Chapter Two

Evan wished he were dead.

He’d wished that before, and unless someone were to grant that wish soon, he was confident he’d wish it again. His Keeper was just sitting there on the couch, leaning back on the cushion, staring at the wall with his dark, brooding expression. Just like his father.

Only Alex wasn’t really anything like him. There was some resemblance in face and manners, but that was where it ended. He wasn’t in charge. He wasn’t commanding and authoritative. Hell, he was barely in control. What had Spencer been thinking? And damn him for leaving me with this! Damn him for leaving at all.

Evan was pacing, more to keep himself warm than anything. Three days spent at that grave, staying outside while VanHolt cowered in his office with the doors bolted, had done nothing to cool his anger. But he did feel a chill settle deep inside his chest.

“I’m not a mind reader.” He stopped, facing Alex, and wondered if more of Spencer Marcase’s traits would prove true in his son.

Alex returned the look, a slight glint of apprehension still shimmering in his eyes. “Well neither am I.”

“I can only do what I know. What you tell me to do.”

“Is that what you did for my father? Did you kill for him?”

Evan turned away so the flush of his face wouldn’t show. “What does it matter what I did for him? You’re the Keeper now, all that matters is what you do.”

Suddenly the man burst from the couch, one hand raised, and Evan instinctively flinched. But instead of a hand across his face, he was hit with a look of surprise.

“Look, it’s been one hell of a long day.” Alex stepped back, still looking confused by Evan’s reaction, then pointed to the bedroom door. “I need some sleep.” He took a few steps toward the room, then turned again. “Where do you sleep?”

Evan considered his reply for a split second. His new Keeper didn’t appear to notice the delay, so he nodded to the small door a few feet away from the main bedroom. “There.”

Alex turned, then stopped himself again. “Just don’t kill anyone without waking me first.”

Finally, a direct command. How hard was that? Evan nodded once, then waited for Alex to shut the bedroom door before securing the apartment. After making sure the alarms were set and all locks keyed in, he walked to his room and changed into a long sleeved black shirt and long, loose-fitting pants for warmth against the chill in his bones. Sleep wasn’t going to come, so he wasn’t going to waste time pretending.

He sat on the bed with the lights out and stared at Alex. Their rooms were connected via reflective hologram, seen only as a mirror from the master suite, and protected with a sound barrier. Evan didn’t think mentioning this to his new Keeper would do anything to calm the guy down. He was obviously out of his league here, and clueless as to what do. Which meant Evan was going to have to stay doubly alert just to keep him out of trouble.

So he sat, legs tucked underneath him, hands resting on knees, and raged quietly.

Never before in all his young life had Evan felt like this. He was born into slavery, that was a given that he’d been bred to accept. And accept it he did. It was what he was, simply put and simply stated. He’d never understood people questioning what he was, he simply was. Sha’erah were not entirely human. They had a purpose, a meaning, and reason for being. Unlike everyone else, still searching the galaxies for a meaning to their lives, a reason for being alive. Evan didn’t have that uncertainty. His life had a reason, a purpose, and a goal. He was created, he served, and some day he would die. That simplicity had been a comfort all his life.

Spencer Marcase purchased him before he’d even been born, dictating his very creation. After the five year training period, he was given to his Keeper and had been with him ever since. There were times, more so over the past few years, when he would notice his Keeper aging, and feel the twinge of uncertainty regarding his future. But until that day came, one week ago, he’d never allowed that twinge to grip his heart.

Now both heart and gut were gripped fully and terribly with the reality of his situation.

As Sha’erah, Evan was a piece of property. He’d often been treated like property, always been reminded he was property, but never before – until today – had he ever felt like property. And unwanted property at that. The way Alex continually tried to remove the ring as if he wanted to toss it away like so much trash! Toss him away like so much trash! Spencer used to say Evan was valued, if not for who he was, at least for what he was. And this man – his son – wanted to throw that value away.

The chill in his bones reached the pit of Evan’s stomach. His mind replayed that night, over and over again. The night he’d returned from an errand to find Spencer dead on the living room couch. Heart attack, the doctor said. Something no Sha’erah could protect his Keeper from, no matter how hard he tried. The separation hit him instantly, seeing that ring vanish from the finger that had claimed it for twenty-four years. Instincts Evan had never known before had taken over, numbing his mind to what was to come.

Until now.

Now it was trying to come around, to deal with the situation. He knew Spencer had a son, one he never spoke of to anyone else. He’d been the source of many errands and information research for several months, but Evan had never wondered why. It wasn’t his place to wonder, but it all became clear at the grave. The son of Spencer Marcase had come at last, and claimed his inheritance.

And he’d been trying to throw him away ever since.

Evan sighed and turned his head from side to side to relieve a kink. The movement caused him to cough, and the cough turned into a round of congested hacking that lasted nearly a minute. When he regained control, he looked through the hologram again. Alex was either asleep or faking it, but he remained oblivious to the noise shielded by the false mirror.

What was his life now? Slave to a Keeper who had no clue who or what he was? A master who gave orders unknowingly, then freaked out when he found those orders obeyed? A man who still thought Sha’erah were a myth and this was all a joke? Though perpetrated by whom and for what end was a complete mystery, Evan failed to understand. This man was so inept with this new responsibility, he was likely to be killed by the first person to come along, and if Evan didn’t die trying to protect him, he’d just be passed on again like yesterday’s news reports.

No, it was clear this man couldn’t keep him. He was an explorer, what did he need with a Sha’erah? He’d come here looking for money, expecting a financial estate, no doubt. And the only way for Alex to be satisfied would be to sell him to the first bidder. People like this thought only of themselves when money was in need. He’d have no concept how to use what his father had given him.

