A freezing wind from up ahead sent a shiver running through me, and I sighed with relief. The outside was near, and with it, escape. We rounded a corner onto another space open on one side to exterior.
“What’s next?” I said as snow blew in around us. Yep, the forcefields were down, leaving the Hive without protection from the elements. “Please tell me your plan isn’t just ‘hope there’s a skiff.’”
Varok laughed. “Oh, much worse than that, human. Climb aboard and hang on tight.”
Before I mustered a protest, he took aim at the opening and charged. Varok roared with effort, speeding up and pushing the stolen crate faster than I could keep up. I took his advice and jumped onto it, clinging tight as he shoved us onward, faster and faster.
“Hey, slow down, we’re getting close to the edge,” I shouted over the howling wind. If he heard me, he gave no sign, pushing harder and faster until the platform disappeared from below us.
Given the chance, I’d have jumped for safety. Varok denied me the option, leaping on top of me and pinning me to the ceramsteel. His powerful arms closed around me as he took hold on either side of me, and caught between two unyielding surfaces, I screamed as we fell into the darkness.
12
VAROK
Ishouted aloud, exhilarated, as we rode the crate off the Hive and into thin air. Stressed to their limits, the anti-grav lifters whined, and freezing air whistled past as we fell. Behind us, the Hive tumbled past, vanishing into darkness as the night swallowed us whole.
Penny pressed back against me, her body as warm and soft as the crate was hard and unyielding. She fitted against me as though our bodies were made for each other, curves delicious and tempting through the thin fabric separating us.
Then we struck the ground, or rather the deep drift of snow surrounding the Hive. The impact drove us through the surface of the snow, and true darkness closed around us as the snow tumbled in on top of us. In the small hollow space we found ourselves in, no light reached us from the stars, the Hive, oranywhere.For a moment, I allowed myself to lie back against the snow, holding Penny against me and gasping for breath.
The moment ended when her elbow thudded into my ribs with surprising strength. She squirmed out of my grasp, pushing aside the light covering of snow that had tumbled after us.
“This was your plan?” She hissed the question as I coughed and gasped down freezing air. The snow cover gave way, leavingher a stunning silhouette against the stars above, and I savored the view.
“‘Oh, I know, once I’ve stolen the priceless work of art I’m after, I’ll just jump off the building. That’s bound to get me to safety.’ Idiot. Fool. We could have broken our necks!”
“Didn’t though,” I said, voice raw. “It worked.”
“Oh, if only it had fucking worked. We’re stuck, stranded at the foot of the Hive. We’re covered in snow, it’s the middle of the night, and the spaceport’s, what, two miles away?” Her eyes were invisible in the darkness, but I still felt her glare. My laugh did nothing to help that.
“It isn’t funny. Maybe you Argentians like it cold, but I’m going to freeze to death in this stupid dress before we make it half-way.”
“I am not such a fool that I forgot to account for the weather.” I heaved myself up from the snow, brushing it off my suit with some distaste and fishing out my comm. “And I told you, my plan worked.”
Beside us, the snow shuddered, lifting as though a giant animal were emerging from a burrow. Penny jumped away, slipped, and fell into my arms as my skiff rose from its wintry grave.
I didn’t laugh. It took an effort, but it wouldn’t be fair to mock her. I’d known what was coming; she’d had no warning.
Besides, anything that gave me cause to hold her was worthwhile.
“I paid someone to crash this here last year. It’s modified with extra shielding on the engine and power supply, so as long as I keep the speed low, there’s no signal to detect. So yes, my plan worked.”
Her indignanthuffwas all the answer I got, and all I needed. A small victory, but one that mattered more to me than the heist itself.
I carried her over to the skiff and, brushing the snow from a seat, set her down. Thank the Void that the human painting wasn’t as bulky as the sarcophagus. That left space for a passenger.
Once we’d secured our prize, I took the driver’s seat and got the skiff underway. After a short but nerve-wracking push through the snow, we rose to the surface and followed a long-abandoned road just above the snow. All around us rose the remains of a once-proud city, snow covering the ruins, giving them a stark beauty.
Hard to believe this city had once been the beating heart of the planet’s economy. Built around the spaceport on its mountain plateau, housing the wealthiest merchants and the poorest workers in its narrow confines, it must have been a sight to see. Now it stood empty and still. To the west, even the sea stood motionless, frozen over decades ago.
Beside me, Penny ignored the view, wrapping herself in the thin, metallic cloak of whisperlight mesh and hugging herself tight. Only then did I realize she hadn’t been exaggerating about the cold. For me, the freezing weather was uncomfortable. For a human, it looked life-threatening.
Especially barefoot in a party dress. I snarled at myself. How could I have been so stupid? Despite the population of the planet abandoning it as it spiraled away from the star, it hadn’t occurred to me that she might be so vulnerable to the cold. I had little help to offer, but I pulled off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Take this and don’t worry. We’ll be aboard a nice, warm ship soon.”
Her laugh emerged from her lips as a white cloud. “That, or in a monster’s belly. Honestly, at least the arena looked warm.”
