Chapter 9
(Sàdiya)
Sàdiya walked into the room. The twins were sitting on the couch, Z crying into Vesha's shoulder. They were pretty, blue skinned Chiss with red eyes and straight, black hair; Z's long and Vesha's shoulder length. They were 15, just a few years older than Sàdiya and she envied them for their curves and exotic good looks. Z'rellia looked up, her eyes sad and her shoulders tense. Sàdiya sauntered across the room to see what Z'rellia had dug up on the holonet. She tucked her hands in the pockets of her brown pants, the same ones she had been wearing almost a week ago when she'd been waylaid by Vesha after school. She stood at Z'rellia's shoulder, looking down at the small datapad. She was still amazed at how adept Lil' Z was when it came to electronics.
Z'rellia kept her voice low. "Look at this." She scrolled down to a fuzzy image of a girl holding a blaster with a "Have You Seen This Person" message under it. Sàdiya immediately recognized the girl. There was no doubt in her mind. Z had killed the senator's son. What she didn't understand was why, but she could live with that. These were her friends, profitable friends at that. The extra credits she'd received doing business with them was worth it. She was saving every extra credit towards a berth off this good for nothing, sink hole of a planet. And one day she would have a ship of her own. She had plans. Dreams of flying free. And she knew she was going to need friends to get there.
She had met the twins nearly six months before. They had approached her after school one day and asked her if she would be interested in scouting out some of the wealthier patrons of the private school she attends; kids who might be willing to purchase certain items they would not otherwise be able to find on the market. Within the week she had sold half a dozen items securing herself a hefty 40% profit. Over the course of the next few months their business relationship had turned into a wary friendship. So, a week ago, when they asked for her help, she agreed. They needed someone with connections, someone who could move under the radar. Sàdiya's dad had a friend who worked security at the spaceport, a friend who sometimes helped him bypass legal hangups with a few of the rare vintages he offered at the cantina. And while she wasn't on good terms with her parents, she still knew how to tap into the access codes and manifests. If anyone could get them off-planet quietly, it was her. Unfortunately, there was little she could do while they were waiting for Z to recover. She'd run errands, watched the street outside the factory for signs of trouble, and kept Krain off their backs—barely. Most of all, she'd waited. She didn't like feeling useless, but she owed the twins. And now that Z was awake, things were moving again.
"Huh," Z'rellia looked up from the holoscreen. "Sàdiya, you might want to see this."
Sàdiya looked back over the young slicer's shoulders and groaned. Her parents had reported her missing. "They're going to kill me," she muttered.
"At least they care enough to look for you."
Sàdiya shrugged. She supposed disappearing without saying a word to them was probably not the best plan. But she had barely spoken to them at all in the last few months. After the last fight—over credits, over her 'friends,' over everything—they probably thought she'd finally run off for good. Maybe she had. She just didn't want to drag them into something this dangerous. And besides, she wasn't ready to see the disappointment in their eyes.
Krain chose that moment to stride into the room. He took in the situation and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I've spoken with the others and we put it to a vote," he refused to look them in the eye, especially Vesha. "With the recent developments, we've decided it's too dangerous for Z to stay here."
Vesha untangled herself from her sister and stood to face Krain. "So that's it. We get in a little trouble and you just kick us out?"
"You call this," he held up a bounty poster with Z's picture on it, "a little trouble?"
Vesha ripped the paper from his hands, glanced at it, then crumpled it up and dropped it to the floor. She glared at him and stood her ground for another minute, but he just crossed his arms and refused to budge.
"Just be glad we're not turning her in for the money."
"Fine." Vesha turned back to Z. "Come on baby; let's get you out of here." She took one of her elbows and gently pulled her up. Sàdiya came to Z's other side and helped Vesha steady her.
"I think I know somewhere you can stay," Sàdiya said quietly.
Vesha threw her a look of gratitude and the three girls left the room. They gathered up their few personal belongings, barely enough to fill one pack, then followed Sàdiya out of the old factory she had called home for the last three years.
Sàdiya led them through the crowded streets. The icy wind cut through her dark brown zeyd-cloth jacket and snowflakes began to fall. She shivered and wanted to pick up the pace, but Vesha was limping, her face set in grim determination as she supported her sister. Z was moaning and stumbling along in between them but still trying to put on a brave face. She smiled up at Sàdiya, her red eyes sad and her blue skin looking pallid.
"It will all be okay," Sàdiya said.
"I know," Zesha's eyes filled with tears. "He can't hurt anyone anymore."
Eventually, they came to an alley that led to rows of storage sheds. Sàdiya walked confidently ahead of them until they were halfway down one of the long rows. She stopped, pulled a folded piece of leatheris from her pocket and opened it, revealing a full set of lock picks. Vesha raised her eyebrows. Sàdiya grinned as she knelt next to the lock. She rubbed her hands together and breathed into her fingers as she picked the lock. The large door opened easily, rolling up from the ground to reveal a mostly empty storage shed. There were a few odds and ends, mostly household items; A couch, a couple of lamps, an old dining table and a few chairs. In the back there was a stack of about a dozen boxes, three of them containing the surplus items she had been smuggling into the school to sell to the rich brats. The place still smelled musty, but was relatively clean. Sàdiya found a light switch near the door and flicked it on, then closed the door behind them, noting the need to reinforce the door with extra locks from the inside.
"It's not much, but it should do for now," Sàdiya said. "I think my parents have mostly forgotten about this place."
"Give me a hand here." Vesha moved a box off the couch and Sàdiya pulled the dusty sheet off the cushions so Z could lie down. She was out before her head touched the cushion; a slight sheen of sweat on her face gave testament to the trial it had been to walk the couple of miles to this new haven. Vesha covered her sister in blankets as she started to shiver.
Sàdiya looked the place over and with a nod said, "I've got a few cred sticks left. I'm going to go get us some food." She dug through a couple of boxes until she found a metal bar that looked like it went to an old table or desk. She handed it to Vesha. Wedge this in the door after I leave. I'll have to find something more secure, but it should do for now." She looked over at Vesha's worried face. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Vesha nodded absently, her attention still on her sleeping sister. Sàdiya pulled the large door up and slipped under it, letting it fall back to the ground behind her. Her breath puffed out in clouds as she waited until she heard Vesha secure the door before walking away. Tucking her hands in her pockets, she glanced once behind her—just once—then pushed forward. She didn't have time to doubt herself.
Further down the row of storage sheds a tall man stepped from the shadows. He wore a full set of heavy durasteel armor, a large rocket pack on his back, his features obscured by his helmet. He walked quietly down the road and stopped in front of the shed the sisters were staying in. He glanced at the number above the door then continued walking. When he came to the end of the storage sheds he looked for the girl he had seen leaving. She was just turning the corner on the next street. He didn't rush. He'd waited a week. He could wait a little longer.