‘Sandsa! Stop pandering to your fans and get over here.’
After making his apologies to the small circle of clanspeople he had been conversing with, Sandsa moved through the throng of bodies swaying to music pumped out by Vom’s most reliable DJ in weeks, then dropped into the plush seating that ran around the rim of the nightclub. The intelligent fibres in the cushions immediately swarmed into the position they deemed most comfortable for him. Sitting either side of Sandsa were Vom and Diamond, a grin shared between their faces.
Sandsa nodded towards the dance floor. ‘I see business is booming, Vom.’
‘I’ve now got the patronage of every clan in the city,’ Vom said, looking pleased. ‘Peace is profitable, it seems!’
Taking a moment to scan the crowd, Sandsa saw the riotous mix of gang colours and symbols. Some dancers even wore casual clothes bereft of markings and could easily have wandered in from any of the residences nearby. Ever since Governor Garnett had proclaimed that he was dealing with two new Clan Leaders and that both of them were working to instil peace in the city, the people of Atsa had emerged from their hiding places. Sandsa had to admit that a month of clear skies and quiet streets might have been the real incentive.
‘What is it you wish to discuss with me?’ Sandsa asked, directing his question at Diamond.
The clanswoman held out a small wooden box with a dirty bronze hinge. Sandsa accepted the item and opened it to reveal the ring inside. A wiry silver band wound twice around before diverting to support a small purple stone that would sit just below the first knuckle. Sandsa set the ring in his palm, studying it from different angles by tipping his hand from side to side.
‘It looks expensive,’ he said at last.
‘Just what a Clan Leader deserves!’ Diamond told him with a grin. ‘And she’ll recognise it.’
Vom chuckled. ‘Anyone who’s watched a vid in the past two years will recognise it. This ring used to be lent out to the big vidstars to wear on screen. They were trying to sell it to the highest bidder when it disappeared.’
Sandsa dropped the ring back inside the box. ‘Then it is stolen property.’
‘Like your title isn’t?’ Diamond said with a snort.
‘But will she like it?’ Sandsa asked the man on his left.
Vom rested a heavy hand on his shoulder. ‘Women like wearing pretty trinkets. Well, except Diamond here who just steals them.’
‘I can wear the starking thing myself if it’ll make you feel better, Bolt,’ Diamond offered.
Vom waved his fingers over at the DJ. The music segued into something slower and Sandsa’s thoughts fled to Callista who was busy elsewhere.
What are you hiding? she asked.
Something I am told you will like.
Ooh, intrigue. Tell me later.
Sandsa met Diamond’s gaze. ‘I’ll take it.’
‘Lucky Dancer,’ Vom said, shaking his head. ‘Don’t tell my wife about your services.’
Diamond lifted an eyebrow. ‘But you’ll soon be able to afford a better rock for her ring.’
‘Rocks don’t a good marriage make!’ Vom insisted.
***
The lasbolts pelted towards her, all released within microseconds of each other. Callista laughed as she weaved around them. The wild bolts missed her completely and shot past her to pepper over Jeras Nerani’s face. The mounted lasguns fell silent at the colonel’s command and the red forcefield humming between them disintegrated. Nerani tipped her head towards the shield generator installed on the floor. ‘Glad I had that put in.’
‘I wouldn’t have sent them your way if the shield hadn’t been there, you know that, Jeras.’ Callista rolled her shoulders to loosen the tension gathering in them. Even during the war she had not tested herself like this. ‘I hear the governor asked GLEA to let you stay on Yalsa 5.’
It was the first time Callista had dared to bring up the planned removal of all GLEA agents from Atsa City. She would have mentioned it sooner had she not been desperately trying to convince the clans they could work together. And then there were the hours spent worrying about a child whose heartbeat was still barely detectable by doctors relying on devices instead of powers.
Jeras sighed. ‘Fat lot of good it’ll do. We’re gone in a few weeks.’
‘But why?’ Callista asked, retrieving her lasgun from Jeras’ outstretched hand. She clipped it onto her belt. ‘Is it because we finally have a peaceful system governing Atsa at night and GLEA is no longer needed?’
Jeras’ lips twitched. ‘Sure, a peaceful system whose leaders weren’t elected, just thrust on everyone.’
‘No one elected the Alcazaar’s Clan Leader either. And I think we’re the better option.’
The Chipper stroked the tiny tentacles on her scalp, looking agitated. ‘The blame doesn’t lie solely with you. We should never have got involved — on either side.’
‘But it was for the good of the people you were protecting…’ Callista trailed off when she felt the shame twisting inside the Chipper like a knife in her guts.
Jeras waved a hand at the ceiling. ‘Yeah, but the Agency isn’t so keen on leaving any of us behind when no one worships the Creator God here. Atsa doesn’t even have an altar for him, let alone a temple. This isn’t the first time we’ve packed up and left worlds because of that.’