Evan had no idea how he could serve a man like that.

His head was spinning strangely. Feelings he had no experience with were swimming around in his gut and he had no one to explain them. The loyalty and connection he’d had with Spencer since the day of his purchase were gone. Snapped from him the instant the ring had banished itself to the will. It left an emptiness as dead and cold as the grave where he’d sat waiting, aching from a hole that had never before existed. For days, Evan knelt by that headstone, feeling only the pain of that emptiness and the fear of what was to come. His ordered, predictable life now shelved with the rest of Spencer’s personal effects, waiting to be passed along.

He didn’t know if that hole was ever going to be filled again. If his new Keeper would take up that space or if he was destined to feel the loss forever. It was his only regret at his former master’s death. And he knew no other Sha’erah to ask. No other’s advice he could seek out.

Evan sighed and felt some congestion inside his chest adding to the odd pains of uncertainty in his stomach. Spencer had been a hard man and, at times, a violent man. But now he was alone, truly alone. And, for the first time in his life, afraid.

Slowly, he let himself slip into a guarded meditation, to rest his weary body if not his mind. Thoughts of Signus Harvey surfaced, and of Jerrak, the Sha’erah who’d died keeping that murderer safe. Harvey created Jerrak to be the perfect assassin, a role he obviously needed Evan to fill now that he was available. It would be a waste of his own talents, and not anything he wanted to do, but it appeared as if his new Keeper was ready to sell to the first bidder. And that bidder had been Harvey.

Sunrise was an hour away and Evan’s heart was sinking deeper. Why couldn’t Spencer’s son be more like him? More in charge, more experienced. It had always been clear his Keeper would die sooner than he would, but somehow Evan had always thought his future would be slightly more dignified than this.

Before he could dwell longer on that false hope, an alarm Evan was unfamiliar with blared with intensity, coming from his Keeper’s room. In an instant, he was off the bed and through the hologram, even as Alex rolled out of bed, reaching for the source of the noise.

“What the hell?” Alex was half out of bed, staring in shocked surprise from Evan to the false mirror and back again.

Evan grabbed the small device before Alex could touch it and pressed his left palm over the input connection. He’d recognized it immediately as a PDA, but knew that alarm hadn’t been a simple incoming call.

The information burst flooded his mind. He quickly sorted through it until he found the source of the alarm. “Someone was trying to invade your personal files from outside.”

“I know!” Angrily, Alex grabbed the computer from Evan’s grasp. “What the hell was that? The mirror is a hologram?”

He was never going to understand this man. “It was Harvey. I recognized his code.”

Alex got off the bed and stormed a few feet away, looking at the machine in his hand. “I had a special program installed, to prevent competitor piracy.”

“Harvey isn’t a competitor. He’s dangerous.”

“How do you know it was him?” Alex pointed to Evan’s hand. “What exactly did you do?”

Evan shrugged. “What I do.” He held up his left hand so his Keeper could see the silver metal embedded in his palm. “It’s an interface. He wasn’t able to reach your files, but you should upgrade your alarm, he was close.”

Alex stared at him, incredulous. “You got all that just by touching this thing?”

“Yes.”

“That fast?”

“Yes.” His talents were going to be wasted if he was sold to Harvey, but at least the man knew what they were. This guy was clueless.

Alex swallowed and looked away for a moment, running one hand over his hair. Suddenly he looked up as if a thought had just struck. “You read the files?”

“Of course. Everything comes to me in a burst of data, then I look for what I need.”

“You look for what you need? But the rest, you still saw everything in here?” His face was darkening with every word. “The word ‘privacy’ means nothing to you, is that it?”

It would never be worth his time teaching this man the obvious. “You’re my Keeper.” Evan paused, hoping that much would explain it all. Immediately he could see it hadn’t. “For however long that is, I must know everything. I couldn’t begin to protect you if I didn’t know everything I had to. That’s what I’m for.” Alex’s face was still as dark and angry as Spencer’s had ever been. “You don’t understand, do you?”

“No, I sure as hell don’t.”

Evan sighed and tried to pull some small measure of patience from deep inside. His well was nearly dry. “As long as you wear that ring, I’m more secure than that PDA of yours.”

“As long as I wear this ring?”

“My loyalties are with my Keeper.” This was exhausting, having to explain the obvious. Before he could go on, he was hit by another round of coughing. The congestion in his chest felt thicker.

“Are you all right?” Alex still looked angry, but his voice had softened somewhat.

All Evan could manage was a nod as he tried to get his cough under control. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his Keeper toss the PDA to the bed and begin to get dressed. When the coughing stopped, he looked up, trying to clear his throat.

“You need a doctor.”

“Harvey was trying to find a weakness.”

“That cough sounded serious.”

“He’s looking for something he can use against you, in case you don’t accept his offer.”

“Is there a doctor around here?”

“Yes, but I don’t need one.”

“Does he make house calls or do we have to go to his office?”

“Are you listening to me?”

Alex stopped fastening the buttons on his shirt and held a hand up. “Let’s just deal with one thing at a time. You said Harvey didn’t get into the files, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then we have time. I’m ready to deal with him.” Alex walked out to the living room and Evan followed. “Where’s the number for the doctor?”

“The complex has a doctor.” Evan walked to the communications array and dialed up the apartment services, then sent a message to the physician’s office downstairs. “He’ll be here in a half an hour.”

“Fine.” Alex walked barefoot to the kitchen and looked around for a moment before finding the proper equipment for making coffee.

