Chapter Seven

Sally led the way out onto the porch, Ari following close behind, loaded down with several boxes and parcels, all tied neatly together with twine.

He had secured his personal effects from the pockets of his old waistcoat and trousers and slipped them into the new, slowly growing accustomed to his Verge-style clothing.

It was by turns more and less restrictive than he was used to, and it was already having an effect on his posture and gait.

He surveyed the topography for likely sources, spying a patch of variegated soil that could be the match he was searching for.

Shifting his packages to one arm, Ari stooped to gather a soil sample. He capped the vial and carefully labeled it before sliding it into one of the convenient flap pockets on either side of his new trousers.

They walked past a few more buildings before he stopped to retrieve some sedimentary rocks, then bagged and labeled them before dropping them into the opposite pocket.

Sally stopped to watch him with a furrowed brow.

“I’m sorry, but what the heck are you doing?”

Ari turned away from the empty vial in his hand, granting her a fraction of his attention.

“I am collecting samples.”

Sally’s mask of confusion blossomed into a mask of continued, deeper confusion.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ari swept a dusting of mineral powder into the vial, capped and labeled it, and rose to his feet.

“It means I am gathering geological samples from every Verge settlement I encounter, in order to analyze said samples in my laboratory.”

Sally’s confusion grew a third layer. “What for?”

Ari brushed the soil from the knees of his trousers, marveling at the ease with which it came away. There was certainly something to be said for Verge clothing when it came to fieldwork. He glanced at Sally as he shifted the parcels in his arms.

“In the desperate hope of saving someone’s life,” he answered quietly.

The confusion melted from her face, leaving gentle commiseration behind.

He cleared his throat against the threat of a rising lump, blinking sudden moisture away, grasping for a distraction. “Earlier, when you said I was Mr. Stone’s type. What, precisely, did you mean by that? Purely out of idle curiosity, of course.”

She patted his arm gently before lifting both hands to her face to begin ticking off fingers.

“Well, let’s see. You’re pretty as a picture, kinda delicate in the way that always draws him in like flies on honey. Sweet, too, I’d wager. Obviously got some brains in your head, and, most importantly, you can’t take your eyes off him any more’n he can take his off you.”

Aristotle tugged at his ascot, fumbling his parcels as they nearly slid out of his arms.

“Would you. Would you say that Mr. Stone expects a certain level of sophistication, in a partner?”

Sally cut her eyes to his with a twinkle. “Speakin’ in terms of business, right, hon?”

Ari nodded stiffly, paper crunching as he held his parcels tightly. “In terms of business, of course.”

Sally bobbed her head thoughtfully from side to side.

“Naw. Think that man’s got more than enough sophistication for the both of you. In terms of business, mind.”

Aristotle turned away as heat prickled up his neck, deeply regretting initiating this conversation. “Thank you for your insight, Miss Mudd.”

Sally startled him with a light slap on the arm. “Anyone’d be lucky to have you. Why, I’d like to take you home with me just to listen to you talk. Only, Jeb might get a little bent out of shape if I did. As if he don’t know he’s the only man for me.”

She offered him a saucy wink as she slid her hand into the crook of his arm as if they had known each other all their lives, the dust ruffle on her skirts brushing against his boots with every step.

She tugged on his arm just as they drew in sight of the docks, bringing them both to a stop. Ari pivoted to her curiously, finding a serious expression stamped across her face. She pulled until he leaned down close enough to hear as she lowered her voice.

“Listen here, sugar. I’m gonna be the one to tell you this just cause there ain’t no one else out there to say it. That Orin Stone is a good man. I know he comes over real rough and tough, but he can’t help it if he got size enough for two fellas. Truth is, he’s a real sweetie pie, and you’d best not be messing him around or you’ll have to answer to Sally Mudd, you hear me? You ask around, and you won’t find nobody who’d want to be in your fancy shoes then.”

Ari nodded warily as he slowly straightened away from her sharp glare.

It would be fair to say he was dragged the first couple of steps as she resumed her jaunty walk right up to where Ari’s ship was docked.

Orin and another man stood at the bottom of the ramp, shirtsleeves rolled up and surrounded by crates they were unloading from a nearby hover wagon.

The other man was tall and handsome, mocha-brown skin contrasting nicely with his tightly curled blond hair. Or, he would have been handsome were it not for the deep trench of scar tissue dragging his skin down from the wide bridge of his nose up into his scalp on the left side. His mismatched eyes focused on Aristotle with a barely audible mechanical whir, soft brown on one side and glowing red on the other.

Orin gestured to him with a toss of his head. “This’s Jeb. He’s helping get Delilah gussied up for the ball.”

Ari couldn’t decide which part of the statement was the most confusing.

He opened his mouth to reply, realized there was no reply to be found, and shut his mouth again.

Jeb offered a wave with a sharp flick of his wrist above his head, and Ari raised his hand to wiggle his fingers slightly in response. Orin watched the exchange with good humor before turning away to haul crates of fuel crystals into the open hatch of the exterior storage panels.

