Athena’s Ashes (Star Thief Chronicles #2)(60)
Author: Jamie Grey

Viktis screamed, a high, unearthly sound as he jerked and spasmed against the wall, head lolling violently from side to side.

“Stop!” Renna screamed. “Stop it right now. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Larson lowered his hand, and the electricity in the collar shut off. Viktis sagged against his chains, moaning in agony. The metal around his wrists was the only thing supporting him, and they dug in painfully, skin bulging on either side of the bands.

“Good answer.” Larson waved a hand at the med drone. “Hold still and we’ll make sure you don’t escape again.”

The metal globe glided through the air toward her, and Renna clenched her fists. She wanted to punch the thing as far away from her as she could, but she couldn’t afford to put Viktis in danger again. “If I cooperate, you have to let the alien go.”

“Of course,” Larson said with a smile.

“Liar. Take his collar off right now.”

“Or what?” His smug expression was almost enough to send her over the edge and she gritted her teeth.

“Or I’ll kill myself right now and you’ll all be shit out of luck.” She held up her lockpick. “Don’t think I won’t. I grew up in the tenements. I know exactly how to kill a person instantly.”

A muscle jumped in Larson’s jaw, and he glanced between Renna and Viktis. She could see the calculations running through his mind. Was she telling the truth? How could he keep his prisoner and get her under control at the same time?

“I never bluff about death,” she said coldly. “How pleased do you think Samil will be when I die on your watch?”

She saw the moment Larson made his decision, heard the instant whirring of the drone as it hurled itself at her, needle extended. She spun around, arm raised to ward it off.

It stopped inches from her throat, the wicked needle glinting in the hololights. A single bead of some clear drug welled at the end of the needle before dripping to the floor.

Renna blinked at the thing and took a step back. It hung motionless in the air, nudging a memory at the back of her mind.

The punching ball back on the Eris.

Across the room, Larson cursed, struggling with the drone’s controller. She turned around almost leisurely and sent the drone careening toward him. Before he could even throw an arm up, the needle embedded itself in his throat, and Larson’s eyes widened as the vial of liquid emptied into his veins.

“What have you done?” he cried, dropping the controller and shoving the drone away with both hands. He clapped a hand to his neck, eyes bulging as he gasped for breath.

Renna released her control on the machine and it backed away from Larson. His skin had turned milky, and he swayed on his feet. With a moan, his knees gave out and he slid down the wall, landing on the floor with a thud.

She approached the trembling man, her smile growing with each step. Seeing him powerless and cowering made the adrenaline rush hot and rich through her veins. “You would know. You’re the one who stocked the drone.” She tilted her head to study him. “I’m guessing it was just a tranquilizer. I should be flattered. You guys really don’t want me to get hurt.”

“I’ll kill you myself, no matter what Samil wants.” Larson’s voice had dropped to a croak and his hands lay limply in his lap.

“Right. I’m shaking.” She urged the med-drone closer, using her implant to run through the list of attachments it carried until she found the one she wanted. She was going to enjoy this.

The round attachment slid from the drone’s body, sparks dancing at the tip of the sliver spike. If Larson could have moved, he would have crawled up the wall to get away from it.

“No,” he whispered. He’d gone even paler, if that was possible, all the blood draining from his face.

“Yes.” Renna ordered the machine forward.

It hummed as the spike touched Larson’s cheek and the spark arced into his skin. The gravitic cauterizer seared into the flesh on his cheekbone. The reek of burning flesh filled the room and a scream ripped from Larson’s throat.

“Please,” he begged. “Make it stop. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Make it stop?” she asked. “And did you stop the hundreds of times other people begged you to do the very same thing?”

“It’s different. Please.”

“It’s only different because you’re on the receiving end now.”

Across the room, Viktis groaned.

Renna snapped around. Gods, what was she doing? She snatched up Larson’s controller from the floor and switched off the collar. Gently she lifted it from Viktis’s neck, then tackled the shackles, slipping a shoulder under his arm so he wouldn’t fall to the floor as they released. Gently, she let him slide until he was sitting with his back propped against the wall.

Viktis blinked up at her, eyes unfocused and full of pain. “Is that really you, Ren?”

“It’s me, handsome. And I’m going to get you out of here. Can you walk?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. The ass**le broke my ankle and my whole body hurts like hell. I don’t know if I can even move.”

Shit. Renna chewed her lip and glanced at the door. The hybrids could show up at any moment, and she wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing about it.

“Go on without me,” he said. “Get out of here before Samil catches you again.” He squeezed her hand weakly. “Just put me out of my misery first, eh?”

“Don’t you dare talk like that, you washed-up old pirate. We’re both getting out of here.” The med-drone floated toward them. “I’m giving you a painkiller. It’ll help you get through the next couple of minutes so we can get out of here.”

“Better triple the dose.” Viktis tried to chuckle, then winced. “Damn. Hurts to laugh.”

“Then don’t laugh.” Her gaze shifted to the metal gurney. “All right. We need to get you up there. This isn’t going to be fun.”

“Just do it. I can feel the meds kicking in already.” Viktis clenched his jaw as Renna hauled him to his feet. Her finger slid against one of the cauterized holes, and he hissed.

“Gods! I’m so sorry!”

“Get moving before I pass out again. You can apologize later.”

Together, they limped toward the table. Renna got him to the edge and pressed the controls to lower the height enough that he could slide back onto it. She picked up his legs and swung them onto the gurney, then covered him with a sheet.