Evan leaned against the back of the couch, watching him. “How much did Harvey offer you?”

Alex looked up, clearly startled by the question. He looked away almost as quickly and fumbled with the cups he was pulling from a shelf. “More than I could have imagined.”

“There are others, you know. At least three that I can think of who have been leaving you messages. They’re not as aggressive as Harvey, but you could start a bidding war and get more, I’m sure.”

“Can we just – please – not talk about this right now?” Alex set the cups down and pointed to the bedroom. “I’m just going to take a quick shower.”

Evan watched his Keeper walk back to the bedroom, then listened as the shower was turned on. When he was sure Alex was in the water, he returned to the bedroom and examined the computer again. Harvey wasn’t one to give up after the first try.

It was a relatively simple device that had been modified, somewhat impressively, with privacy alarms and security programs. None of them detected his presence inside the files, but there wasn’t a security program built that would notice when he was looking around. If Harvey had been his Keeper already, Evan would have had no trouble at all gaining access to everything Alex had.

But Harvey wasn’t his Keeper. Not yet, anyway. Evan had hoped there might be someone else, someone who would use him for what he was made, but the prospects were slim here and he didn’t expect Alex had the patience, or skill, to instigate an off-planet bidding war. From what he saw in the files, any price he could get would be more money than he needed to finish paying for the ship he leased and the crew to man it. His theories about the Nebula seemed a little risky, but Evan had to admit he knew little of such things.

He quickly adjusted the programs to add more security and returned the PDA to the bed. With a little more time, he could have insured they were never infiltrated again, but he figured if Alex found him there, he’d overreact again. For an honest space explorer, he was certainly paranoid.

Evan returned to his room, walking through the hologram as he so often did. After a quick wash and another bout of coughing, he returned to the living room in time to answer the front door.

“Evan, good to see you.” Doctor Slater was a kindly older man, with seriously graying hair and a constant, quiet smile. He was the only person Spencer had ever given unlimited access, so Evan let him in right away out of habit.

“This is –”

“Alex.” Doctor Slater extended a hand as Alex walked up. “I was at the funeral and heard you would be arriving. I must say, the resemblance to your father is rather strong.”

Alex looked puzzled, but shook the man’s hand without hesitating. “Thank you for coming up, doctor.” He pointed to Evan. “He’s had a cough all morning, I thought he should be looked at.”

“Yes, of course.” Doctor Slater put a hand on Evan’s arm and steered him to the couch. “I’ve been Evan’s physician since he was a small boy, but even I couldn’t get him to go inside and get out of the rain back at the graveyard. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he caught pneumonia out there.”

“I didn’t want to frighten VanHolt any more than he already was.”

“I don’t think that would have been possible.” Alex returned to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. “I need to make some calls. If you don’t mind, I’ll just be in the bedroom if you two need me.”

“Oh we’ll be just fine.” Doctor Slater removed some scanners from his bag and nodded as Alex walked back into the bedroom and closed the door halfway. “Now, open your shirt, Evan.”

Evan complied, still looking at the half-closed door.

“How are you two getting along?” The doctor pressed a scanner against Evan’s chest and turned it on, staring intently at the display as he moved the unit around.

“He’s not his father.”

“Ah.” The medical scanner moved slowly around his chest, then to his back. “And did you expect he would be?”

Evan shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

“So, what do you think?”

Doctor Slater was a gentle, quiet man who should have been completely out of place on Cryian II. But to the contrary, he enjoyed the planet more than anyone. Countless smugglers, gamblers, even killers, had confided in him over the years and none had regretted the risk. If this planet had a sacred ground, it was Doctor Slater. He was also the only man other than Spencer that Evan had been allowed to speak with openly.

“I’m not sure.” He kept his voice low, just in case he was overheard. But Alex was in the other room speaking over the PDA to someone, not listening to them. “This planet will eat him up and spit him out if he stays here too long.” Evan adjusted his posture in response to a hand gesture from the doctor, so the scanner could take a new reading. “He doesn’t even know what I am.”

Doctor Slater finished his scans and looked at the readout, nodding slowly. “Well, I believe you’ll find that away from this segment of the galaxy, there are more like him. Most people, even wealthy people, can’t afford a Sha’erah let alone find the dealer and have one special-ordered.” He flipped off the scanner. “This must be hard for you, being passed on like this.”

Evan looked away. “It was inevitable.” Given Spencer’s age and line of work, he was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner.

“I realize you’re bred to expect this kind of thing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for you to adjust to. Perhaps staying with someone just as confused as you are could help, in some way?”

“I don’t see how. We can’t even communicate.” Evan realized he was coming close to being disrespectful, but he also knew Doctor Slater could be trusted. The deep feelings of emptiness he’d been fighting were trying harder to well up and be noticed. “He keeps trying to take off the ring, like he thinks he can just throw it away. That’s how little all of this means to him.”

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing about your new Keeper, he was right. You have pneumonia. And I can’t say I’m surprised.” From his bag came a prescription order unit. “Has anyone contacted Alex with an offer yet?”

“You know I can’t discuss his private business.” Evan began buttoning his shirt back up while he glanced again at the half-closed door.

“I’d heard a rumor about Harvey. They say he’s already killed his nearest competition. Off-worlders haven’t gotten in yet, so I expect he’ll want to secure a deal before they can arrive.”

“That would be up to him.”

Doctor Slater finished writing out prescriptions, then keyed in the pharmacy delivery passwords and nodded as the confirmation was displayed. “I rather hoped Spencer’s son would have kept you. You’re too unique for Harvey.” He put away the unit and looked Evan in the eyes. “You’re not an assassin. I’d hate to see you become one.”

