Ivana confirmed it long before they had visuals. Terra Firma was still in her proper place, the beautiful blue-white marble still turning serenely just where it should be. But again, as in Jupiter's orbit, only silence and empty space greeted them.
Ness had joined them, leaning over the back of Shax's chair, one long, elegant hand on his shoulder. Ness's warmth was a comfort but couldn't quite banish the cold boulder lodged in Shax's stomach.
"This is the wrongness," Ness whispered as they gazed at the strange and unfamiliar site of uncluttered space around Earth. Its only satellite was the moon. No space junk, new or old, no ships or artificial bits of any kind danced attendance.
"Shax, bud, we need to jet out of here," Verin said in an undertone. "What the fuck kind of weapon does this? Annihilates everything and doesn't leave even scrap metal?"
"What kind, indeed?" Shax murmured, drumming the console with restless fingers. "Not even clouds of debris. Earth should have Saturnine rings with the sheer mass of materials that would have been vaporized. And where are the craters? The slag marks? The damage to the moon? Something's not right here…"
Something's not right.
A terrible, distressing thought occurred to him, one that frightened him almost as much as the possibility of aliens-of-total-mass-destruction. "Ms. Ivana, are there human habitations down there that you can pinpoint? Anything left on the surface?"
"Scanning." Even the snarky computer sounded subdued. "I show population centers, Captain Hot Stuff."
"Power plants? Communication networks?"
"Negative on that. You're so sexy when you're in command mode."
"Yes, yes. We'll talk about that later. Ivana, pull up historical maps of Earth. Please compare to current population centers."
"Shax? What the fuck are you saying?" Verin had half risen from his chair.
"Hold up, Ver. It's just a suspicion."
Ivana came back with an answer moments later. "Current placements of human centers correspond to historic maps spanning the mid-nineteenth to very early twentieth centuries."
"Fuck."
"Not right now, Ver, thanks." Shax stared out the viewscreen, his roiling stomach telling him what his brain didn't want to process. "Gentlemen. Ms. Ivana. We have done the impossible."
"The dark matter generator. The eggs," Ness whispered.
"Yes, cupcake. It seems so. Welcome to the glory and terror of time travel. If you'll excuse me, I think I may pass out now."
* * * *
Verin paced the corridors, steam trailing in his wake. Damn frustrating, Shax being so fucking delicate lately. Ness had carried him to the kitchen after Shax's attack of the vapors where Ivana and angel boy were fussing over him and feeding him tea and pastries. Not that Verin cared, really. His highness probably needed some fussing over after all the abuse his body had seen.
But I need him focused, sharp and awake, damn it to the lowest levels!
Verin hit the nearest comm pad, leaving a fist-shaped dent in the adjacent plating. "Shax!"
Ness's voice came back sharper than his usual sweetness and light. "He's still groggy, Ver. What is it?"
"He doesn't need some twink to talk for him! Shax!" He hadn't meant to bellow, but anxiety always ratcheted up his anger.
"Hush, it's all right, cupcake." Shax's voice, weary and shaking, came through the comm. "What's wrong, bud?"
"We're gonna need fuel. Unless you wanna become a floating coffin orbiting the fucking planet."
"Ah. Yes. Meet you in your pod, Ver."
A few moments later, Shax was back in the copilot's chair, a little wobbly and green maybe but awake. "Thank you so very much for scaring the hell out of Ness."
"Ness doesn't have any hell in him."
"You'd be surprised. Never mind that. He started panicking when he realized that ship refueling docks and spaceports haven't been invented yet."
"Is he that stupid? Don't angel ships have mining shit onboard?"
"Probably, to answer the mining shit question. But I'm sure he was never involved in the running of an angelic transport. Foot soldier, as you once so kindly called him." Shax brought up his screens with a little sigh. "Don't worry. I explained. Ms. Ivana, we need a likely landing site. Somewhere with the minerals you need but far enough outside population centers that we don't cause a panic when we land."