‘You don’t agree with your superiors,’ Callista stated, reading the woman’s thoughts. ‘You think GLEA should protect people regardless of what they believe in.’
Jeras’ gaze fell to the floor. ‘Look, I can’t say anything or I’ll lose my job. And I like my job. For the most part. But I’m not gonna worry too much about Atsa — I think you’n Bolt have got this city covered.’
The ensuing silence grew steadily more uncomfortable. Finally, Callista cleared her throat. ‘Do you want lunch? I might as well pay you back in some small way for helping us. You’ll be punished for your part in the war, won’t you?’
Jeras grimaced. ‘Yes. I’m being demoted. And I’m starking glad, because that means I’ll avoid the worst punishment.’
‘Which is?’
‘Having my chip taken from me.’
Later, when they were sitting down in a nearby restaurant that only had two of its glass windows boarded up, Callista watched Jeras over the edge of the large pink menu. The Chipper seemed to be seriously considering the wine list. Sighing, Jeras set the list down. ‘Well, I can’t imbibe, because it’ll mess up my chip, but at least I can live vicariously through you.’
Callista smiled, keeping her fingers locked on the menu to keep them from drifting to her abdomen. She planned to announce her pregnancy soon, but she wanted Ala to be the first of her friends to know. And Jeras…Callista wasn’t sure she could trust someone who would do anything the Creator God asked of her.
‘I might abstain this time,’ Callista said lightly. ‘I need to keep my mind clear these days, what with ensuring that the clans work together.’
‘So how do you keep the peace anyway?’
Callista grinned. ‘Mostly by reminding everyone that we’re in charge and can flatten them like we did the Alcazaar.’
Jeras snorted.
They spent the rest of their time chatting about the different planets that Nerani might be posted to next. When the Chipper left to use the bathroom, Callista dropped her smile and fought the nausea that was threatening to transform into something more physical. She rested her elbows on the table and moaned. I am not ready for this. I can’t deal with two gods, especially if one of them is inside me.
When Nerani returned, Callista announced that she had business to attend to and stood. She started to count out the necessary amount of coin-chips, then remembered that the restaurant was run by one of the minor clans. No one here would accept her money.
Jeras’ eyes remained on the table. ‘Huh, didn’t notice that earlier.’
Callista looked down at where her elbows had rested and saw that two small piles of sand had been left behind. She slapped her arms, but no more grains fell from her.
Nerani chuckled. ‘You’ll live. Sand gets into Atsa all the time, especially with that citywide shield missing. You’n Bolt better get that fixed up.’
‘Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t keep the sand at bay,’ Callista murmured.
After they left the restaurant, Callista waved until the Chipper vanished around a corner. There were no promises to keep in touch. They had never truly been on the same side.
When Nerani was gone, she held out her palm and watched sand trickle through her fingers. The pavement around her began to swim as she blinked back tears. Please, my son. Don’t. Please. You can’t be this.
‘You cannot change what he is,’ her new companion said.
Callista closed her eyes. ‘I choose not to see you.’
‘Regardless, I am here. How long will it be before Sandsa neglects his promise to you?’
‘He won’t do it again,’ she said firmly.
‘Because you, Callista Krendasta, have decided it?’
She unsealed her eyelids and glowered at the Creator God. He had a lasgun on his hip and was even wearing a faded Maria shirt, as if he had the right. Callista curled her top lip. ‘It’s not about what I want. It’s about what Sandsa wants. Do you honestly think that him dreaming about me made him wriggle out of your grip? I was just that extra grain of sand that tipped the balance!’
‘I did not realise you were so astute in the ways of immortal beings,’ the Ine said, one eyebrow creeping up his forehead — a very deliberate gesture, Callista thought, given how rarely he took human form.
‘He won’t go back to you, not now,’ she warned.
‘His people suffer without him, just as he suffers without the deserts. He cannot ignore them.’
‘Maybe his people shouldn’t rely on some invisible best friend to tell them what to do with their lives!’ Callista snapped then turned on her heel, putting him behind her.
Already waiting for her on the curb was a black Maria hovercar with barely any lines visible on it. Still shaking from her encounter, Callista dropped into a seat and stared out the window at the empty pavement for several moments. Then she realised that the driver looked very familiar.
‘Subofficer Ala.’ Callista leaned forward to give Ala’s shoulder a brief squeeze. ‘Shouldn’t you be keeping the Maria in line?’
‘Is that what I’m doin’ these days?’ Ala asked with a snort. ‘Never heard of a Clan Leader leaving someone else in charge of their own clan.’
Callista climbed over into the front passenger seat, grinning. ‘Ala, I’m running a city. I don’t have time to run a clan. And besides, you’re the best subofficer the Maria have ever had.’