Evan’s face burned slightly, but he quickly gained control and shrugged. “That would be entirely up to my Keeper.” His hands nearly started to shake with the last button, so he left it undone. Killing in defense of another was one thing, but cold-blooded murder wasn’t something he thought he could take to easily. There would be no choice, of course. Unless Alex decided to wait for more offers.

“Doctor, is he all right?” Alex stepped out of the bedroom, pocketing the PDA and glancing from Evan to Doctor Slater.

“It’s pneumonia. A slight case, not overly serious. I’ve sent for some medications.”

Alex nodded.

“I was wondering if I might have a word with you? In private, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. We can step out to the courtyard.”

“No!” Evan jumped up. “It’s not secure out there.” He blocked Alex from the door. “Harvey has men who could get past the alarms. In here is the safest place.”

For an instant, Alex looked as if he would argue.

“Your father has a study, second door to the left here.” Doctor Slater pointed to the opposite side of the apartment. “How about we use that?”

Alex looked sharply at Evan, then nodded. “Fine.”

He watched them walk into the office and close the door, then answered the bell announcing a delivery at the service chute. After a quick security scan, he accepted his prescriptions and examined them. Why was it, in this day and age, antibiotics still came in overly large pills? And what exactly was Doctor Slater discussing with Alex?

Evan poured a cup of the coffee already made and swallowed the required medications. He hadn’t violated anything with the doctor. It was Slater’s own idea that Harvey had made some kind of offer. Alex had to realize that. Doctor Slater wouldn’t let his Keeper think he’d spoken out of place. He couldn’t be making his own offer. The doctor was wealthy, but as far as Evan knew, he was far from being that wealthy.

Still, it would be nice to consider being the property of someone other than Signus Harvey. Just to be with someone who knew who and what he was would be enough. He was almost sure of that.

But there wouldn’t be enough time to find out. He saw how urgent it was for Alex to return to his ship and beat that other man to the Nebula. And be the first to find turbidium there, whatever that was for. He was a little surprised to find Alex was the captain of the ship, and the commander of the expedition. Surprised and a little perplexed, judging by what he’d seen of the man so far. Maybe – just maybe – he’d been too harsh judging his new Keeper during their first few hours together.

Suddenly the office door opened and Doctor Slater come through, followed by Alex.

“Well I certainly wish you all the luck, Alex. I’ve always hoped it could be done.”

They shook hands, both men glancing for an instant at Evan.

“Thank you for the help, doctor.”

Evan tensed slightly, wondering what the two men had discussed. Doctor Slater had never betrayed a confidence before, but he’d never had a new Keeper before. Obviously there were first times for everything.

“Evan, would you please see the doctor out?”

“Yes, Evan, why don’t you see this old man to the elevator.” Doctor Slater smiled and patted Evan’s shoulder as they walked to the door.

What had they talked about for forty minutes alone together? He couldn’t ask, no matter how badly he needed to know, so he simply nodded and walked the doctor out through the door, past the fountain and the trees, both real and hologram. The birds were singing calmly, always a good indication there was no danger lurking about. He hit the button for the car and turned to face the doctor.

“Now, you be sure and take that medication, all of it, exactly as it’s written.”

“Yes, sir.” Evan swallowed, praying the man would volunteer an explanation of what he’d discussed with Alex.

Instead, he was treated to another pat on the shoulder.

“I know this isn’t an easy time for you, no matter what your training prepared you for. I just hope you can try to be patient and let things work out for themselves.”

Evan’s eyebrows knit together. “How do you mean?”

Just then the elevator arrived, pausing long enough to show the security camera that its car was void of passengers.

“Take care, Evan. Just in case I don’t see you again for a while.” He stepped into the car. “Now that Spencer’s not around to take out his frustrations on your hide, you shouldn’t be needing a doctor quite so often.”

Evan stood there numbly watching the doors close, then walked back to the door in a confused daze. Inside, he found Alex leaning over the communications screen, speaking with someone. The conversation ended as he walked into the apartment. Alex turned and looked as if he was about to say something, but before he could, the unit buzzed behind him. Evan automatically walked to answer the call, but Alex held up a hand and keyed the switch.

“Yes?”

From behind the couch, Evan could make out the face on the screen. Every muscle in his body tensed.

“Mr. Marcase, can I call you Alex? I was wondering if you’d had time to think over my offer of last night?”

“Yes, Mr. Harvey, as a matter of fact I have.”

“Just Harvey, please. Everyone calls me Harvey.”

Evan shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to watch Harvey on the screen without being seen himself. Only people that man killed every called him Harvey.

“May I assume you found my offer adequate?”

“It was very generous, Mr. Harvey. More money than I could have imagined, I’m sure.”

“Well, Sha’erah are hard to come by. Your father’s death was a tragedy, to be sure. But I must admit I couldn’t allow this opportunity to pass me up.”

“I’m sure you couldn’t.” Alex turned slightly and looked at Evan.

Their eyes met for an instant and Evan felt a slight wave of shock course up his spine. It was barely there, and impossible to interpret, but he knew he’d felt it. His Keeper’s expression was unreadable. The instant seemed to drag on for hours, and Evan fought to understand the look, but the man’s green eyes were too unlike his father’s to predict.

The moment passed, and Alex turned back to the screen. “As I said, your offer was most generous. But I’m afraid he’s not for sale.”

Evan blinked.

So did Harvey.

“Excuse me?”

“I said he’s not for sale.”

