The Amazing Tales of Wildcat Arrows (22 page)

Wildcat exhaled noisily. Kokol pressed her lips together since she had been thinking of doing just that.

"I can assure you, Zoltarian, you would not want the wrath of
my
resources slamming down upon you. Do we understand each other?"

Kokol was irritated but not stupid. "Absolutely."

Big Gun nodded curtly to her. "If I didn't think I would be wasting my breath, I'd offer you a job. Wildcat Arrows."

"Good thing you know not to waste your breath."

"Think it about it. I've been keeping an eye on you for some time—out of necessity, you understand. I like the way you operate."

"Nothing against you personally, Big Gun, but I am a free agent."

Big Gun laughed. "Do you think there is such a thing?"

"Yes."

"Well then, if you should ever
need
something…"

"I'll be sure to look you up."

Big Gun left with his guards.

Wildcat understood the boss perfectly; everyone 'wanted' something at one time or another and when they did they were no longer free agents.

Those were the terms.

Always were. Always would be.

It was usually best to choose before you were chosen.

Nevertheless, Wildcat had no intention of joining any club that would have him as a member. It was the founding principle of 'Grouchonetics', to which he wholeheartedly subscribed.

Lucky waved after the departing Whatnot group, face beaming. "Don't eat the
google-oogle
rumpling!" she called out.

"Okay, let's get out of here." Wildcat threw Kerreth a lethal glance. Apparently, he was stuck with this joker on his ship… for now. He toed SpinDrift's side to wake him up. "C'mon, let's go home."

The Floop yawned and got up. "Did I miss anything?"

"No more than you usually do." Wildcat quipped.

"I suppose this is goodbye." Kokol walked over to him.

"Looks that way." He grinned and winked at her. "Thanks for the
ride
, sweetheart."

She snickered. "Maybe we'll run into each other again some time."

"Never can tell; it's a small universe out there."

Kokol turned to Lucky. "It is too bad, really. The only corporate-free Masterstroke and he's owned by a slip of a girl who doesn't know quite what to do with him. Oh, well. If you want any pointers,
don't
call me."

Lucky smiled. "I might just do that."

The pirates left, grumbling all the while about lost treasure.

"That turned out pretty good, don't you think?"

Wildcat looked down at his sister and arched his brow.

Wildcat strolled onto the bridge of the Sugarbabe.

His nonchalant, easy stride didn't fool Lucky; her brother was relieved to be back on his ship. She watched him run his fingers over the back of his chair.

There was a lot of love in that touch.

He had missed the ship and the crew had missed him.

Even the reserved Clugot had wrapped his meaty paws around him, clasping their captain in a big, welcome home hug.

Standing by the main viewing screen, Wildcat observed the casual camaraderie. The new crew member was arguing with SpinDrift as if he'd been on the ship all along. He had some serious questions about this guy—but he was willing to wait and observe.

That didn't mean he wouldn't give this joker a hard time at every opportunity.

He had it coming for Lucky alone.

As far as Wildcat was concerned 'Slick' was going to have to earn his place on the crew. Big Gun might have lent him some protection… but that would only go so far on this ship. As Captain, Wildcat intended to take him through the paces. Even then, it would be awhile before this newcomer would earn his trust.

The only reason he could figure as to why Slick wanted to stay was for Lucky. So he'd give the guy points for that. At least he didn't cut and run.

But that was as far as it went.

It took one to recognize one and this operative was a womanizing scoundrel if Wildcat ever saw one. He hadn't crossed his path in the past, but he'd bet the family jewels that this guy was either a tracker or a blackmarket wheelerdealer.

Until they found out for sure, he instructed the rest of the crew to keep a close eye on him. If revenge was a dish best served cold, then trust was a dish best withheld until after a long palate cleanser.

Wildcat would have plenty of opportunity to test his new crew member. While Big Gun had warned Wildcat and Kokol about messing with the guy, he had also identified him in front of the pirates as a Masterstroke 6000—pre—owned by Whatnot. This bandit wasn't going anywhere on his own for any time soon. Way, way too dangerous for him.

Lucky walked over to Wildcat. They both stood side by side, watching Kerreth in silence. He was standing by the main console disagreeing with SpinDrift.

Finally Lucky broke the silence between them and spoke.

"Are you mad I kept him?"

Wildcat shrugged. "It's your life."

She wasn't fooled by his answer. Wildcat had been watching over her for most of that life. She had a hard time believing he would step aside this quickly if he didn't think he had retained complete control of the situation.

"Who did it, do you think?"

"Did what?" He looked at her through veiled eyes.

"The miadne! Geesh!" She threw her hands up in the air. "What else would I be talking about?"

He shrugged. The gesture seemed a response to it all.

"I think it must have been Heiner."

"Heiner?"

