Free Spacer Clans Adventure 1: Naero's Run by Mason Elliott Page A

more braids to note their rank.
    Naero wondered how many stars this chunk had on his chest, one for each ten kills. Ten stars earned the formal title of Slayer. Like most Matayan killers, he looked like he enjoyed his work.
    The form of a battle blade under his jacket was more than an ornament. She guessed he had several other concealed weapons on his person–just like herself.
    Naero gave him her best girlish grin. In return, he locked eyes with her, glared, and curled his lips into an ugly sneer. If it came down to it, she might be able to take him with her speed, but it would be a tough fight. This guy was definitely a serious threat.
    Lady Drianne finally turned back to her. “You’ll have your goods tonight...miss?”
    “ Maeris. Naero Amashin Maeris.”
    She looked pleased. “With Sleak Maeris? When did she have a daughter?”
    “ She didn’t.” Naero could never imagine her aunt even holding a child, let alone one of her own. “I’m her niece.”
    “ I know your aunt well; give her my regards. I’ve brought plenty of associates with me to assist the new Acting Dock Manager. Triax apologizes for any inconvenience.”
    Naero cursed to herself. “Associate” meant “slave” in Triax lingo. Floaters and migrants culled from the Corp’s systems, expendable freeze-ship labor, shunted about here and there. People were a cheap commodity. But the Corps didn’t waste anything, or anyone.
    “ Thank you,” Naero said. “I’ll tell my aunt you said hello.”
    “ Tell her to contact me. I might have something of interest for her fleet. Perhaps we’ll meet again, Mistress Naero.”
    “ Perhaps,” Naero said. She left the loading dock, her gopher shift almost over. By now she had plenty to talk to Aunt Sleak about. And she wasn’t even back yet.
    She didn ’t have to glance behind to know that Lady Drianne and her Matayan goon stared after her, watching her leave. Her entire day continued to get creepier and more sinister.
    Why did it suddenly seem like everyone was so interested in her? That thought made her very uncomfortable.
    She needed to make sure that she actually made it back to the fleet.

 
     
     
     
    8
     
     
    Naero carefully headed back toward The Shinai.
    The strange events of the day had her so paranoid that she wasn’t at all surprised when three local thugs stepped out in front of her to try their luck.
    “ Hey, spack, gimme some.” They attempted to block her way.
    Naero made a point of rolling her eyes. She didn ’t have time for amateurs.
    “ Give you some what? Looks like you three morons already have diseases.”
    They stopped laughing.
    She could buzz away with her gravwing, but this could be fun.
    The leader stepped forward, rusty knife in one hand, an old stunner in the other. “You’re mine, little slit. I’m gonna split you wide open while you’re still wiggling.”
    “ Take her down,” the ugly lander girl said, circling. She held a plasbaton like a club. “I wanna see some spack blood.”
    The third– the biggest, smelliest, and stupidest looking one–had a face covered with boils, a weighted length of chain, and some spikeknucks.
    “ Oh, we’ll see some blood.” He laughed in anticipation. “Loosen’ this gash up for me, Dren. I think I’m in love.”
    Naero almost laughed. “You lander guys can’t think up any better lines?” She wasn’t about to give losers like them any satisfaction.
    They rushed her from three angles. Naero kick-flipped off the near wall, darting away so fast that all she needed was to shove ugly-girl out of her way.
    She ran them the length of the alley, just fast enough to keep them chasing. When she had them winded and they looked about ready to give up, she stopped. They charged her with a final burst of energy.
    Naero half-grinned.
    The m red-faced and puffing; her not even breathing hard.
    She kicked the leader ’s forearm so fast he nailed himself with his own stunner. He gaped in surprise and fell upon his own knife in his