Ala chortled. ‘Oh, I starking know that, you douchenozzle. But it’s too quiet in this city now. I don’t trust it.’
‘Are our newer, ah, friends from the Alcazaar giving you any trouble?’ Callista asked.
Ala stabbed the ignition sensor and the vehicle shot off down the road. Callista saw that they weren’t going directly back to headquarters and made no comment, waiting her friend out. Once the hovercar had turned several corners, Ala answered, ‘Nah. Most of them wanted out so I bought their one way tickets off this rock. But this quiet won’t last long, Cals. It just can’t.’
‘Why not? The other clans seem amenable to not fighting each other and they’ve all agreed to patrol the streets at night so Atsa stays safe.’
Ala pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and turned in her seat to look at Callista. ‘Oh, great, so we’re like Chippers now, lookin’ after everyone. What happens when you and Bolt get yourselves killed, huh? What happens then? Who gets to be in charge?’
‘In that unlikely event, I guess my son can look after Atsa for us,’ Callista said, touching her abdomen and smiling.
‘Stark it, Cals, they’ve got implants for that!’
Callista sighed. ‘Yes, well, I didn’t think. Neither did Sandsa. But it is something we want and we have…ample time to come to terms with it.’
Eternity, she thought. Eternity…oh, Sandsa, I don’t think I can do it.
‘You need to get hitched — soon,’ Ala advised her.
Callista rolled her eyes. ‘Since when were you so traditional? We’ve been so busy fixing up the mess we made that I haven’t had time to plan anything.’
Ala grunted.
‘You really could have done it, you know, become Clan Leader,’ Callista said softly.
A weak laugh escaped Ala. ‘No, Cals. I never could’ve done it. But that won’t stop me givin’ my Clan Leader advice, so don’t think you’re in the clear.’
Callista leaned in, preparing to hug her. ‘I’d never want you to stop giving me advice.’
Ala scuttled back, moving out of Callista’s reach, and only stopped when she hit the door on her side. She was scowling. ‘None of that mushy shit. I gotta get my Clan Leader back to safety. Unless you’re talking to the governor today? Can’t say that’s safety.’
‘No, Garnett would rather not see us,’ Callista said, smiling. ‘It helps him pretend that he’s the only one in charge, even if he did consult us when he started putting those ads out on the Web.’
‘Ads? What ads?’
‘Oh, you know, ads showing Yalsa 5’s best features. For potential tourists.’
‘Tourists! Is he mad?’
***
‘Should I discuss pertinent work matters as requested or is my nudity enough to sway you from that for at least an hour?’
Sandsa lifted his gaze from his techpad. He had been reading about various offers involving trade and real estate ventures from companies keen to deal with Atsa’s new Clan Leaders. He supposed he should look into some of them to help fund the night-time protection the city needed, but right now he only had eyes for the bold, and very naked, woman leaning against the doorway of their penthouse in the Maria headquarters. Ala had handed the whole top level over to them despite their protests. The subofficer had even had it renovated for them.
Sandsa stretched in his chair, emphasising the tenting of his pants, and waited for Callista to come to him. Her hips swayed as she approached, brown eyes lit with mischief and hands gliding down her thighs. He could already smell her, a sweet, promising tang. It was intoxicating. He reached for her but Callista smacked his hand away and tsked. A grin sliced across her face.
Then she began dancing before him, turning to fill the space between his two gaping legs with her invitingly curved posterior. Sandsa had his hands on his knees, but it was taking more and more effort to keep them there. In a matter of moments, he couldn’t remember why he was trying to restrain himself and reefed off his shirt. Sandsa offered her an innocent expression when Callista glanced over her bare shoulder at him.
‘Don’t stop on my account,’ she said with a smirk.
Sandsa dispensed with his pants and was very glad he did for she engulfed him almost immediately. The slick movements of her tongue drove him further from coherent thought. Her fingers then glanced below the swell of his manhood to graze his balls, massaging them with a firmness that only stirred him further. She kissed his thigh, licked her way up his shaft — and then her mouth was on his. She tasted of musk and desire.
He gave no resistance when she took his hand and led him into the bedroom. They made love all over the bed, kicking the sheets away and laughing when Sandsa’s knee collided with the headboard. Later, after Callista had flopped against the pillows, he crept back into the other room to find his pants and dug through one of the pockets. Ring in hand, he returned and knelt on the floor beside the bed, holding the item up for her inspection.
Callista’s eyes widened and she scrambled over to him. ‘Sandsa, I know this ring. Every rich folk knows this ring. How did…how did you even get it?’
‘Diamond impressed upon me the importance of pretty rocks,’ Sandsa replied, smiling as she slipped it onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
‘I don’t need a ring or pretty rocks to know you love me.’ Callista grinned and pulled him into a kiss. ‘But they definitely don’t hurt.’
Her laugh warmed him and then her body set him aflame once more.