"Scanning, Captain." The damn ship's comp had lost its snark. Could a computer be worried?
"Ver? Where were we in the late eighteen hundreds?"
"Why? Who cares?"
"We should. I think. We have no way of knowing, of course, but I don't think we should meet ourselves in this time. It could cause issues with the space-time… thingies."
"You mean like we'd disintegrate or make a hole in space and shit?"
"Who knows? I'd rather not experiment, thank you."
Verin snorted a cloud of smoke, hastily putting out the spark that fell on the boards. "You were in Italy. Some fancy place. I was in fucking Siberia."
"Oh, yes. That's right. Don't snort at me. Siberia was your own fault. But you joined me in Venice for the emerald job. That was a fun one."
"Yeah. Fun. You didn't end up in the canal."
Shax chuckled and though Verin growled, it was good to see him find his annoying sense of humor again.
"What about angel boy?"
"Ness would have been at his guard post in heaven. I think we've established that he didn't get out much. Unless you want to visit there, he's safely out of the way."
"Oh. Right."
"I have some good sites in Wyoming, Captain Beefcake," Ivana broke in. "Uranium, trona, nice trace metals. I'd just need some copper for the Copernicus catalyzer."
"I suppose we could get you copper if we set down close enough to a settlement."
"Well, which is it, Hot Stuff? Close to people or far away?"
"Close enough to walk to town. Far enough away that we can land without a ruckus. We'll have to do a night landing. Go in cold."
Verin swore a turquoise streak.
"I know it's not fun, Ver. Especially without beacons. But you're damn good at this pilot stuff. I have faith."
"Your faith is probably gonna end up a greasy smear on some cliff side," Verin grumbled. "Just so you know."
"We're meant to be here for one bizarre reason or another. It won't end as a smear."
"Go strap your twink in, you annoying little shit, or he will be a smear when we come in rough."
Shax grinned and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Now there's a nice visual. Ness all strapped down and—"
"Shut it! Don't want to hear it!"
Shax laughed and almost managed a swagger out of the pod. He only had to catch himself on the doorseal once.
"Idiot," Verin growled to the empty copilot's chair. He couldn't figure out why a hot lead ball lodged in his chest when he thought of Shax and Ness all tangled up in each other. It wasn't that he wanted Shax for himself. Shaxy had asked a long time ago if he wanted to and Verin told him to fuck off. The prince was easy on the eyes, sure, but he wanted foreplay and technique and shit like that. Verin needed a guy who could take it rough and fast, someone big and broad who could match him shove for shove. And Ness? Verin shuddered. He sure as hell didn't want to fuck some sissy angel.
At least Shax was back, the thinker, the schemer, so things would turn out all right. Eventually.
* * * *
"Shouldn't one of us stay with the ship?" Ness tucked his wings close to his back while Shax helped him into his ankle-length black coat. He did look good in the black leather and the blood-red shirt Shax had altered to fit around his wing joints.
"Not necessary. The mining equipment is integral to the ship. Ms. Ivana has it under control." Shax gave him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. The fuel was the easy part. The hard part was figuring out how to get them back to where they belonged, and he had no inkling where to start on that puzzle.
"But someone might ride by and see it."
"Ah. That. The Brimstone has all the latest…well, I suppose in this century it isn't the latest. It's the futurist. Or something. Never mind. Cloaking tech. Bends light around the ship to make it invisible. More or less."
Ness tucked his ebony hair behind his ear, head tilted in a puzzled way. "More or less?"
"If someone accidentally smacks into it, they'll see it. But that's a rather slim chance out here, wouldn't you say?"
"Shax, love, I've come to believe improbable is usual around you."
"Nice to know you value my unique qualities." Shax leaned in to kiss Ness's jaw.
Ness crinkled his forehead. "Is that how you'll hide your horns?"
