Mercenary Courage (Mandrake Company) by Ruby Lionsdrake Read Free Book Online

that expedited. Borage, Azarov, and I still the only ones over here? Aside from Sanchez and Cheng?” he added, naming the men in the hospital.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Good, keep it that way. If there is a contagion, we don’t want it on the Albatross .”
    “Do you think that’s likely?”
    “I don’t know—I haven’t seen any of these dead people. They were all found in that shopping area, you say?” Viktor wondered if Ankari had been over that way in the last day or two. In one of their calls, she had mentioned lab rats for Lauren. Viktor had no idea if one purchased lab rats from a store in a shopping mall or from a man in a back alley who also sold ramps, fenwad, and illegal weapons from under the flaps of his trench coat.
    “That’s what the limited news coming out of the station says. Why don’t you wander through and investigate, sir? You could pick up some tacky souvenirs. Perhaps some magnets to stick on the bridge consoles. I know how much you like to shop.”
    Viktor kept himself from growling again—barely. “We’ve already spent too much on replacement parts. We can’t afford magnets. Keep me apprised. Mandrake, out.”
    Commander Garland had barely gotten his, “Yes, sir,” out before Viktor had switched channels to talk to Commander Borage. As he relayed the information—and the need for urgency—to his engineer, he kept walking through the corridors of the station, intending to show up in the machine shop personally, so he could breathe down the mechanics’ necks and ensure everything moved along quickly.
    “Yes, sir,” Borage said. “We’re moving a huge load of parts now. Putting the priority on the engines and the shield generator, like you asked for, and I just sent Azarov for more cleaning solution and paint, so we can get the soot off the walls. Despite Sherkov’s suggestion, we’re opting for gray instead of pink.”
    “Is that fool still down there harassing you?”
    “I think he’s waiting for another chance to harass you . The Fleet captain left, though.”
    Viktor reached a busy intersection clogged by a mix of civilians in casual clothing carrying shopping bags and military men carrying duffel bags, probably heading to the hotel blocks and brothels to enjoy some leave. Here and there, Station Security men walked in pairs, their eyes alert and their shoulders tense. Their chins were tilted toward the comm-patches, and many of them were speaking or listening. Clearly a quarantine had not been issued yet, nor was the corridor leading to the atrium blocked off, but trouble did appear to be on the horizon.
    Viktor paused, debating if he truly needed to head back to the mechanics’ shop. Borage had sounded like he was handling it. Returning to the ship might not be a good idea, on the chance that some contagion or another had found its way onto the station. It was past the end of the work day, and he had barely slept in the last two weeks. Perhaps he would not be considered derelict in his duty if he sought out Ankari for a visit. Of course, sleep would not be what he wanted to do if he found some time to spend with her.
    No, he could wait another day for that. He would go assist Borage.
    Viktor had taken no more than a step down the corridor that led to the repair docks when he glimpsed a familiar figure jogging down a moving sidewalk heading in his direction. Ankari.
    He stopped, the wishful thought that perhaps fate wanted him to spend time with her popping into his head. But she did not look like she had sex in mind. She was dodging tourists with strollers and ducking between soldiers so she could make better time on the sidewalk. When she caught his eye and waved, it was an agitated motion. He checked behind her to see if pursuers might be on her heels, but she was the only one running.
    “Viktor,” she blurted when they met at the end of the sidewalk. Ankari gripped his arm. “We need to talk.”
    “I presume more than sexual longing has driven you to seek me out.”