Chapter Three

Ashe settled into the back booth in the dimly lit tavern that was Tafrin's. She glanced at the room's occupants. Shrugging, she had to admit it wasn't the worst place she had ever been or worked in for that matter. Most of her adolescence had been spent in grittier places than this. But she had been young and the young had a way of seeing things differently. Still, the barmaid was bright eyed and talkative, the clientele mostly farmers, ranch hands. A few hotshots regaling wide eyed wenches with bogus stories of courage and skill. Nothing outwardly hostile or noteworthy. She glanced down at the bowl of stew the waitress placed in front of her, the half loaf of bread more appetizing than she cared to admit.

"Nothing else, mum? Tank 'a beer? Or a cuppa?" She seemed sweet and Ashe forgave her for the mum reference.

"That's it. Thank you." She turned her attention to her stew without completely ignoring the door. The bread was warm and crusty and smelled like heaven. The boy had almost made it to her table before she spotted him. She gave him full marks for making it that far unseen.

"Sit down," she said without looking at him.

He plopped his thin body into the bench seat, his impish grin greeting her across the table. She tossed him a chunk of bread that he grabbed and devoured greedily. "Well?"

""eh's here. Came in 'bout sundown." The boy gestured to her stew and she pushed the bowl toward him. She handed him the last of the bread and using it as a spoon he scooped the hot stew with gusto.

"Alone?" she asked, fascinated by his appetite.

He nodded. "Stopped at Mirium's first. Ha! Bad idea."

She grinned. "Something happen?"

He nodded again, his head practically bouncing off his shoulders. "Uh huh! Took out two of Lord Craphole's men before leaving the place. Got Lariana in trouble though. She's gonna get the whip for sure." He shrugged. "She ain't never got the whip before. She never gets turned down."

"Lord Craphole?"

"Oh yeah. Master Marcus K'rier." The sarcasm in the boy's tone spoke volumes. "'e's a 'older and thinks 'is shit don't stink." Maluk swallowed the last of the stew a satisfied look on his face. "'e forgets we know 'im. We know where 'e came from." He winked, sharing the inside joke with her. "'Oy! Maybe I'll be a 'older someday, eh?"

Ashe connected the dots and sighed. Figures O'Connell would find the most dangerous man in town to make an enemy of. "Where is he now?" she asked, her tone intense and Maluk instantly switched gears.

"I left him at Pandora's. Better than Mirium's. Drinkin' a pint and watchin' the bar. Just like you then." Maluk grinned. "Whatcha want us ta' do now?"

"Stay on him. I assume he will be heading this way shortly." Ashe weighed her options. Staying here was out of the question now. He must have decided to stay in town, search her out. Which meant nowhere was safe for more than a few hours. Still, a wicked grin played across her face, even if that meant she had to return to V and head out she could still have fun with him.

"Mal… how good are you at shopping?"

His gave her a curious look. "Eh?"

She laughed as she laid out her plan, tossing him a small bag of coin to ensure its success. "Hurry now. Keep the others on him, finish this task and then meet me on the roof. Don't forget the hydro seal."

Maluk's eyes widened, impressed. "Got it."

"Be quick. I will only have an hour or so before he picks up my scent."

"Wha'?" He tried to sniff her from across the table.

She laughed. "Never mind. Go. Hurry!"

He nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

She flagged the waitress down and ordered another bowl of stew, this time with a pint. She knew O'Connell and she could easily estimate how much time it would take him to work his way across town to her position. She had time to eat, get to her room, gather her things and make it to the roof before he stumbled into the tavern. If the ale was particularly good at Pandora's, she might even have longer.

The stew was hot, but extremely satisfying. The bread and pint gave her a lovely, satisfied glow. Leaving the waitress a generous tip, she headed to her chamber. She had requested a room towards the back of the building, on the top floor. She had a balcony that overlooked a dark alley. Not particularly aesthetic, however as her intent was to use it to get to the roof, the view was hardly a priority.

She went over her plan. Keeping O'Connell occupied on the planet, while she left town was paramount. Her skills in the territories were better than his. But once they took flight, he was the superior hunter. They had made a good team for the past year, both in bed and out. There was a symmetry to the way they worked, almost as if they could read the other's mind and anticipate the other's thoughts and actions. It had made their hunting, or 'Collections and Retrievals' as Guun liked to call it, almost effortless.

'No, not effortless' she paused on the stairs to her room, her hand clutching the worn wooden railing, 'fun. The last year with him has been the best time I have ever had.' Her mind flashed a kaleidoscope of memories. Laughing at a joke, sharing the thrill of the chase, teasing Guun, exploring planets, fighting, teasing, making love. Her breathe caught in her throat as the memory of his hands on her came to her like a blast of fire. His head thrown back in laughter, her head laying across his naked chest, listening to his laughter, his hands on hers, his lips on hers, his heart on hers.

"Arrhhh…" she growled aloud as she tore her hand from her death grip on the railing and moved forcefully up the stairs. 'It's gone now, girl. You threw it away to save the universe. No more O'Connell. No more Guun. All gone. Let it go.'

She paused a moment outside of her door. No more Guun either. Her eyes welled up with tears. She had spent as much time with Guun as she had with O'Connell, working on modifying the ships propulsion and scanning. He had started a friend and become a defacto big brother to her and she had loved him for it. She hoped with all her heart, he did not now hate her for what she had done.

Laying her head against the door, her hand on the doorknob, she paused for a moment. An image of Guun's mop of unruly red hair filled her mind and her breath caught in her throat. The thought of how disappointed in her he must be, crushing her. She had not had a choice! He must understand that. She had to make him understand!

Taking a breath she steadied herself, a short harsh laugh escaping her. There would be no explaining to Guun. She would never see his look of acceptance or forgiveness. She had done what she had to do; her love for Guun was merely collateral damage. Pulling herself from the door, she straightened her shoulders and whispered softly, "Miss you, Red."

She pushed the door to her room open, trying to brush the tears from her eyes. 'Won't cry. Stupid girl… won't cry,' she reprimanded herself. She stepped into the dark room, squeezing her eyes shut to stem the tears and pushed the door shut with a loud click.

Without warning a dank clothe was pressed against her face, covering her nose and mouth. Instinct and training kicked in and she tried to drop to the floor, her elbow smashing backwards, looking for a sweet spot, as she dropped. She heard a satisfying grunt and something crash before someone pulled her feet out from under her. Before she could kick out, her feet were bound together. She tried to swing a punch but she felt both her arms yanked behind her and roughly tied. She tried to find some leverage as she was held prone five feet off the floor and wondered distractedly how many of her captors there were, what the hell they were going to do with her and why her mind was growing so cloudy. Her last coherent thought was, 'Where the hell is O'Connell?'

Then there was only the darkness.