Hotbloods 6: Allies

“Everything has a price, Mr. President. You know that. However, I should hope you know me well enough by now to know that I would never cheat you.”

“You have certainly held true to your promises so far,” the president replied.

“And I will continue to do so, Mr. President. Ours is a mutually beneficial friendship, which is only just beginning,” Ezra assured him. “There is far more possibility in our future, which I am very much looking forward to showing you.”

There was something bear-like and sinister about Ezra, and seeing him like this only reminded me of that fact. I wanted to rush in there and ask the president what the hell he thought he was doing, but common sense held me back. Their conversation was vague, but there was enough in there to be worried about. Evidently, Ezra—likely on behalf of Orion—had offered something powerful in exchange for something else. It was that latter unknown that concerned me the most. Ezra’s offering would likely be powerful weapons or spaceships, but what had been offered in return? It had to be something substantial; otherwise, Orion wouldn’t have bothered agreeing to it. After all, he appeared to have sent his emissary all the way out here to meet with the president, presumably as an attempt to win the president over, proving that a whole, sentient universe existed beyond the realms of Earth.

My blood boiled at the knowledge that the president had made a move like this, without consulting the people of our nation. America was supposed to be a representative democracy, but I was pretty sure nobody but his closest aides and military advisors would know he was here. It was Area 51 all over again—a national secret, kept hidden away. I mean, trust a world leader to think that even bigger weapons and even more dangerous technology could fix disputes on Earth.

“Did you speak with your dealer here?” the president asked.

“The shipment has yet to come in,” Ezra replied, his tone bitter.

“I guess it’s never easy to run a rebellion,” the president joked, revealing just how much he knew about the coldblood infiltration on Earth. My anger was rising with every word he said.

“You have no idea,” Ezra muttered. “Ever since my sister’s death, things have taken a perplexing turn. Orion has been unable to think straight after the loss of her. One day he wants to blow everything up; the next he has no taste for war anymore. Fortunately, he seems to be returning to his senses. After all, a rebellion is nothing without its figurehead.”

The president nodded. “Very true. I imagine you’ve made quite the deputy during his grief. He’s lucky to have a smart guy like you to fill in for him.”

Ezra shook his head coyly. “You flatter me, Mr. President.”

“How are you faring? Surely, you’re grieving too?”

“I have dealt with my emotions in a less volatile manner, Mr. President. I am sad to have lost her, as she was a supreme warrior, one hell of a military mind… and, she was my eldest sibling, but it is not in my nature to express my feelings in an outward fashion,” he explained, evidently attempting to cater to the president’s human sensibilities. I doubted he would have understood the often callous-seeming ways of the coldbloods.

All of a sudden, the pieces came together in my mind, and my blood ran cold. Ezra was Pandora’s younger brother. It certainly explained the similarities in their brand of cruelty, messing with the minds of their victims as well as inflicting physical suffering.

“What was her name? Did I have the opportunity to meet her?” the president asked. “I apologize if I did. I meet so many people that it’s hard to keep track sometimes.”

Ezra smiled. “Her name was Pandora, Mr. President, and I’m sad to say you never had the pleasure of meeting her. She traveled a great deal and was rarely able to visit the base. I am sure she would have been delighted by you, had the two of you met.”

I gulped as my suspicions were confirmed. Pandora and Ezra were siblings, making me wonder what terrible fate might greet me if Ezra ever found out that I was the one who murdered his sister. While it was true that coldbloods weren’t particularly big on showing emotion, they were definitely huge advocates for revenge of a family member. He would hunt me to the edges of the universe to make me pay for what I’d done.

Wait, where are Bashrik and Angie? I thought, peering farther into the room, realizing they’d never showed up… unless they were really good at hiding.

“Are you refreshed, Mr. President?” Ezra asked.

“Yes, thank you. This drink was better than any coffee I’ve ever had. Perked me right up.”

Ezra inclined his head. “Then, perhaps we should retire to the ship and continue on our tour of the local planets? There is a delightful leisure planet just beyond the asteroid belt that I think you might like to add to your list of vacation destinations!”

“The first lady does love a vacation.” He laughed loudly, rising from his chair. “I’m ready to go when you are, Ezra. Although, tell me something—how am I getting back to Earth after all this?”

“My associates will return you to your home planet once you’re finished seeing the sights,” Ezra assured him.

“You’re not coming back?”

Ezra gave a heavy sigh. “I would love nothing more, Mr. President, but I need to be back here in a few days to collect my shipment. It’ll be easier to hang around the area, instead of making multiple trips between this sector and Earth. I hope you understand.”

“Of course, Ezra. It’s just me sticking my curious nose into your business, that’s all,” he replied good-naturedly.

“Excellent, then follow me.”

With that, Ezra stood and led the president out of the lounge, closing the door behind them. I realized that the supplier Ezra was waiting for was probably Stone—as I’d overheard the ambaka saying he was due to rendezvous with a client of the same name during one of our last encounters—which made me even more anxious. That three-eyed scavenger had Yorrek’s notebook, and if he somehow ended up selling it to Ezra, we were well and truly done for. Orion might not have been able to save his girlfriend with an immortality elixir, but he could supply his rebels with it, creating an unstoppable force that nobody could overcome.

“They’re leaving!” I whispered, noting that Bashrik and Angie still hadn’t appeared, which meant they definitely weren’t hiding anywhere inside the room. “Come on!”

I grasped Navan’s hand and pulled him back over to the far side of the room. He used his strong arms to help me clamber haphazardly through the window, then followed quickly after. The two of us rushed around the side of the building, just in time to see a sleek ship take off in a cloud of dust.

“Should we go after them?” Navan asked, looking around.

I was about to mention Stone and the stolen notebook, when I noticed Angie and Bashrik standing at the entrance to a shadowed alley, being crowded by a gang of eight grizzled thugs. Bashrik was lunging at them, trying to land a punch while they struck at him, though he kept Angie behind him, using himself as a blockade. The thugs looked like pirates, most of them clad in leather and loose shirts, with piercings and tattoos, and several limbs missing between them all.

“Reapers,” Navan hissed, his eyes narrowing in anger. “The lowliest of pirate scum. They steal, they kill, and they give nothing back to anyone or anything.”

My worry grew. “You have your gun?”

He flashed his at me. “And you have yours?”

I lifted the edge of my shirt to show the handle of the pistol in my waistband.

“Okay, well, stick next to me, and act tough,” Navan said, looking nervous.

Shaking off a tremor of fear, I stayed close to Navan’s side, and the two of us approached the gang of pirates. I kept my hand on the butt of the gun.

“What’s going on here?” Navan asked coldly. The gang turned.

“Who’s asking?” a squat, one-eyed troll with blue skin replied, his words slurring.

I stepped up. “We’re asking. You’re harassing our friends, and we’re here to make you stop.”