"Yes, actually. It's not perfect but since I don't plan to take anyone to bed in this time period besides you, no one would get close enough to see through it. And I do like to have a hat for these occasions as well." Shax pulled the personal shield device out of his closet, trying not to snicker since he and Verin had always called the things 'halos.' He settled it on his head and thumbed it on. "See?"
"Oh." Ness's frown deepened. "You look…human."
"Yes. Sorry, cupcake. Is it too disturbing?" Suddenly he felt self-conscious about the halo shield. He reached up, fingering the power knob. "Too ugly?"
"No. Never." Ness took his face between his hands, warm and soothing on Shax's skin. "You're blindingly handsome still. It's simply different. Not…my Shax."
Your Shax. Damn… A sudden, paralyzing jolt ran through his core, sweet and painful. Shax knew, he knew. Ness had declared his love more than once, but somehow it suddenly felt real in that more simple declaration. Ness loved him and Shax, no matter how hard he tried, could no longer envision himself with anyone else. Yours. Oh, Ness.
He slid his hand behind Ness's head, tangling his fingers in the glorious silk of his hair. Up on his toes to bridge the gap between their heights, he leaned close, his lips a breath away from his angel's—
"Are you two fucking coming?" Verin's growl vibrated through the comm system.
"Not even close," Shax murmured with a sigh. "Ready, cupcake? Stay close to me. Let me do the talking when it's necessary."
Ness nodded. "I have your back, never fear."
"Good to know."
They caught up to Verin on the loading ramp, and Shax had to fight the double take since Ver was wearing his custom-built halo as well. Designed to hide only his massive, curled ram's horns and lend him the illusion of hair in their place, the light shield left him looking oddly naked. The shock of black hair atop his head appeared lonely, and at first glance, his head seemed too small for his broad shoulders. This was an illusion, of course. The head to body proportions were fine, but only if one had never seen Verin with his impressive horns.
Ness peered out, taking in the narrow valley in which Verin had landed the Brimstone. A sheer cliff face hemmed them in on the right and a more gradual sloping plateau crowded in on the left. "That was well done, Ver. Amazing."
Verin tucked a handful of cigars inside his coat pocket. "Great. Twinkles approves of the landing. Can we get the fuck going?"
"Be nice, Ver." Shax hooked an arm around Ness's waist and herded him down the ramp. "Ms. Ivana, we're clear. Lock up tight and don't open the door to strangers."
The ship's computer actually snickered. "Yes, Daddums. And I won't throw any wild parties. Promise."
"That's my girl." He turned to watch the ramp lift and close and the ship essentially vanish as Ivana turned on the shield. An odd wavering danced in the air here and there if one turned the right way, but the eye was tricked into seeing only heat shimmer. Shax settled his almost-cowboy hat on his head and pulled out the map he had printed out. The plas-film wouldn't pass for paper on close inspection either, but near enough for quick glimpses. "Gentlemen, this way."
A spectacular valley opened before them when they exited the canyon, snow-capped peaks in the far distance, ice blue lakes stretched out between strips of green meadowland. Little dots of cattle grazed in the middle distance with the dim outline of a small town on the far side of the valley.
"Sure you can walk that far, bonehead?"
"I'll be fine." Shax started off toward the ranch in the middle of the valley, annoyed that Verin would question his fitness now.
"Not carrying your sorry ass if you keel over."
Ness's voice had a strange, cold edge to it when he interrupted. "No, you're not. I'll carry him if anyone needs to."
"Good. No need to get all pissy."
"Fine."
"Fucking perfect."
Shax rolled his eyes, forcing himself to keep facing forward as he strode through the long grass. Stress. It had to be the stress of the situation since Ness and Verin had been getting along so well before.
By the time the ranch buildings and fences were in clear view, Shax began to regret his fit of ego. His chest ached and he fought to hide his wheezing. Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other without stumbling became his whole universe, the post and rail fence directly ahead his single-minded goal. An overturned crate sat next to one of the posts. Perfect. He sank down on the wood, breathing in careful sips as the world wavered and hummed.
