and the ship had a top-of-the-line galley, hydroponics system, gym, large cargo areas, and a small but experienced crew. Hell, it even had an arboretum.
Oh, and it had excellent weapons capabilities. In uncharted space, deep-space convoys could face anything: space pirates, hostile aliens, and some things never seen before in civilized space.
The group turned a corner, and Dakota quickened her pace to keep up. Ahead, she saw another tall man waiting for them.
“Hi,” the man said with a smile. “I’m Justyn Phoenix. Welcome.”
He was a shade shorter than his brother, with a more open and friendly face. He had shaggy hair, and a wide, sexy smile. This one was the charmer of the brothers, she guessed.