"Yeah. Think about it, Cat. He wanted the jewel but it got too hot for him. He tried to hire us to set us up."

"Hmm." Wildcat had a hard time picturing Heiner as a mastermind jewel thief.

"Not convinced?"

"Not
completely
convinced."

"Will we ever find out or should we just be glad we got out of there with our hides intact?"

"Oh, I'll find out everything eventually. But don't worry about it. Like you said, we're shut of it for now."

"Well, look on the bright side—at least we got a Masterstroke 6000 out of it."

"Yeah." He rubbed his jaw. "That's got to be worth something on the black market…"

Lucky's lower lip jutted out. "Hey! You promised we wouldn't sell him!"

Wildcat chuckled. "Do you actually like this guy?" He jerked his head in Kerreth's direction.

"He's all right. For an android, I mean." Her face colored.

Wildcat exhaled heavily. He had to do what he had to do. "Ah… Lucky… he's not really an android."

She blinked, not saying anything.

"I'm real sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, sweetheart. You know how I hate hurting you. If he's
bothered
you in any way just let me know and I'll take care it."

Surprisingly, Lucky snickered. "Oh, Cat, cut it out! It's okay. I
know
he's not an android."

Wildcat's eyebrows shot up. This was news. "You knew and you still let him…?"

Lucky winked at him, rather naughtily.

"Ah. I see." The corners of his lips curled. "So tell me something—why do you not let on that you know he isn't a Masterstroke?"

"Let me explain it to you this way…" She threw her arm around her brother and walked with him a few feet down the adjoining corridor. "You see,
he
thinks that I think he is."

Wildcat's mouth twitched. It was becoming crystal clear. "And?"

"And that makes it so worthwhile! It's perfect, Cat. He is caught by his own petard! The man
has
to please me. It's part of a Masterstroke's programming." She grinned from ear-to-ear.

Wildcat threw back his head and roared. The scenario was getting better by the second. "I've trained you too well, you little brat. How long have you known?"

"Not long after we… Well, let's just say a girl knows these things."

He grinned, flashing his white teeth at her. "I would have thought you would want to kill him, not reward him."

"No, not really. He was actually very… um, persuasive. I think I might come to like him a whole lot more—after I repay him a bit for that insane stunt."

"When are you going to tell him?"

She smiled secretly.

"
Are
you going to tell him?"

"Do you think I should?" She blew on her fingers.

"I say he's got it coming."

Regardless of how Lucky viewed this, as Captain, Wildcat intended to go somewhat harder on their new 'crew member'. The scoundrel had put everyone on the Sugarbabe in jeopardy
and
he tried to take advantage of Lucky.

Reading his expression accurately, Lucky bit her lip. "To be fair to him, he did try to become noble just before—"

"Hmm." Wildcat stroked his jaw, looking much like a pirate captain weighing punishment. "Since he chose to don the pleasing mantle of the Masterstroke, I say he should be made to wear that subservient cloak a good while longer."

A perfect judgement, as usual.

Her eyes gleamed. Even though she really liked Slick, he did have
something
coming back at him for what he did.

"Think of the pranks we can have on him, bro! It will shorten the drudgery of space travel—always a plus in my book. Why, the enormous potential for payback just boggles the mind!"

"Lucky, I applaud your ingenuity." Wildcat lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. "I, too, treasure the opportunity for exquisite retribution." He wagged his brows.

"Yes, I know! And he so wanted to become a member of our crew. I think we should oblige him by starting him on galley cleanup duty. Androids don't require any sleep, do they?"

Wildcat's eyes twinkled with pride. Ever since the dockers on Last Chance Way Station had mistakenly loaded in a supply of
mawguts
, even Clugot was afraid to tackle the galley. "You are a true product of your ancestors, madam."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "And what does that mean?"

"It means you are an imp." He tweaked the tip of her nose.

Lucky pushed at his chest, playfully. "I've got to get back to the bridge to make sure his strict schedule is kept on track."

Wildcat snorted.

She turned to go.

"Just a second, Lucky."

"Huh?" She pivoted about.

"I have something I want to give you." He reached into a hidden pocket inside the band of his leather pants. Since they were a snug fit over his muscular thighs, he had to wrangle his hand into the pocket to get whatever it was out.

"What'cha got?"

"Here." He placed something in her palm. It was a fine gold chain with a charm attached to it. She looked up at him, searching for an explanation. "Ah, thanks, I guess."

"Don't lose it. I've been carrying it for you for ages."

"Okay." But she still had that question in her voice.

"Let's just say it belonged to someone in your family. I've been safeguarding it for you."

She had known, of course, that Wildcat wasn't her real 'blood' brother. He had always told her he was her
blood-brother
. She had always felt he was her actual brother, though. They were a real family.

"You are the last of your line, Lucky," he told her softly.