"Shax?"
Ness knelt in front of him, irritatingly blurred. Someone should tell him to stop being so indistinct.
"Hey there! Your friend all right?"
That's not Ness. Or Ver. The voice was deep but definitely human. American human. Nice voice. Rumbly and strong. Shax leaned back against the post. When his hat tipped back, he spotted the voice's owner, a broad-shouldered cowboy with bright green eyes. Nice eye candy.
"Might we have some water for him?" Ness asked in that soft voice that no mortal being could possibly refuse. "He…suffered a recent chest wound. He's not quite recovered."
The cowboy let out a grunt. "Lucky man, to still be breathing." He dismounted and handed Ness a canteen. "You boys aren't from around here."
Shax hurried to drink from the canteen Ness held for him, praying that his angel would keep his mouth shut. "No, we're not," he managed to choke out after swallowing wrong.
Another, younger, cowboy leaned in, freckles peppering his face. "Think we need to get Doc out here for him?"
Shax held up a hand. "No need, thank you. I'm all right. Just tried to walk too far."
"Told you," Verin grumbled.
"Hush, Ver. Don't rub it in."
Several cowboys surrounded them now, apparently drawn from their work by curiosity that would rival a tribe of cats. Green Eyes kept the new arrivals back with a frown. Either he had some authority or the others respected his greater mass.
"What in thunder's going on over here?" Yet another cowboy rode up along the fence, this one showing his years in his silver hair and wind-seamed face. "You boys decide you don't want to get paid this week?"
"Came across this man looking like he was on his last breath," Green Eyes nodded to Shax. "Claims he's not."
The older cowboy squinted down at Shax, then waved his hat in an impatient gesture. "Back to work, varmints! It don't take all of you to help an ailing stranger!"
Cowboys scattered with grumbles of "Aw, Zeke" and "We were just fixin' to help." Zeke, obviously the foreman, dismounted with a shake of his head and addressed Shax. "Sure you're all right, mister? You're pale as a cave fish in winter."
"Thank you, yes. I appreciate the concern." Shax sat up straighter, trying to look as well as possible.
"You boys looking for work?"
"Just passing through. We hoped to find a blacksmith in town who might have some copper wire."
Green Eyes grumbled, "Town? One saloon and a general store isn't much of a town."
"Not much of a smithy in town, I'm afraid, boys." Zeke shot the big cowboy a quelling glance. "We've got a better one here on the ranch. Better everything here, to be honest. Corny's not wrong there."
"Damn it, Zeke," Green Eyes, apparently Corny, grated out through clenched teeth. "You have to use that name to strangers?"
Freckles, who had stayed to gawk despite Zeke's dire warnings, snickered. "Yeah, his name's Cornelius de Groot. Pretty strange name for a cowpoke if you ask me. But everyone calls him Corny."
"Shut up, kid."
Shax felt the headache starting again though he kept his smile firmly welded on. "Would your smith have copper? I'm certainly willing to pay him for it." He ignored Verin's snort without even a twitch.
Zeke shoved his hat back to scratch at his thinning hair. "Well, now, Saunders went off to Cheyenne for supplies a few days ago. We expect him back within the week, but I sure as hell don't want to take my life in my hands and rifle through his shop."
"Ah. I see." Shax startled when something shoved his elbow. He turned to find a bovine at eye level. A cow had pushed her head through the fence rails. A second one joined her, also nudging at Shax in greeting. "Well, hello, ladies. Lovely to see you."
"The critters have taken a shine to you," Zeke said with a chuckle. "Worked with 'em some, have you?"
"A bit. Small herds."
"You're welcome to stay the few days while you wait for Saunders. Maybe do a bit of work for your board."
Shax glanced at his companions. Ness had a deer-in-the-spotlight look. Verin rolled his eyes. "Why, yes. We'd be delighted."