Evan’s lungs gasped for air when he realized he’d forgotten to breathe. His mind had been shocked into a sort of void spot where no thought was possible. Did he just say No to Harvey? He tried to rush forward and explain Alex’s grave error, but he couldn’t move.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Alex.” Harvey’s voice shook with an anger still held in check. “Is the price not sufficient? I can go higher, but I assure you you’ll not find another offer like mine anywhere else in the galaxy.”

“I’m sure you’re right, sir. But as I said, he’s not for sale.” Alex glanced at Evan again, but wouldn’t hold his gaze this time.

The room was doing its damnedest to spin around him, but Evan kept it relatively level with great effort. Not for sale? Was he going to start a bidding war after all? Couldn’t he sense how dangerous that could be? Evan’s heart was pounding so hard in his chest he could hear blood roaring through his ears, muffling Alex’s words. He couldn’t possibly be thinking . . .

“Mr. Marcase, I think you can see how generous I’ve been up to this point.” Harvey’s anger was losing much of its control. “I’m sure you don’t intend to keep Evan. You’re a busy man with deadlines to return to.”

Alex straightened up and for a moment, Evan feared he might be going to get angry at the veiled reference to Harvey’s undoubtedly full understanding of his career and private life. Things were going to get ugly, he knew it.

“I do apologize if I’ve led you to believe otherwise, Mr. Harvey. But Evan is not for sale. Good day.” Alex finished his sentence with a decisive flip of the end-call button.

When they were alone again, Evan’s instincts kicked into gear, freeing up his body, if not his numbed mind. “What are you doing?” He hurried to his Keeper’s side. “Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Not really, but I’ve done it.” Alex looked him in the eye, unwavering.

“Harvey doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“I figured as much.”

“It’s not safe here, not anymore. Even with Jerrak dead, Harvey can get in here.”

“Jerrak?”

Evan snorted his disgust at his new Keeper’s ignorance, picking the most inopportune times to demand the simplest explanations. “Jerrak was Harvey’s Sha’erah, an assassin. He was killed three years ago.”

Alex’s jaw muscles clenched suddenly, but he didn’t seem to react with any more surprise. “I’ve already booked us a shuttle out of here. We leave in two hours.”

Evan blinked.

“Can you pack quickly?”

“We?’

“Is there anything here you want? Anything that wasn’t rented that my father left you?”

“Harvey’s offer was more than you’ll find anywhere else.”

“There’s a cruiser heading back to Scotian, that’s where I’m from, our shuttle can meet up with it. I’ve booked us a spot.”

“You’re keeping me?”

“You’ll have to call that car, I don’t know where he’s listed.”

Evan reached out, stopping short of touching Alex’s arm. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Alex looked away, then back again. “No. I don’t.” He swallowed and fingered the silver ring. “I have no idea what I’m doing. But we’d better get the hell out of here and worry about it later.”

Evan couldn’t argue that logic. Actually, it was the only logic he could find in this entire situation. Alex returned to the bedroom and began packing, so Evan did the same. There wasn’t time to think, he had to act, leave the thinking for later when there was time.

His own possessions were few, clothing mostly, some equipment. It all fit easily into a bag that he slung over his shoulder. In the living room, he quickly called for the car, then hurried into Spencer’s office and found the safe behind the holographic painting.

“What are you doing?” Alex poked his head into the office, his bag secured over a shoulder.

“Your father left something in here for you.” The safe opened and Evan retrieved the only contents, a small bag heavy with credit chips. “He told me to give it to you after –” He faltered, suddenly not sure this was the proper time. But if Alex was leaving, it must be the proper time. Evan knew no matter what the future held, he’d never be back in this apartment again. Regardless of who Alex ended up selling him to.

“After what?”

“He said after you’d made up your mind.”

Alex didn’t reach out to accept the bag. “When did he say this?”

Evan shrugged. “He didn’t, not to me. It was in the will.” He reached out, trying again to hand over the bag. Maybe Alex hadn’t made up his mind after all? “If you’re leaving, then he must have meant for you to have it now.”

That seemed to be the answer Alex was looking for. He accepted the bag but didn’t look inside. “Let’s go.”

Evan followed his Keeper until they reached the front door, then he blocked the way. “Me first. Harvey’s already on his way here.” He grabbed a hand-held unit from beside the door and turned it on, scanning the foyer. With his packed bag secured over one shoulder, and a scanner in one hand, Evan drew a small weapon with the other and was slightly surprised to find a similar gun in Alex’s right hand. “Stay close.”

Alex obeyed for the most part, but he couldn’t stop looking around the entire elevator ride down as if he’d expected Harvey to burst through the walls. Evan couldn’t help thinking this guy was in way over his head and he had to get them both out of here in one piece. By the time they reached the ground floor, the car was waiting, passenger door pressed up against the lobby entrance. Evan motioned to the armed guard at the front desk and waited until he was given a quick nod before allowing Alex to leave the elevator car.

“Straight into the back seat. The car is shielded.” He followed Alex, gun cocked and ready. When his Keeper reached the car’s open door, he tossed his pack through and launched himself in after it. Evan turned quickly, guarding their backs, and let himself fall into the car, pulling the door shut the instant he was inside.

The driver pulled away before the door was even closed. “We’ll have to take the main route. Can’t afford to waste any time with Harvey on your case.”

“How do you –”

“Everyone will know by now.” Evan kept his gun in hand, nodding to the driver. “How close can you get us?”

“I could drive this baby right up that shuttle’s ass, if it had one.”

Alex shifted in the seat and fingered the small hand gun he was holding. “Will this guy follow us off-planet?”

