Image by Andreas Schlereth from Pixabay

Eire growled under his breath. Michi Nakano had taken his granddaughters. She’d attacked his family directly. He was not going to let this stand. But how was he going to find them? He’d already reached out to Angeliki, and she was working through her husband to keep an eye out for them on Bouarus. But it took fifteen weeks in darkspace to get from Sorus to Bouarus and that was fifteen weeks no one would know what was happening to them.

Eire needed to get off Zebrore, but where could he go? None of the other high grav worlds in the Colonies would be safe. The price on his head was high enough that people would happily turn him over to the CAF. The only reason he was able to hide on Zebrore was because of a few resistance members who’d escaped Jacin’s notice. They were keeping Eire safe while he decided what to do next.

“Eire, you need to see this,” Sylvie said.

“See what, Syl?” Eire asked.

“You said watch for strange Core Worlders. This batch is weird,” Sylvie said. “Plus, I’m sure I heard children cryin’ just walkin’ past the ship. I almost had a gun pulled on me for bein’ curious, so I didn’t stick around to ask any questions.”

“Sounds suspicious,” Eire said. “Show me.”

Sylvie led him to a place where they could hide and observe the ship that had landed on the outskirts of the small town. Eire saw two dark skinned women wearing the special grav suits and three men who were sweating but were not wearing them. “What do you mean the darkspace drive is broken?” one of the women asked with some heat.

“Just that, Harini. The drive is dead. We won’t make it to Bouarus if we don’t get the parts to fix it,” one of the men said. “I know Zebrore. You two will have a better time than we will trading for what we need.”

“Why is that?” the second woman asked.

“Your skin tone and gender. You’re dark and you’re female. They’re a bit nicer to dark skinned folk around here, and women have an easier time on Zebrore, Rekha,” the man said.

Twin children, no older than four or five, ran off the ship. The women caught them. “Little brats,” Rekha said, striking one of the girls hard.

“Don’t hit my sister,” one of the girls said, punching Rekha hard in the stomach.

“I want my mama,” the one who’d been hit wailed.

Eire frowned. Those eyes, he thought. They were the same intense blue of his family’s. Punching the problem until it goes away was his daughter’s way of handling things, and something she’d probably teach her children.

“The Rezouacs will be behind us, if they can find a way off world,” Harini said. “Find out what parts we need so we can get off this planet fast. Lady Nakano must not be kept waiting.”

That was all Eire needed to hear. Those girls were his granddaughters, and these ketches were the ones who’d taken them off Sorus. They were working for Michi Nakano as Fiera had told him. Eire moved with all the swift surety of a man half his age. He was on the first woman before she even knew he was there. He snapped her neck. He whirled and slammed his leg into the first man’s gut. The second woman fell the same way the first had. The men went down to Eire’s flying feet and fists. Hitting problems until they went away was also his style.

The twin girls stared up at him, eyes wide. They clung to each other, though one looked more ready to fight than the other. Eire knelt in front of them. “What’s yer names?” he asked.

“Nafisa and Laoise,” the more hostile twin said. “Who’re you?”

“Who’s yer ma?” Eire asked.

“Everyone calls her Fury,” the second twin said.

Eire wiped the blood off his hands. “I’m yer grandda. You can come with me now. I’ll find a way to get you back to yer ma and da. Sound good?”

Nafisa and Laoise looked up at him. “Grandda?” the first twin asked.

“Yes,” Eire said.

“You gave mama something. What was it?” the second twin asked.

“The Gaiteran eternity heart bracelet. I gave her one for her and for the giant she married,” Eire said.

The twins slid their hands into his. “Grandda, we want to go home,” the first twin said.

“Unca Flicks got hurt. So did Gael and Pascal,” the second twin said.

“Are Gael and Pascal yer Uncle Flicks’ littles?” Eire asked, scooping the girls into his arms and carrying them away from the ship.

“Uh huh,” the first twin said. “There was a big bang and bright light. Everyone fell over. Then we woke up on the ship with the mean ladies.”

Sylvie caught up with him. “Eire, are these the little girls yer lookin’ for?”

“They are. Sylvie, I have t’get off Zebrore,” Eire said. “It won’t take them long t’track me if they find out I was here. Can you take them t’Sorus fer me?”

“I can’t. Jacin has them watchin’ fer us. He didn’t turn us in, but it doesn’t mean the CAF doesn’t know about us,” Sylvie said.

“Where can I take these two until I can get them back t’Sorus?” Eire asked.

“Go t’Annorth, Eire. The Arpathi will protect you ‘cause they don’t care about human laws. You haven’t broken any Arpathi laws, have you?” Sylvie asked.

“None that I know of,” Eire said. “The CAF can’t touch us there. It’ll give me a chance t’plan and figure out how to get them home safe. Get me to Annorth, Sylvie.”

“I’ve got a supply run goin’ there in the mornin’,” Sylvie said. “I’ll take you there myself.”

“We’re not going home?” one of the twins asked.

“Not yet,” Eire said. “I’m – I’m not everyone’s favorite person and I’d have t’go into a permanent time out if I go back t’Sorus right now. I need some time t’figure out how t’get you two back. Don’t worry. I’ll get you back t’yer ma and da quick as I can.”

“Okay,” the second twin said. They leaned their heads against his shoulders and relaxed.

“Hang in there, phoenix girl,” Eire muttered. “I’m bringin’ them home soon.”