Ari turned to Sally. “May I inquire—who is Delilah?”

Sally picked up her skirts to follow Jeb up the ramp, exposing well-worn ankle boots just below the leather sheath of a knife strapped to her embroidered stocking. She threw an unconcerned glance back at Ari. “Beats me, sugar.”

Ari followed dazedly, hugging the wall to avoid the open storage and maintenance hatches as he retreated to his bunk to unload his parcels. He carefully unpacked and hung his clothing, making sure all the wall panels were neatly shut before moving to the lab to store his samples.

He emerged to find Jeb closing the maintenance hatch.

Jeb touched his thumb and forefinger to his hairline as if tipping a hat that wasn’t there, giving a slight bob of his head in Ari’s direction.

“Doctor,” he said quietly, voice unexpectedly soft and melodic.

Ari responded with an abbreviated bow. “Mr. Jeb.”

Ari suppressed a wince at his own stiff formality as Jeb broke out in a smile before joining Sally at the table. She had a pad out in front of her, an older model but still in much better condition than the one from the store. She beckoned Ari over with a sharp whistle.

“Lookie here, hon. Your man caught my Jeb up on y’all’s plans. Noble of you to go chasing after your wayward brother, I gotta say. If it were my rotten sister, I’d leave her to stew in her own pot, and that’s a fact.”

Jeb snorted in the seat across from Sally as Sally scooted over on the bench, patting the space beside her in a way that should have been enticing but veered all the way into commanding.

Ari gingerly took a seat, surreptitiously pushing Sally’s skirts aside as they scandalously spilled over his thigh. She noticed his fidgeting and gathered the fabric in a bundle before shoving it behind her on the bench, exposing her ruffled pantaloons.

Ari genuinely did not know how to react. Sally solved his dilemma with a sharp elbow to his side as she waved the pad in his face.

“Pay attention now. Our fellas’ve been putting their heads together on this, and now we got y’all a guide. It’s not much, but it’s something to go on.”

Ari turned his attention to the pad she shoved into his hands, carefully manipulating the projections in front of him.

Sally wedged her hand under his to scatter the projections here and there, having obviously grown frustrated with his pace. She pointed out a grid composed of names, locations, and numbers.

“Now, this here’s a list of all the best-known singers on the Verge. Least, we got a list of what they go by, where they usually slink around, and the goin’ rate for a song.”

Ari shook his head, a headache starting just behind his eyes that made him nostalgic for his brother, who was usually the cause. “I’m terribly sorry, Miss Mudd, I’m afraid I don’t quite follow. Why would we require the services of a vocalist?”

Jeb gave a quiet huff, bringing both of their attention across the table.

“She’s talking about informants. Colloquially known as singers, their information is referred to as a song.”

Sally leaned her chin onto her hand with a deep sigh, batting her lashes across the table. “Ooh, Jeb, you know I love it when you bust out your Academy voice.”

Ari perked up at the mention of academia, leaning forward slightly. “Where did you attend?”

Jeb stared down at the table, eye focusing with a faint whir. “Enforcer Academy, years back.”

Aristotle stiffened, silently considering the open exit ramp. Jeb laughed softly, returning his gaze to Ari’s face.

“Relax, Doctor. They kicked my ass out.”

Ari tried to nod consolingly when, really, he just wanted to sink with relief. The last thing he needed was an encounter with the Enforcers.

Orin’s boots on the loading ramp announced his presence before he entered the cabin, the space suddenly seeming far too small for four people. Ari absolutely did not notice the way his sweat-damp clothing clung to his body. If he had noticed such things, he would have also noted that he’d opened his shirt by two more buttons.

Fortunately, Ari noticed none of these things before snapping his eyes back to the pad Sally took from his suddenly numb fingers with a snicker.

Orin stopped right at the top, one foot planted on the floor while the other disappeared down the ramp. He leaned his elbow on his bent knee.

“Ready for the fun part, Jeb?”

Jeb stood with a chuckle, going to a large crate taking up one side of the floor next to the open ramp. He placed his hand on the lock panel, waiting for the scan to complete before the lid popped open with a quiet beep.

Ari also went to his feet as Sally planted her hands in the small of his back and pushed. He stumbled over to peer into the crate, rearing back as he registered the contents, nearly knocking into Sally behind him.

“Those are—”

Jeb swept one open hand over the top of the crate. “Yup. Welcome to our local armory.”

He picked up a midsize ray gun and flipped it over in his hands with a nonchalance Ari found completely unwarranted.

Orin studied the crate for a long moment before selecting a laser pistol nearly the length of Aristotle’s forearm and expertly twirling it around his index finger.

Perhaps that particular display was somewhat warranted.

Parts of Ari could definitely stand to see more, in fact.

Ari swallowed discreetly as Orin took aim at the wall, arm fully extended, before repeating the twirl in reverse and tucking the pistol into his belt. Orin turned back to Jeb.