Evan turned to look at him, shrugging slightly. “I’m not sure.” His Keeper held his gaze, but those deep green eyes were impossible to read. He really had no idea what he’d done. “No one’s ever said no to Harvey and lived to tell about it.” Damn, he wished he knew what Doctor Slater had talked to Alex about! Was it something he’d said that caused this irrationally impulsive death wish?

The driver shot a glance over his shoulder as he sped down the main streets. “You got guts, Mr. Marcase. Just like your old man. No one ever bargained on you keeping Evan. Least of all Signus Harvey.”

Alex shot the driver a look, then turned away and stared out the window.

“It’s a good thing you’re doin’, keeping him in the family and all.”

Evan tried to catch the driver’s eye and get him to shut up, but he wasn’t looking at them in the mirror. All he could do was watch Alex for any kind of reaction. It felt as if they’d switched places overnight. Suddenly things were happening too fast and making no sense, and Alex seemed in control. Evan knew it was just the danger they were in. With Harvey on their tails, they were closer to death than most men ever got. That, plus the medication he’d taken, must be the reason for this illusion. He was just tired. Working from instinct. That was why it appeared as if Alex was in control of the situation.

Had to be.

“The space port is two blocks over.” Evan checked his weapon and the scanner.

“Your ship is being prepared, gentlemen.” The driver flipped a control on his dash and a green light appeared. “I told the Captain you’re in a bit of a hurry. He’s just loading some cargo now.”

Suddenly Alex turned from the window and looked at Evan. “Can he be trusted? The pilot, I mean.”

“I don’t know.” Fine time to start thinking ahead.

“Great.”

“If I’d known what you were doing, maybe I could have planned this out better.”

“Hell, Ididn’t know what I was doing!” Alex shot a glance at the driver, then lowered his voice slightly. “I just want to get out of here, get someplace where I can think.”

“What’s to think about? You could have sold me and been done with it by now.”

“Is that what you wanted? To be sold to Harvey and turned into his new assassin?”

“You know, you don’t make a lot of sense.”

“Good.” Alex checked his weapon and looked through the front windshield at the approaching shuttle facility. “I’d hate to start making sense all of a sudden. It would ruin this new trend I’ve got going.”

Evan let out a forced breath and scanned the area quickly. The car was pulling right up to the entrance, but the loading bay seemed unusually crowded. Not a good sign.

The driver nestled the passenger door right up to the main entrance, then tipped his hat and smiled. “Good luck to you, gentlemen. It’s been a pleasure.”

Evan turned to Alex. “Stay right beside me. We can use the crowd, but don’t get too close to anyone. Harvey’s men are probably everywhere.” He opened the door and stepped out, then motioned for his Keeper to follow.

Every nerve in his body was alert. At least with Spencer, after so many years together, Evan could predict his movements. The man lived with danger and knew how to react and how to let Evan take point. This guy was a complete stranger in both thought and action.

With five shuttles in port taking on passengers, the crowd paid them little notice. Both men merged with a group walking purposefully toward docking bay 3A, eyes darting from face to face, searching for signs of hostility or recognition. With his senses on overload, the pack over Evan’s shoulder felt heavier than it should have. He considered leaving it behind. It was only clothing and a few odds and ends, but it could come in handy as a battering ram if need be.

They were only a few yards away from the gate when he spotted trouble weaving its way through the crowd. It was three of Harvey’s men, heading directly for them. Evan turned to Alex and nodded urgently to his left, then pointed to a doorway several feet over.

“Hurry!”

To his credit, Alex didn’t argue. He moved for the door and opened it, then ducked inside without hesitation. Evan made it through immediately afterward and pulled the door closed just as two shots slammed into the metal.

“Now where?!”

The room they’d ducked into was pitch black, with a cold breeze hitting them in the face from the right side. Evan felt the wall for a light panel. It brought little success, with three of the five lights burned out, but they could make out a narrow corridor.

Two more shots hit the door. “Down there!”

Alex ran down the corridor with Evan right behind. “What are they shooting for? If they kill me, Harvey’s no closer to what he wants!”

“Those were stun shots.” Evan saw what he was looking for just ahead. “Stop here!”

They’d reached an adjoining corridor, branching off in two directions. An old, dirty sign pointed to baggage claim to their left, while another, more faded, indicated the packing bay. On the wall, next to another sign neither man could make out, was a well-used communication panel. Evan pressed his left palm onto the panel. Instantly, his mind was hit with a flood of information. He concentrated, weeding out what he didn’t need and searched for the shuttle bay’s layout. The unit was old, and didn’t want to skip all the extraneous information it had been holding for so long, waiting for someone to come along and request it. Evan’s heart was racing by the time he found what he needed and pulled his hand away.

“I found it.” He turned to Alex and saw his Keeper struggling with three men. “Shit!” He’d taken a chance! Evan took aim at the first man he could and fired, dropping him instantly. The other two were wasting no time. One man had Alex’s right hand, trying to force it onto the panel of a legal recorder. They were too close for a clear shot.

Before Evan could reach the other men, two more came rushing up from behind. Instinctively, he swung the pack from his shoulder and caught one of them in the chest. When that man went down, he took the pack with him. The other one was armed with a tranq gun and already taking aim. Evan dropped to the ground and rolled into the man’s legs, clutching them as he went down. With a quick tug, he insured a hard landing which was confirmed by the sound of a skull breaking against concrete.

Evan was on his feet instantly, searching for his gun while the first man scrambled out from under his pack and lunged. He was hit in the side and went down, falling on top of the dead man. His hands went up, blocking his attacker’s punch, while he kneed the man in the groin. The attacker’s reactions were quick, but not quick enough to prevent Evan from drawing the gun from his own belt and killing him with a solid, point-blank blast to the chest.

