Dragon and Liberator

"Probably not," Draycos conceded. "On the other hand, the only people we'll find at Point Two will definitely not be on our side."

"Leave that to me, symby," Jack told him. Reaching to his collar, he turned on his comm clip. "Uncle Virge?"

"Right here, Jack lad," the computerized voice came back instantly. "You all right?"

"We're fine," Jack said. "You want to bring the Essenay over? We've got another passenger for you, and I don't feel like lugging him through the streets."

There was a short silence. "Another passenger?"

"Don't worry; I'm sure he and Harper will get along like a house on fire," Jack said. "Now, move it. We're on a schedule here."

Harper, as it turned out, was not at all pleased with his new roommate. "This is ridiculous," he fumed as Jack secured Chiggers to a thick metal cable fastened to one of the pipes on the far side of the cabin.

"I know," Jack said. "But what can I say? The Essenay hasn't got a proper brig."

Chiggers muttered something nasty sounding, his breath a puff of warmth against Jack's cheek as the boy double-checked the mercenary's handcuffs. The man was seething, but there wasn't a thing he could do about his situation. Not with Draycos standing watchful guard at his side.

"I've already told you I'm on your side," Harper said. "I can help you."

"And all who believe that raise their hands," Jack said, backing away from Chiggers. "Okay. You can both get to the food and water supply and the bathroom. But there's nothing either of you can use to cut your tethers or unlock your cuffs."

"You got something to keep me from killing him while he sleeps?" Chiggers demanded, glaring across at Harper. Without his fancy Malison Ring flight suit, Jack reflected, Chiggers looked and sounded more like a street punk than a big bad mercenary soldier.

Harper apparently thought so, too. "I'd be real careful about trying something like that, sonny boy," he said, his voice sending a shiver up Jack's back. "Half-asleep, I could still take you."

"I guess maybe we'll find out about that," Chiggers retorted.

"I guess maybe we won't," Jack put in. "Because Uncle Virge is going to be keeping an eye on you. Say hello to the nice men, Uncle Virge."

"I don't think you've really thought this through, Jack lad," Uncle Virge said darkly. "What if they do make trouble? For me or each other?"

"Then you crack open one of the sopor mist canisters from Alison's collection that I've hooked into the air system," Jack said. "There are three of them, wired separately, in case you feel like giving them more than one chance."

"And what happens when I've used up all the canisters?" Uncle Virge persisted.

"Then they'll really be sorry they made trouble," Jack said, watching both men carefully. "Because if and when you have to crack the third one, you're to fly them to Roarke's Mill on Cavendish while they're sleeping."

Harper frowned. Clearly, the name meant nothing to him.

Chiggers's reaction was far more interesting. There was a catch in his breath, and his eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare," he said.

"Oh yes, I would," Jack assured him.

"What's Roarke's Mill?" Harper asked.

"It's a hangout for killers and thugs," Chiggers growled. "The Internos has tried a dozen times to clear it out, including hiring the Malison Ring and a couple of other merc groups to handle the grunt work. But the scum just keep coming back."

"It's also a hangout for less violent people, like con artists and safecrackers," Jack said. "Uncle Virgil and I visited the place a couple of times, and he still has acquaintances there. I'm sure that once Uncle Virge explains the situation they'll take good care of you until I come back."

"You send us there and we're dead," Chiggers said flatly.

"Very possibly," Jack agreed. "Reason enough for you to behave yourselves."

Harper shifted his shoulders. "Jack—"

"Have a nice time," Jack said, backing out of the room.

Draycos didn't speak again until they were loading their supplies aboard the patrol ship. "I still don't know what you're planning, Jack," he said. "But I have to agree with Uncle Virge. You may not have thought this through."

"I'm not all that crazy about it myself," Jack admitted. "But I actually have thought it through. Remember, I was brought up to be a con man. I know how people think."

"I appreciate your talents in that area," Draycos said. "But none of that will matter once they see you're not Chiggers."

"There are ways around that," Jack assured him. "Or at least ways to delay the magic moment. The bottom line is that Neverlin's group is on the move and this may be our only chance to hook up with them. If you've got a better idea, I'm all ears.

"You've already heard my idea: to make a deal with Harper and Braxton," Draycos said. "You've already rejected it."

"Though not without some regret," Jack said. "I'd love to show up at the rendezvous with a wedge of Braxton Universis Security ships behind me. But I don't trust Harper or Braxton."