“Single charge crystal?”

Jeb shook his head with a sly grin. “Double charge on that model.”

Orin let out a low whistle, pulling the pistol out and weighing it in his hands. “Nice and light, even so.”

Jeb nodded, sighting down the double barrel of an even larger pistol with a practiced grace. “That piece was made for you, Stone. Now, what are you thinking for the Doc?”

Everyone turned to Ari, who valiantly resisted the urge to step back only because Sally was directly behind him. He shook his head, his cheeks going cold with panic.

“Oh no. No, thank you. I am not currently in the market for an—” He lowered his voice to a whisper despite the fact that they were alone on his ship. “—illegal firearm.”

Jeb threw his head back with laughter, sliding his hand into his worn leather vest to retrieve a bifold badge and holding it out for Ari’s inspection.

“Relax, Doc. I’m the closest thing we got to the law around here.”

Ari squinted dubiously at the badge, reading the battered inscription. “You’re the local magistrate?”

Jeb closed it with a snap, tucking it back into his vest. “Sure am. Besides, these things are only illegal if you take ’em into the Core. Now I know you boys wouldn’t even think of doing a thing like that, so we’re all on the straight and narrow here today, Doc.”

Aristotle had never spent so much time around people who seemed so averse to using his name. He found that he rather enjoyed the shocking familiarity it implied. It felt much like he had always imagined friendship might feel, if he had ever been able to make friends beyond his brother.

Orin’s voice brought his focus back to the crate.

“I’m thinking something small, no kickback, definitely nonlethal.”

Jeb nodded thoughtfully before selecting a miniaturized laser pistol that could fit on Ari’s palm, holding it out to Ari by the snub-nosed barrel.

“Might be best to start with a garter pistol, single charge crystal, stun only.”

Ari curled his fingers around it tentatively, finding the small weapon to be a surprisingly comfortable fit in his hand. “If I keep this in my garter, how will I retrieve it in the event of danger?”

Orin fumbled the surge launcher he’d been considering, and Jeb rushed to catch it with a muttered curse before carefully replacing it in the crate with a dark glare at Orin.

Orin whipped around to gape at Ari, hair falling in his face. “You”—a slow smile curled over his lips as his voice dropped low—”wearing garters, Red?”—and settled somewhere in Ari’s gut. Ari blushed violently, staring down at the pistol.

“Well. Yes, I. Of course, I have the appropriate. This really isn’t. I ought not discuss such things in mixed company.”

He could have sworn that a tea kettle had come to a boil behind him, but it was only Sally squealing.

She bustled around Ari to sock Jeb in the arm. “I told you they were! Now, pay up!”

Jeb clucked his tongue as he locked up the crate after securing his remaining weaponry.

“Naw, see, Stone didn’t know that little tidbit, which, if anything, proves they aren’t. You pay up.”

Sally drew her hand back for what was sure to be another sock on the arm when she was interrupted by Orin wrapping his arms around her to lift her from the ground in a massive bear hug. She patted him on the face as he set her back down on her feet, and he snagged her hand to plant a noisy kiss on her knuckles.

“Thanks for everything, Sal. I sure do appreciate all you done for us.”

He picked up the crate, muscles straining in a way that even Ari could not ignore, and carried it out to the wagon below, the rest of them following in a ramshackle parade.

Dusting off his hands, Orin held one out to Jeb for a firm shake, both men nodding in synchronization.

Jeb offered Ari his hand next. “You be careful out there, Doc. Keep this one in line.”

Ari quietly agreed, jumping as a small pair of arms wrapped around him tightly. Sally pulled back to pinch both sides of his cheeks, just this side of painfully.

“I could just eat you up with a spoon, hon; you’re that cute!”

Ari stepped back as soon as he was released, offering a courtly bow.

“I am delighted to have made your acquaintance, Miss Mudd. Thank you for your assistance.”

Sally slapped Jeb on the chest with another squeal. As Orin turned with a wave and wandered up the ramp, Sally pointed at his back, then at Ari, then at her own stony face before hopping on the wagon with a cheery wave.

Ari hurried into the ship’s cabin. He picked up his garter pistol, turning it to examine the pearl handle as the ramp retracted and the bay doors closed.

Orin stepped out of the cockpit to snatch the weapon from Ari’s hands and held it over his head as though Ari might make a grab for it. As if Dr. Aristotle Campbell would ever do something so ridiculously immature, especially when it was clear he could not succeed.

Orin tucked the weapon into his trouser pocket with raised brows. “Not letting you get ahold of this ’til we got time for lessons.”

Ari nodded warily as Orin’s small smile spread into a dimple-flashing grin, the pilot leaning one broad shoulder against the open doorway while raking over Ari’s new outfit.

Orin brushed his thumb over his bottom lip, eyes flashing at Ari through thick lashes. “I’d keep this in my garter, but I really think it’d be prettier on you, don’t you sweetheart?”

He turned and disappeared into the cockpit before Ari could think of a reply.