It took precious seconds to get out from under the dead man and run to where he’d seen Alex. With a gun in each hand, he charged the struggling men, straining in the darkness to identify Alex in the confusion of fists and bodies. One man fell to the side, clutching a smoking wound in his side. The man who had inflicted the injury lunged at the other attacker, missed with one swing, took a hit across the face, but recovered immediately and cut off the offending hand with another swipe of the incredibly sharp blade. Evan stopped in his tracks and took aim.

“Freeze!”

The victor turned, knife poised to throw.

“It’s me!”

Evan lowered his weapon immediately, surprised to find his Keeper still standing. “This way, hurry!”

They recovered their packs and ran toward the cargo bay underneath the main concourse.

“Do you have a plan?” Alex asked

“I think so!”

They rounded a corner and found themselves at the outskirts of a gigantic warehouse, filled with crates, boxes, and conveyor belts all traveling in different directions. Evan scanned the room, searching for the crate they needed while Alex stood beside him, trying to catch his breath.

“That’s it.” Evan spotted the one he was looking for. “Come on, quickly.” He reached the conveyor belt as the huge metal crate rolled slowly along. They had to continue jogging in order to keep up with the moving belt.

“What are we doing?”

“Hitching a ride.” There was an access panel on the side of the crate marked with all manner of security warnings and pre-approved customs tags. Evan reached up and pressed his hand into the plate. Skimming through the security codes was child’s play. Within seconds, the side door popped open. “Jump in!”

Alex tossed his pack into the crate, then scrambled up the side of the conveyor belt and dove headfirst into the large box. Evan waited until he was inside, then climbed up after his Keeper and shoved his pack, then himself, inside.

“You’re sure this crate is heading the same way we are?”

Evan moved over several mounds of softly padded packages and found a relatively roomy spot next to Alex in the far corner of the crate. “It’s being put onboard the shuttle, then transferred to the cruiser you booked. We can get out once we’re there. Harvey won’t follow us that far. He’s wanted by too many systems to risk venturing very far off-planet right now.”

The lighting in the crate was nominal, but he could see Alex nod his acknowledgment. He could also see the blood dripping from the back of his left hand.

“You’re hurt.” Evan pulled his pack open and felt around inside for the first aid kit he’d stuffed in there while packing.

“It’s just a scratch.” Alex examined the wound and shrugged. “Must be the adrenaline. I didn’t even feel it.”

He found the kit and the antiseptic spray inside. “Let me see it.” Without waiting for a response, Evan took Alex’s hand and pulled it closer to what little light was filtering in. He was right, it was a bit more than just a scratch, but infection didn’t require depth. “You can fight.”

“Yes, I can.” Alex watched as his hand was cleaned and lightly bandaged. “Does that surprise you?”

Evan felt his face flush, glad it couldn’t possibly be seen in the dim light. This was one of those times he wished he was allowed to lie. “Yes, it does.”

Alex laughed slightly, then examined his bandaged hand. “Well, I’m sure there’s a lot of things about me you wouldn’t have guessed.”

Evan busied himself putting the aid kit away. “Might as well get comfortable.”

“What will Harvey do when he doesn’t find us on that shuttle?”

“While I was scanning the layout I put our names on five other ships leaving the system in the next twelve hours. That should keep him busy for a while.”

Alex shifted his position and leaned against the wall of the crate. The silver ring on his finger caught a beam of light and glinted brightly for an instant. Evan watched as he touched the ring with the fingers of his other hand. It was the first time he’d noticed his new Keeper not trying to pull it off.

Evan wanted some explanations, but he didn’t want to think just yet. He felt as if yesterday’s twisted confusion had somehow switched places, putting him into a confused state of disorientation and Alex into a position of being the only one who knew what was happening. Twice now he’d misjudged the man’s reactions, but those incidents could still be explained logically. His decision not to sell to Harvey could be a ploy to raise the price, or offer him to someone outside the system. Risky, to be sure, but not completely implausible.

And the fight. His Keeper had incapacitated two skilled fighting men. That could have been luck, as much as anything. It didn’t mean Alex was considering keeping him, or that he actually had some skill and control.

“What is that like? When you plug in to the computer ports like that.”

Evan shrugged. “Like breathing. It’s natural for me.”

Alex contemplated the answer for a long while. “Is that what you did for my father?”

Their eyes met in the dark crate as they glided and bumped their way into the waiting shuttle’s holding bay. Spencer had been his Keeper since Evan was five years old. But he was dead now. And all loyalties died with him.

“Yes, it was.” Evan looked away for a second. “Spencer was a thief and corporate spy. He stole secrets and sold them.” He opened his palm and exposed the silver embedded there. “I was how he did it.”

Alex’s jaw muscles tightened momentarily, then he sighed. “What kind of secrets?”

Evan shrugged. “Military, government, but mostly business. Company secrets, stuff like that. A few blackmails.”

“Must have been a lucrative business.” This time it was Alex who looked away.

“That bothers you?” Evan couldn’t help feeling surprised. “You didn’t even know him.”

Alex didn’t reply. He merely propped an elbow on one knee and slowly ran his thumb over his bottom lip in a distracted manner.

Evan recognized the body language as something Spencer often did and sat silently against the opposite wall of the crate as it was secured in the holding bay. Surely the man didn’t feel anything for a father he’d never known. He was probably just beginning to realize what they’d been through. These adrenaline rushes had a way of catching up with you.

It wasn’t long after their crate was loaded that they heard the shuttle’s engines power up, then felt the slight bump of takeoff. The hop to the outer edge of the system wasn’t a long trip, but they traveled in silence. Evan busied himself with any and every thought he could come up with that would keep his mind too occupied to think about the day’s events, while Alex remained distant, staring through a crack in the crate’s panels.

Both men were startled out of their own thoughts by the movement of the crate as it was transferred from the shuttle to the larger ship. They waited until all motion and sound ceased, then eased the door open and crawled out.

“Wait.” Evan stopped Alex from reaching for the hatch to the access corridor. He found an information panel and touched the screen. The amount of data slamming into his mind was overwhelming at first, but he quickly pushed it all aside and concentrated on the transfers. Satisfied with what he found, he registered them as having made the connection, then pulled out of the ships main computer. “Okay, we’re clear.”

“What did you do?” Alex opened the door and shouldered his pack, glancing into the hallway.

“I made sure nothing else came from that shuttle to this ship other than our crate. No other passengers transferred.” He hefted his own pack and followed Alex through the door. “Then I registered us onboard. You have room L-27-8.”

“Good.” Alex started down the corridor. “I need a drink.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re safe here.”

“What level are we on?”

Evan glanced at the wall as they made a turn. “F-9. Harvey’s got connections.”

“Here’s a lift.” Alex pressed the call button and set his pack on the floor tiredly.

“How long is this trip back to your home?”

The elevator arrived empty, so Evan moved aside and let Alex precede him inside.

“Depends on the ship. What did we get on?”

“It’s called the Terria Rose II.”

Alex blinked, surprised. “You’re kidding? That’s the sister ship to the one I came here on. In that case, we should be there in about two days.”

Evan leaned against the wall of the car, staring at the lights as they flashed by, indicating the levels. It was next to impossible to have an intelligent conversation with this man.

“Why is it my father never had this kind of trouble?”

“What?” Evan looked at Alex, surprised.

The car reached its level and stopped, opening up to a wider, more luxuriously carpeted hallway. Alex exited and paused long enough to read the sign on the wall, then turned right. “Was he chased and attacked every time he left the apartment?”

“No, of course not.”

“And no one bothered him about selling you?”

Now he understood. “Spencer was a dangerous man, everyone knew he would never sell, so no one asked.”

Alex found the door to their room and pressed his thumb into the key panel. “I wasn’t going to sell either, but you said Harvey could have forced me.”

“Not the same thing.” Evan held up a hand before Alex could enter the room. With his portable scanner, he confirmed the room was empty. “Spencer Marcase wasn’t a man you crossed.”

“Even to a man like Harvey?”

Evan nodded, then followed a slightly confused Alex into the room.

It was a modest suite, all one room with a single bed secured to the far wall and a wide couch against the opposite wall. Two chairs faced a small table, with a large washroom finishing out the room.

“I couldn’t get two rooms, the ship is booked.” Alex dropped his pack onto the floor and sat heavily on the bed.

“No.” Evan set his pack next to the couch but didn’t sit down. “I can’t let you out of my sight until I’m sure you’re no longer in danger.”

Alex looked up and seemed about to reply, then shook his head and laid back on the bed, stretching out with a sigh. “Hope you don’t mind the couch.”

“Of course not.” Evan walked around the cabin, reassuring himself there was nothing amiss. “With room service you can stay in here the whole trip. It would be safer that way.”

“I’m too tired to argue right now.”

Evan found the room’s information panel, but didn’t investigate further. There was time for that later. He located the locking mechanism and accessed it, changing the emergency codes so no ship’s personnel could override the room lock. When he finished, he walked back to the couch and sat down.

Alex was asleep, lying on his back on top of the bed. They were quickly leaving Cryian II’s influence, and with luck, Harvey’s reach. Ship time showed late afternoon, with the first round of dinner meals being served in the lower galley. Evan sighed, then leaned back into the couch, pulling both feet up onto the cushions. The couch was soft and deep, inviting him to close his eyes and rest. In the excitement, he’d been able to ignore the thick feeling in his chest, but now that the adrenaline had worn down, he felt the need to breathe more shallowly in order to avoid coughing fits. The pills Doctor Slater had given him were pressing into his side from a pocket, but he ignored them. It wasn’t time for another dose.

Evan dragged a hand over his face and realized it was shaking. The instant he noticed his shaking hand, everything else started to come apart.

“Damn.” He sat forward and pressed both hands into his forehead to stop the tremors. The past few days were threatening to come crashing in on him, and he was running out of strength to fight them off. It wasn’t every day you were inherited, let alone so nearly sold to a man like Signus Harvey. Not that his present situation was any improvement, but at least right now he wasn’t being trained to kill on command. Well, not yet, anyway. What Alex had in mind was completely beyond his understanding.

Did the man mean to keep him after all? He didn’t even understand who or what he was. How was he going to serve someone who didn’t understand how to command?

Evan pulled his head from his hands and looked at Alex. He was still asleep, and judging from the steady breathing, probably would be for hours. God, he was tired! He wanted to sleep as well, put these thoughts off until he’d had some rest. But he didn’t know Alex well enough to predict when he’d wake up. There was no connection between them, and likely never would be. The strange presence Evan had felt with Spencer was gone. He’d never understood or even desired that connection, but he’d learned how it worked and used it often.

Even though that feeling had never been wanted, it now felt painfully absent. The emptiness was like a heavy weight in the center of his chest. With a sigh, Evan leaned back again and closed his eyes. If he could just meditate for awhile, he could at least get some rest.

He hadn’t counted on actually falling asleep.

Next Chapter

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